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ADVANTAGES OF OUR FAMILY EDUCATION
Issued by World Services on the collective behalf of the fellowship of independent missionary communities commonly referred to as The Family
April 1993
God's Word encourages us to count our blessings. In response to requests from the public for information about our educational methods and the opportunities we provide for our children, we offer the following overview of many of the positive educational advantages we feel our children enjoy in The Family.
BASIC EDUCATION
1. Education in The Family is free and universally provided for all the children.
There are endless educational opportunities for all ages of children to learn and develop in all areas of their lives. Standardised membership rules and requirements ensure that all children are being well educated. The adults in our communities have a wide variety of skills and areas of expertise which the children benefit from as the adults share in their teaching--from mathematics to music, from science to swimming, from witnessing to carpentry, from meal preparation and cooking to mechanics. Our children grow up in cosy families, housed in a bustling religious community which serves as a school, a church, a mission outpost, a family business, a theatre, a recreation centre, a Bible college, a vocational training school, a community social centre, and above all, a loving home.
2. Through home schooling, our children receive caring, concerned teaching and supervision.
The children in our communities are taught by people who take a personal interest in their academic progress and their spiritual well-being. In many cases, one or both of the parents are involved in the home schooling of their children. The involvement of many of the parents in teaching ensures that they have a lot more say in the education and training of their children than parents who send their children to a public or private school. Our families enjoy close communication between parents, teachers and children. Home schooling, combined with the warm family atmosphere of each Home (local fellowship), provides an excellent environment for the children to progress scholastically.
Our children also receive more personal oversight and individual instruction than most children. While audio-visual materials are used regularly, indiscriminate television viewing is not practised within our communities, so the television does not become an overwhelming and potentially negative influence in their education.
3. Basic scholastic training is on a par with secular counterparts.
All children receive sound training in essential academic skills. This includes reading, writing, mathematics, history, general social studies, international current events, general science, and numerous other subjects as well. Our younger children progress through a well-planned curriculum covering the basic academic subjects, as well as art, drama, music and physical education. Our teens and young adults receive three-fold training: basic academic studies, Christian missionary training, as well as practical and vocational training.
4. A consistent curriculum of studies is used throughout The Family.
The Home Schooling programme used throughout our Family is American-based. Adjustments, changes and additions to the curriculum are made by each Home, depending on the needs of the individual students and differences in the countries they are living in. Learning goals for reading, language arts, mathematics, science, health, life skills and Bible lessons are fairly standard throughout The Family. History, geography and foreign language studies vary according to the countries where the students are living.
The instructional materials published by The Family provide parents, teachers and students with very comprehensive reference material for a basic educational programme, including detailed guidelines for the sequential teaching of reading, writing and mathematics, as well as reference material and class suggestions for general science, social studies, history, geography, biology, physical education, health, drama, art, music, practical skills and foreign language instruction.
The overall consistency of the school curriculum from country to country is particularly beneficial to students who move from one location to another. The Teacher's Planner, which outlines the material to be covered each year for each grade, simplifies the teachers' planning and makes the programme straightforward and simple for parents and teachers to follow.
5. Preschool children in our communities benefit from many enjoyable and exciting learning and play activities.
Teachers, parents and caretakers of younger children are encouraged to provide the children with a variety of activities in an interesting, fun and stimulating learning environment. Children in their early years learn much through play, and therefore many of our children's learning activities are play activities with a purpose. Many of these learning activities are based partially on Glenn Doman's remarkably successful early learning techniques and a modified Montessori method.
The preschool children are taught Bible stories and flannelgraphs, sight words and basic phonics for reading preparation, basic mathematics (the Glenn Doman "Teach Your Baby Math" programme is used in many Family Homes), songs, art, practical life skills, simple science and social studies lessons, social skills, indoor and outdoor games and activities, swimming (where possible), simple drama activities, and more. We realise that much basic learning for life takes place before a child is five years old, so the learning opportunities that we make available for them at this young age are very important.
6. Many educational videos have been produced by The Family to be used in our children's schooling.
The Golden Age Production (GAP) video series is an ongoing educational series produced by The Family to provide a wide variety of teaching and learning materials for children of all ages. In addition to many videos on subjects such as reading, writing, mathematics, social studies, etc., there are also a wide variety of programmes on arts and crafts, performing arts, animal care, Bible knowledge and stories which teach moral and spiritual values, to name just a few.
