by Shari McMinn

But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame (1 Peter 3:14-16 ESV).

There are many outside the homeschool world who would criticize the choices we make to home educate our often very unique, even special education-labeled students. They question our ability with, “How are you qualified?” or “Why do you think you can do a better job than trained professionals?” They may even ask, “How will your child be socialized to fit into the world as an adult?” I had multiple people — too many times to count — say things like this to me, including relatives, friends, and church members. Their gossip and negative comments were hurtful, but my husband and I knew we had chosen to homeschool for righteous reasons. The Lord helped us prepare our children well and gave them hope for their futures. We were able to justify our ways and their outcomes when authorities questioned us and even requested records of their annual progress. 

Sometimes, when we think about homeschool testing and assessments, it can be a bit intimidating, especially if you have unique learners who are working at what some might term “below grade level.” I had several of these types of learners. They were advanced in art, history, music, and science; yet they were low-achieving in math and English. I must admit that I first avoided assessments and testing like the plague! I eventually realized those were just tools that would help me become a better teacher. 

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