Many parents finally fall prey to their own insecurities and critics’ darts when their children reach age 14 (and sometimes much earlier). They consider abandoning home-based and home-guided education. The cacophonous voices of professionals, generations of institutional schooling, “public” school giveaways and enticements, personal misperceptions of reality, and the world’s opinion about what is important muddy the waters. Getting closer to the source — the headwaters — brings refreshment and clarity to vision and action. Dr. Ray focuses on key educational goals and philosophy (biblical), research findings, the importance of separating the state from education, and homeschooling for the long term in order to reap the harvest of its excellent fruits.

Dick Karman presents a short update on homeschool freedom, a reminder of God's providence in the past, and a call to be prepared for the 2007 legislative session, along with a heart-felt look at home education a decade from now.

Many home educators are intimidated by the common myth that children who are taught at home are at a disadvantage in social development. Rick Boyer draws on Scripture, scientific research and the experience of thousands of home-teaching families to show that the opposite is true. To prepare children for the real world, they need to be in the real world: family, church, and community - not locked away from society in age-segregated schools. This session will help you respond to the constant challenge: "What about socialization?"

Dr. Ray's major new study examines the lives of 7,306 adults from across the United States who were homeschooled. This research, a long time in the making, focuses on these adults' general demographics, attitudes toward their own home-school experience, and success in life. Success was evaluated with respect to civic, social, educational, employment, and worldview traits. In many ways, they are very "normal". On the other hand, they are remarkably different than the general U.S. population. Generally speaking, the findings defuse many of the long-held negative criticisms of those who doubted homeschooling's benefits, whether practiced in the U.S. or other nations. And the findings will likely be a great encouragement to those parents and advocates of home-based education over the past two decades.

Rather than raising children to follow formulas, let us teach them using the principles of discipleship, and then have them "follow me as I follow Christ." And, rather than trying to force your home schooling to look like someone else's, let's learn to hear from the Lord just what is best for your own family. Instead of falling victim to preconceived judgments, from ourselves or from others, let's learn to find God's way for us in this home schooling journey.

Many home educators see the father's job as either that of substitute teacher standing in for Mom occasionally, or school janitor - doing housework to give Mom more time in the classroom. But the father's role is much more than that. Rick Boyer explains the seven functions of a father in Scripture and shows how they apply in the home teaching family to make the whole operation come alive.

Dr. Ray will first ask "Should you teach your own children?" then proceed to help his audience answer the question which is the title of this message. Brian will use Christian thought, his experience as a long-time home education father of eight children, ideas from the education profession, and research to stimulate, challenge, and encourage both veteran and novice educators.