More important than deciding the style of education that we will give to our children is to define which family values we will embrace. These values will dictate the way to follow in any activity in which we are involved in. Being that the education of the children is a supreme goal; these values will give us the guidelines.
If you share the Christian Faith, then the only alternative obedient to your Faith is to educate children at home. Nevertheless we understand that this is not always an easy option, in countries as United States there was a very brave fight to permit us today to educate our children at home in an environment of liberty and respect. However there are countries where even is necessary to open the road.
The education at home has very different objectives than the socialized education. We aside from giving the child superior academic values, we give them spiritual and moral values. Yet the day of tomorrow these adults that today are being educated in the home will make the difference in the community. For us parents are not enough that the child learn something, we seek always to the excellence.
There are many styles of education at home, but, since we are going to choose the option, we can do it the best possible. This means following a classical approach, tested by the centuries. The classical model based in teaching the Trivium, giving to the child the tools of learning: the Liberal Arts will help the child when they become an adult to reach an intellectual liberty, to develop any study or activity, in the same manner we are giving him the armor of Reasoning to protect themselves from ideas against the moral and family principles. They will develop an elegant capacity for communication to help one another to find the good way.
Many families have traveled through the road of homeschooling and they leave to us invaluable experiences. Personally I recommend as a first practical step to get a copy of the book Teaching The Trivium by Harvey and Laurie Bluedorn. Read it with care, there you will find a guide to travel through the road with sure steps.
Below are some links with information on the concepts that I have mentioned. After reading them you will have a clear idea of Homeschooling in a Classical Approach, and the intellectual force that you will need to begin, and perhaps be a pioneer in your country of the best education that can offer to your children.
Perla Sarmiento de Adams perla@theclassicalmommy.com