Home School Heartbeat Radio Program

Mike Smith:
This week, we’re looking at education in various cultures and times, as we celebrate World Teacher’s Day. In homeschooling, learning often happens in a communal environment, with all ages interacting with each other. In early America, education happened much the same way. The towns established school districts so that all children could get an education. Although wealthier families could afford to get tutors, everyone else sent their children to the one-room schoolhouse. Children of all ages would learn reading, writing, and arithmetic.

Everyone would take their part in the school day. Teachers would get there early to start a fire so the room would be warm when the children came in. They’d often cook for the students, too. Students would carry in wood and water and tidy up.

In some ways, homeschooling families may do the same today; the children help each other with their lessons. For example, the older ones may reinforce their own lessons by telling them to the younger children.

The colonial schoolhouse heritage has passed down that close-knit community feeling to the homeschool families. Not only do homeschool families grow close as they spend time with each other and learn together, but many also develop tight relationships with other homeschool families.

Join us next time for an educational model that combines some of the best aspects of each of the cultures we’ve surveyed this week! And until then, I’m Mike Smith.