While Ray Ballmann's The How and Why of Home Schooling is dated in many ways (the "New Expanded Edition" is more than 20 years old), the basic principles he reasons from still hold true. The public school system is inherently defunct, it is the responsibility of parents rather than the state to educate their children, and Christian parents in particular do have the added responsibility of training their children in the fear and admonition of the Lord.
These are all still excellent reasons to leave America's public schools, and arguments in their support form the bulk of this book. After an introductory chapter revealing the history of homeschooling (and the relatively recent introduction of public education), followed by a long list of reasons any parent can teach at home, Ballmann launches into a long, heavily documented attack on government schools.
Not only are they academically backward, they're filled with the active promotion of immorality and anti-Christian sentiment, lawlessness, and actual physical danger. But Ballmann doesn't leave readers simply bemoaning the sad plight of public schools—he actively demonstrates the benefits of homeschooling, shows how any parent can do it, and offers tips for getting started.
He makes points a lot of other writers overlook, arguing that fathers must be active in the homeschool, grandparents need to be supportive, and that it's important to help family and friends at least see there's nothing wrong with your decision. Chapters on how to begin, why to homeschool through high school, and a thorough frequently asked questions section are just as pertinent now as they were in 1995.
Not so pertinent are the resources Ballmann provides. While many of the organizations and curriculum companies are still in business, he offers only physical addresses and phone numbers, many of which have changed—there are no web addresses, and there are plenty of businesses and organizations no longer operational.
The philosophical nature of this book is it's chief saving grace. While there is a lot of relevant and very good advice, this isn't a start-up manual; it's an argument against Christian parents keeping their kids in public school, and for Christian parents homeschooling. (Also, Ballmann has a sense of humor—there are political cartoons scattered throughout the text.) A quick read,The How and Why of Home Schooling is still worth your time.
Did you find this review helpful?