MANY INDIVIDUALS have spoken or written on the merits or demerits of home-schooling in Barbados. Some have said a resounding no to it, while others have said a somewhat equally resounding but somewhat more mooted yes.
Springer Memorial School’s sixth form student [Leslie Ann Downer] last week gave a quite convincing presentation as to her rationale for opposing home-schooling. She made some telling points that were quite reasonable.
The Ministry of Education must carry out a means test or some kind of test, to find out whether or not the parents or guardians who wish to home-school their children are capable of doing it.
It’s only when they are satisfied that the conditions under which the children are about to be home-schooled are adequate, and the person or persons willing to home-school them are more than capable, should they say yes. This is on condition that they are told because no permission might be sought; some people just home-school.
Years ago, no one was thinking about home-schooling any pupil in Barbados. We all used to go to the school in our district. We had no problem then. I wonder where all of this home-schooling phenomenon has come from?
It has arisen because certain religions believe that their children should follow their religion. I don’t have any problem with that though.
A child does not generally know what religion it should choose. It generally chooses the religion it came along and found its parents following. That is why the children of Rastafarians become Rastafarians, the children of Muslims, Jews or other religions usually become young members of those other religions. Sometimes children of Christians become Christians or nothing, and when they become old enough to make their own choices, they then become Christians or nothing.
I wonder why children of Christians, at least in Barbados, might become Christians or nothing, whereas children of some of the other religionists usually follow the religions of their parents?
It is a sad reflection on the thought processes of some Christians, but some other religionists seem to indoctrinate their children from very early into their own religions . . . Hence, home-schooling has emerged. And it has become a necessary evil. But some Christians don’t seem to care one way or the other. I wonder why? I believe Satan blinds their minds.
The Bible that some people no longer read, does not support home-schooling but it supports study. We are told in 2 Timothy 2:15: “Study to show thyself approved unto God (He is no man upstairs, or nothing so derogatory), a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (KJV).
– BISHOP VIBERT DAC. LOWE
