THE HOMESCHOOL AWAKENING

THE HOMESCHOOL AWAKENING is an enthusiastic, encouraging, inspiring documentary on the positive nature of homeschooling and includes several couples who give testimony to their journey in homeschooling. Narrated by Kirk Cameron, THE HOMESCHOOL AWAKENING answers many common questions people have about homeschooling and strongly promotes Christian faith and family.

There is no greater love or concern for a child, than that of his or her parents. Parents have always been the first educators of their children. In fact, for most of history parents were the facilitators of education. Why have so many parents given up their place as the most important educators for their families?

The documentary delves into the history of government controlled education. Horace Mann enacted major educational reforms in the 1830s and 1840s. Mann is widely acknowledged by many people as the father of “common schools” or public schools. It was his chief belief that a public school education would ensure the success of children who would grow into responsible contributors to society. Before Mann, most children were educated at home, or at their parish schools.

Horace Mann’s activism in educational reform was opposed at the time by those who believe he had replaced religion and family involvement in education for his own sectarianism. By 1962 in the United States, prayer was outlawed in public school. In 1963, the Bible was also banished. Essentially, parents relinquished their rights to decide what their children are taught and how they are taught. This posed serious problems. For example, public schools focus on a narrow type of intelligence, instead of the eight types of intelligence discussed in Dr. Kathy Koch’s book, 8 GREAT SMARTS. Another issue for parents of public school children is the lack of time parents are able to spend with their children, especially when people add sports and extracurricular activities into the equation.

THE HOMESCHOOL AWAKENING explores how parents can spend time with their children, educate them and develop their individual talents and skills, while inserting faith, fun and adventure into the mix. The documentary leaves out some important facts about the pitfalls of public education. Though not discussed in the documentary, a major problem with the public school education system is the academic pressure to succeed and produce. This problem, coupled with peer pressure and destructive cultural norms, have created a mental health crisis for the nation’s youths in epic proportions. However, Kirk Cameron, and his wife Tracy Noble, along with several other families, use their personal experience to give a compelling case for homeschooling.

THE HOMESCHOOL AWAKENING is an inspiring, wholesome documentary. The parents stress the joy and enrichment that homeschooling bestows on their families. Both parents and children say they enjoy the flexibility homeschooling allows them. By homeschooling their children, parents can focus on the uniqueness of their children, which is known only to them. Also, children can spend more time excelling in their special talents or skills, instead of being slaves to a “cookie cutter” curriculum. THE HOMESCHOOL AWAKENING has a strong Christian, biblical worldview that extols faith and family.