I hope that topic title gets a lot of attention! My heart broke last night as my husband asked our eldest what he learned in the day as we had just introduced that day Year 1, Unit 1. While our son mentioned the geography and landscape of Egypt & comparing to the US, he also tied in the history of the entire world how God's Word ties it all together ... creation, sin, and the need for a Savior... that all World History from that time was building up and preparing the way for Christ to come and save.

My husband interrupted with, "That's Sunday School. I want to know what you learned about History."

My husband loves God, but he's struggling in so many ways right now. Please pray for his heart ... and mine in the process. Hopefully anyone stumbling across this will know that I was encouraged by the way our 11 yr old spoke politely back, stating, "I would have to disagree with you, Dad. It all goes together."

My husband is absolutely the head of our household, and we will always honor him, and raise him up in prayer. I just wonder if any other Moms have run into this, while teaching Scripture with history ... having a spouse question the validity of what they're teaching... Our oldest is definitely gifted and advanced, and I realize it's important to teach him in the fields he's interested in, yet i believe the eternal knowledge of what life is truly about is going to be the foundation of anything he could ever learn or want to live for.

Any suggestions or thoughts?

Thank you for prayers!

God bless you for handling that with grace and honor to your husband! I believe that he will see, as time goes on, especially with a gifted son with interests in addition to the gospel, the excellence of the education you are providing your children. Your children will not only learn a lot of real history, lit, geography, vocab, etc., but they are going to learn to THINK and with a biblical world view. Your husband will be blessed.

I had a related occurence in our home as my husband ignored or dismissed the children's projects that they demonstrated their learning in, but I see the depth and fruit of their learning coming out because I am with them all day. And I know in time my husband will as well.

Thank God we are married to men with strengths different than our own to create balance in our families!

LOVE,

Sally in PA, with 2 (UG and LG) of 5 in TOG

Has your husband seen the Scope and Sequence for TOG? Do you plan to use the program through High School? If so, I would introduce him to the Scope and Sequence - especially the rhetoric-stage stuff. So much of the "history", literature, government, and philosophy DEMANDS a spiritual compass. It requires one in order to process what you are learning. What does this all MEAN???!!!????

The TOG program is a strong, strong curriculum; it is certainly nothing to scoff at.

Have you used the Pop Quiz CD's yet? Will your dh listen to them? I believe that they do a terrific job of bringing dad up to speed with what we are learning. In your case, it might help your husband see how "Sunday School" really does connect with history then and humanity today!

Peace to you and your today,
Janice

Enjoy your little people
Enjoy your journey

I encourage you to continue to pray for your dh. It is a very different way of seeing education.

When we began homeschooling, I was of the mindset that math is in this box, science here, history here, etc. and there was no overlap. My opinion on education has changed greatly over the years and I see a lot of overlap in the subjects. TOG takes advantage of the overlapping nature of academics. It helps you to give your children a foundation to discuss challenging topics from a God-honoring view.

Have your dh read some of the materials, if possible. Keep answering his questions in the honoring manner that you have been. It took a little time for my dh to see benefits from this type of program, but he agrees that TOG has been a blessing to our family in many ways.

Needing Grace in Indiana
Dear sister, may God bless you for your recognition that you and your husband have different perspectives and that regardless he is the head of your household. I KNOW from personal experience God will bless you.

As the provider I am sure your husband is concerned about what his sons are learning because he knows that one day they too will have to provide for a family. As those of us who attended public schools well know, seeing God's hand in history was never part of the program and so your husband has no real frame of reference in this regard.

I believe in time he will see the fruits of your efforts as well as the incredible program that Tapestry is. Allow him to read your student's essays once the year gets going and I agree, try Pop Quiz. I think that will be an excellent way for him to be involved and rather than ask vague questions about what the student learned he can have meaningful discussions.

Finally let me just say that my husband very rarely questions what the children are learning and frankly is somewhat ignorant of what we do. I wish he were more involved. While I am humbled and thrilled that he has such confidence in me, sometimes I wish he did not completely leave it all up to me and were more involved. Gosh, home education was HIS decision! LOL!

Lisa in AZ

You may wish to consider buying the Pop Quiz CDs. They are designed to speak husband to husband, father to father on the topics.

quote:

Finally let me just say that my husband very rarely questions what the children are learning and frankly is somewhat ignorant of what we do. I wish he were more involved. While I am humbled and thrilled that he has such confidence in me, sometimes I wish he did not completely leave it all up to me and were more involved. Gosh, home education was HIS decision! LOL!

Lisa in AZ

YEAH THAT! I could have written that, LOL. It was DH's idea to homeschool and I came into homeschooling kicking and screaming, but God has changed my perspective greatly.

DH's job doesn't allow him to be involved in the everyday teaching. I'm seriously looking at the POP Quizes the next time through to give him a starting point. We always need to give our dhs grace (especially when it's hard).

One thought in regards to this problem....It can be a blessing to a husband in a situation like this to be asked what his goals would be for homeschooling. This is a very humbling thing to do, and I'm not saying it is easy!
Also, this wouldn't be something to discuss in a situation like you mentioned above, but at the beginning of the school year and periodically throughout--just so he knows he is being respected and his opinion really matters. It doesn't mean you have to 'give up' weaving Scripture and discipling into your school day, but it is an opportunity to bless your husband and display a "gentle, quiet spirit, which in in God's sight is very precious." 1Peter 3:4
Blessings,
Mary