by Joyce Kinmont
The Kinmont family has been home schooling since 1975. Joyce, the mother of nine, is an author and lecturer and the founder of the Latter-Day Saint Home Educators Association, which offers support and encouragement to home educators through a print newsletter, e-mails, an annual conference, and a mail-order bookstore.
"There is
a power of discernment granted 'unto such as God shall appoint
…to watch over [his] church,'" said President Boyd K.
Packer in the October 1996 General Conference of the LDS Church.
"To see clearly what is ahead and yet find members slow to
respond or resistant to counsel or even rejecting the witness of
the apostles and prophets brings deep sorrow."1
President Packer has issued other warnings. Speaking of
the public school system, he warned that "atheism, the
secular religion, is admitted to class, and our youngsters are
proselyted to a conduct without morality"2 and
"In many places it is literally not safe physically for
youngsters to go to school. And in many schools--and its
becoming almost generally true--it is spiritually unsafe to
attend public schools." 3 Parents whose
ears and hearts have heard these warnings may choose to respond
to the "witnesses" and may wonder what they can do.
Since Latter-day Saints have as a primary goal to "Learn
everything that the children of men know, and be prepared for the
most refined society upon the face of the earth…4"
and since the public school system is obviously going in a
different direction (we can't send our children to basketball
camp and expect them to return as tennis players), our only
choice is to take full charge of our children's education.
Fortunately an excellent LDS education can be provided in many
ways, including private schools, home schools, and unlimited
combinations of both.
While the Church cannot divert resources to the establishment of
private schools, and has so stated, individual members can. Many
are. The American Heritage school in Utah County was founded
years ago by Elder H. Verlan Andersen, one who listened to the
early warnings of Apostle Ezra Taft Benson. This school is still
in operation, and is happy to share information with others who
want to establish private LDS-oriented schools. You can
contact the school at 801-785-4050.
The Benjamin Franklin Academies which are springing up throughout
the country serve as a bridge between home school and private
school. The schools are in session three mornings a week, giving
the students the advantages of mentors and classroom work, while
still allowing the family to spend the bulk of their time
together. Students in BFA's are considered home schoolers.
Contact the Ben Franklin Academy headquarters at 435-657-1400.
Other home schooling families meet together in co-operatives once
or twice a week, with mothers, and occasionally fathers, taking
turns teaching subjects they are skilled in--or subjects they
want to learn about. Often these groups end their year with a
science fair so the children can display their year's work.
Many families are happiest just being at home together, each
student learning in his own way, at his own pace, from a wide
variety of source materials. Since the final outcome of any
education is determined by the quality of the materials studied,
the character of the mentors in a student's life, and the
character and talents of the student himself, home schoolers have
unlimited possibilities for success.
Home schooled students are often far advanced academically, yet
those who are not academically talented rarely "drop
out" into a lifetime of failure; instead, they simply excel
in other areas. LDS doctrine teaches that we were
each set apart (foreordained) for particular missions on earth.
Isn't it necessary, then, for each child to have his own
individual educational path?
Home school families tend to be close, strengthened by the
activity of learning together and by the connection of their
education to the gospel as they follow the admonitions of
President Brigham Young "not to teach even the alphabet or
the multiplication tables without the Spirit of God,"5
and President John Taylor to "be choice in your selection of
teachers. We do not want infidels to mould the minds of our
children."6 Home school graduates are
sought after by colleges and in the job market. They are socially
mature, capable, motivated, responsible. And why wouldn't they
be--they are the Lord's best spirits and are being raised as He
directed.
Any parent who loves his children and is willing to "devote,
even sacrifice (himself) to the bringing up of (his) children in
light and truth"7 can successfully home school.
We may feel inadequate, as with many of the tasks the Lord gives
us, but the angels will rejoice and the Lord will shower wisdom
and blessings on every parent who sincerely works to honor the
witness of the watchmen on the tower.
1. The Ensign , Nov. 1996, p.7.
2. The Ensign, May 1994, p.19.
3. David O. McKay Symposium, BYU, October 9, 1996.
4. Educating Zion, John Welch & Don Norton, Ed.,
p.47.
5. ibid, p.54
6. ibid, p.77.
7. Boyd K. Packer, The Ensign , May 1994, p. 21.
© 1999 Joyce Kinmont