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4 Types of Homeschooling in Indonesia

Sarah and Seth at PrambananLocals constantly ask me how we educate our children here in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. My answer is that we choose to homeschool. From what I have learned so far, homeschooling can be taken to mean one of four different things here. One, it may mean that you pay a teacher(s) to come to your house and educate your children in your home. Two, it may mean that you take your children to a building where other homeschool kids gather to be taught by teachers chosen by the parents. Three, it may mean that your children are still young and instead of putting them in playgroup you find other parents of pre-school aged children to get together for occasional play-dates. Or Four, the parents are the sole educator of their children.

Taman PintarThe fourth option is where we are placed. Because the idea of homeschooling is a relatively new idea here, I think it is hard for the general public to believe that a parent has the capability to handle that task. Even after explaining that I am the sole educator for Sarah and Seth I am usually met with looks of confusion. I explain that I teach all the subjects from Math, Grammar, Literature, History, Science, and so on, though the aid of books I have selected. Most people usually just nod their heads but there is still a look of amusement in their eyes.

Angklung

Some of the moms I have talked with whose children are still very young express their concern over where to send their kids when they are of age. They are not happy with the idea of the government school system for one reason or another.

Norma, Sarah and SethI believe there is potential for home education to be a great success here in Indonesia. I have met several families in Jakarta who are doing just that. With some dedication and creative thinking, kids can have a great home education. There are already a lot of resources available in the local bookstores for teaching the major subjects. There are also a lot of resources available on-line to supplement studies.

My encouragement to those beginning the process is to keep at it. Our children are worth every minute that we invest in their lives. :-)

Some of my favorite curriculum:

Saxon Math
Shurley English
Veritas Press Phonics
Veritas Press Self-Paced History

Question: If you are a homeschool parent, please share with us some of your favorite resources. Please click here to leave your comment.

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Business Woman Puts Family First

Mom and KidsOnce upon a time there was a young, married, successful business woman, earning a terrific salary, driving a company car and living in a nice home with servants to care for the housework and children. Behind the scenes though, she was a slave to her boss. She was more submissive to him than to her husband, because after all he could fire her! Her children were more affectionate to their nanny than to her. She was unhappy, her husband was unhappy and their family was hurting.

One day she read in God’s Word, “Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord” (Colossians 3:18). She asked herself, “Have I been being submissive to my husband or to my boss?” God’s Word also says to teach your children when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise (Deuteronomy 6:6-10). How could she teach her children throughout the day when they are left in the care of a nanny and she is out in the world working?

Something needed to change. She made the decision to quit her well-paid job and win back the hearts of her family. She decided to follow God’s plan. Her boss was dumbfounded. Why would she want to “sacrifice” her salary and company car? Her response to him was that it was not a sacrifice but an investment. She was investing in the hearts of her husband and children.

This is a true story of a real woman I met recently here in Indonesia. When she told me her story and the change she made after reading God’s Word I asked her permission to share her story with you. I am so encouraged by her example of being a doer of the Word and not a hearer only (James 1:23-25). Her husband is happy, she is happy and the hearts of her children rest in her hands. God’s way is always the best way!

Please share this post if you found it encouraging. Thank You!

Question: What changes in your life have you made after reading God’s Word? You can leave a comment by clicking here. 

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Homeschooling in Jakarta

I have been pleasantly surprised to find several groups of Homeschooling families here in Jakarta, Indonesia. They seem to all function differently, focusing on a variety of activities. Some are more structured with educational lessons prepared for the kids to participate in. Some are more casual, allowing for the kids to run and play freely. Some are open to everyone, regardless of religious background while others are reserved for those with a “Christian” background. Still other Homeschool groups are designed for foreigners and those that can speak English well enough to participate.

Eagles Nest

One of the Homeschool groups that I met is called “Eagle’s Nest.” They asked me to be their guest speaker and share my experiences as a homeschool mom and wife trying to live God’s way. We discussed God’s plan for the family and how as parents our ultimate responsibility to train our children to love Him and follow Him all their lives. The moms had some excellent questions after my talk. They asked about practical examples of how to train our children not to complain. They asked about training them to sit still and quiet during worship. They asked about sibling rivalry and how to overcome that. They also asked about discipline and how to control our emotions in stressful situations. There were questions about the husband-wife relationship and what to do when we don’t agree with each other.

I explained, and I hope they all understood, that I am not perfect and neither is my small family. We make mistakes. We fail at times. But, we apologize to each other and to God and move on trying not to make the same mistake again.

I thank God for this opportunity to speak to these ladies! It was a growing opportunity for me as I put into words the principles that my family lives by. I learned more about Indonesian culture as well as a few more vocabulary words! I pray that each mom was able to take away something from our meeting. I pray that each of these women look to His Word to find Truth and that they, along with their husbands, train their children to serve Him all their days.

Question: What activities does your homeschool group do when they get together? You can leave a comment by clicking here. 

Please enjoy this brief video I made from our very first Homeschool activity here in Jakarta. Thank you and remember to subscribe so you can watch more interesting videos about Indonesia!