Fieldschooling: Education “composed of field trips, hands-on learning, experiencing education through all your senses, socializing, and learning life skills.”
When we began homeschooling, our number one reason was freedom. The freedom to make our own schedules. The freedom to make our own educational goals and obtain them in the best way for our family. The freedom to know what is most important and to pursue that goal above all others.
Fieldschooling is one of the pivotal parts of our children’s education. We have visited museums, zoos, aquariums, theaters, national and state parks, historical sites, and even other countries in our quest to educate our children in a tangible way. We’ve spent time at space centers and science centers. And, always we are learning. But, sometimes our faith is tested. Sometimes we have a difficult time reconciling our Christ-centered homeschool with the world around us.
What to do when the world takes a non-Biblical view of education?
Last week my daughter went to the National Air and Space Museum at the Smithsonian Institute with her grandparents. She was excited to get to visit. Last year we toured Johnson Space Center and spent a week at Space Camp. She has an avid interest in space. So, when her grandmother suggested that they watch the IMAX movie about journeying into space, she was on board.
Sadly, her enthusiasm was dampened and by the time she made it back to the hotel to tell me all about it, she had worked herself up to indignant anger. In her words, “the movie was a waste of time.” Whatever would cause her opinion to take a 180-degree turn?
The movie stated as fact evolutionary science. It didn’t state it as a theory. It stated it as a fact. This tiny 10-year-old girl was furious that a scientific organization would not know enough about the Theory of Evolution to know that it was a theory – not a fact. And, she was having none of it.
Now, you may think that this made me upset as well. But, it didn’t. I’m well aware of the science community’s arrogance to believe that their theory is the only correct theory and thus fact. However, what impressed me the most was my daughter’s arguments for why this theory was incorrect and that her beliefs (rooted in scripture) for why God was the ultimate creator were valid.
I would love to tell you this was one of those teaching moments. And, it was, but not for her. It was a teaching moment for me. It made me realize that if we want our children to grow up to proudly proclaim the Gospel, then we have to have a Christ-centered homeschool from the beginning.
How to have a Christ-center homeschool when fieldschooling
Have a daily Christ-centered homeschool
Your homeschool must be Christ-centered before the fieldschooling even begins. Each day incorporate scripture into your homeschool. You can do this with a specific daily Bible curriculum, daily devotionals, other Christ-centered curriculums, daily prayer or other means. We start our day with a Morning Meetup that includes Bible.
Teach your child to know both sides of the argument
Don’t hide behind the idea that your child will never be exposed to anti-Biblical arguments and theories. Friend, it is everywhere. You can’t go to any secular science center that doesn’t proclaim millions of years of existence or the evolution of man from animal. Your kids are going to hear it. Be the first to introduce it to them and then explain to them the Biblical view. I have found Apologetics Press to be an excellent resource with these explanations.
Be prepared to discuss
When you are fieldschooling and you come across information that does not reconcile with the Bible, make time to stop and discuss it. Do your children realize the significance of what they have read or heard? Do they need further explanation? What questions or concerns do they have?
These are teachable moments. Sometimes we teach them and sometimes they teach us. Be prepared to discuss these items at length and even do further research.
The bottom line in keeping a Christ-centered homeschool when fieldschooling is to have a Christ-centered heart. When we “search the scriptures daily” and “pray without ceasing” our heart will be where it needs to be. All the rest will simply fall into place.
Dachelle is a homeschooling mom of 3 in the South. She loves chocolate and has been known to hide it from her children. She can often be found reading a good book (or even sometimes just an okay book) and enjoying a jar of Nutella — don’t judge. She blogs at HideTheChocolate.com when she’s not creating book clubs at LiteraryAdventuresForKids.com and making lists…lots and lots of lists (it’s an addiction).
Tiffany
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