MAKING THE RIGHT IMPRESSION
The experiences of 21 British Christian home educating families
Edited by Lyn Richards. Home Service (http://www.home-service.org). 220 pages. £7.00
ISBN 978-0-95558-550-0
If you have ever wanted to be a fly on the wall of a home-schooler’s kitchen, here’s your chance! In this book 21 different families allow us into their homes for a warts-and-all view of the home-schooling experience.
Whether you are just curious about home education or seriously contemplating trying it yourself, you will find this book both down-to-earth and informative. Real parents of real children in Britain today explain why and how they got started and give practical illustrations of how it works out for them on a daily basis, what curricula they use and so on. The (mostly female) writers are refreshingly honest and humble about their struggles and shortcomings yet also share their joys and successes.
Many make reference to the injunction in Deuteronomy 6.7 to teach God’s ways in the natural environment of the home and their desire to work this out in the most meaningful way possible, imparting a Christian worldview and godly character training to their children. Contrary to a lot of secular thinking, they view their offspring as a blessing, not a burden and, indeed, the joy of being together as a family and their closeness really shines through.
Those who are already home-schooling will find the accounts encouraging and full of creative ideas. On the other hand, if you know nothing about education at home, this book will inform, inspire and maybe even lead you to give it a go yourself.
Kathy Peat,
member of the International Presbyterian Church, Liss
