Home School Heartbeat Radio Program

Will all homeschooling moms who are not busy please rise? Thought so. Even though you’re busy, some things are worth the time. Homeschooling mom Billie Jo Youmans thinks service learning is in that category. Join Billie Jo and HSLDA President Mike Smith on Home School Heartbeat.

Mike Smith:
We’ve been talking about service learning, or using job and ministry volunteer work as part of a course of study. Billie Jo, what would you tell parents who say, “But how do we add one more thing to our day?”

Billie Jo Youmans:
I would say service learning is like anything else we choose to add into our lives. We need to prayerfully seek God’s priorities and ask for his wisdom. As Christians, we are called to serve as the hands and feet of Christ. As home educators, we are called to coordinate our children's academic pursuits. Service learning is a tool, which can be employed to respond to both of these calls. And each student and family will have unique situations which may or may not make service learning a good match. But busy lives are a fact of life.

The honest truth, though, is we live in a time of great privilege when it comes to choosing what keeps us busy. Our ancestors kept busy simply surviving; we each have the privilege and responsibility to choose wisely in terms of what keeps us busy. If the goals and needs of the students and family are best met by service learning, it will become a priority worth sacrificing for. If it's not the best match, that’s OK, too. Truly, the only priority we need is Jesus Christ.

Mike:
Billie Jo, thank you so much for those provoking comments today. And until next time, I’m Mike Smith.