The "I Can Read" and "Writing Right" videos, for example, teach early reading and writing. "Teach Me Time" provides fun learning activities for toddlers and preschoolers, as well as ideas for parents and teachers to use with their little ones. The "School Days" videos incorporate school time with everyday experiences and make learning fun. "Uncle Dan's Math" is a comprehensive mathematics series which takes students from the basics of addition, subtraction, multiplication and division through to a complete geometry course.
Also in the GAP video series, there are a number of programmes designed especially to instruct teachers and parents how to effectively manage Home Schooling programmes themselves.
7. The overall level of literacy of the children in our fellowships is very high.
The Family is a "Word of God" centred movement, dedicated to learning all the Truth of God we can and sharing it with others. The printed Word plays a paramount role in moulding our lives. Our emphasis on God's Word makes learning to read relatively easy for our children, who often are accomplished readers at five and six years of age, and even earlier.
8. We take a very balanced approach to education.
We believe in keeping a child's learning in balance. "A false balance is abomination to the Lord: but a just weight is His delight" (Proverbs 11:1). We do not believe in overloading a child with too much of a good thing, including religion. Even the Bible warns to "not be overrighteous, neither be overwise" (Ecclesiastes 7:16, NIV). Ecclesiastes also warns us that "much study is a weariness of the flesh" (Ecclesiastes 12:12) and that "to every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the Heaven" (Ecclesiastes 3:1). Our communities aim to keep the children's activities well balanced--in study, play, recreation, work, academic subjects, practical skills, Bible studies, music, drama, spiritual concerns, prayer, rest, and special outings and activities. Intensive study in one area is engaged in only if a child needs special remedial attention in that area, or shows an exceptional interest in the subject matter.
9. We do not accentuate grouping of children by age.
We do group children by ages for certain activities or classes, but for the most part the children in our fellowships enjoy a great deal of interaction with all ages, both older and younger than themselves. Although we follow some general groupings by age or grade, we encourage our families to allow each child to progress at his or her own rate as much as possible. We feel that dividing children too rigidly into grades and age groupings tends to isolate them into these groupings and affect them socially if carried to extremes. It is a very enriching experience for our children to be able to interact with and learn from other age groups. Rigid classroom age barriers are contrary to our whole missionary vision of promoting unity, reaching out to others and including others of all ages. We believe in balanced social relationships, which means sometimes being exclusively with one's own age group, and sometimes not.
10. Learning and education are not linked just to "schooling" but to life itself.
Education in The Family is enjoyable. The children in our communities perceive learning and education as natural activities of life. This fresh attitude to learning is due in part to the fact that learning is woven into the very fabric of our daily life and activities. When learning is directly linked to life, it becomes an exciting challenge. However, when children can't see any purpose or personal application for what they are being taught, learning frequently becomes shallow, superficial and monotonous. They can't see how the tasks before them fit into their lives.
When learning is too artificially imposed, too textbook-centred, or too detached from a child's life or interests, it can become drudgery, and the motivation to learn will drop. Also when marks, grades and passing courses become the greatest goal, then the quality of learning suffers. Learning should be a challenge that is enjoyed, not a chore to endure.
Admittedly, not all learning can be accomplished without a certain amount of personal application, but we feel that the more obviously useful, rewarding and gratifying the knowledge is, the better and more quickly it will be learned. We strive to make learning as natural as eating, one of the pleasures, not pains, of life. Learning does not stop when a child grows older, but is continued throughout life. Adults in our Family continue to benefit from seminars, discussion groups, practical and vocational training, and the availability of extensive reading material on a variety of subjects.
11. Practical and vocational education are emphasised.
"Each one teach one to do your job," is a Family motto we practice. (See 2 Timothy 2:2.) We usually teach by the clinical method, learning by doing, learning by experience, with someone showing how to do it right. Learning practical life skills is a very important part of a young child's education. In cooperative environments like ours, children have opportunity to actively participate in many interesting occupations and activities that go on all around them.
Our children receive a wealth of training and practical experience in all the "life skills" of personal care, health and safety, communication, environment management, conservation, pet care, and so forth. The Family is very conservation-minded, and we believe in preserving and not wasting the earth's resources. We try to make the most effective use of what we have and avoid waste or extravagance.
Teenagers in our communities participate in vocational training as a part of their schooling, much like young apprentices.
12. Our children learn a multitude of skills and subjects that do not show up on achievement tests.
Though our children score well on most secular achievement tests and standardised tests, such tests are inadequate in measuring the real scope and depth of our children's learning. Achievement tests at best only <M%-2>measure a few limited aspects of academic perfor<%-1>mance in a few selected subject areas. They do not even pretend to measure the more critical and important aspects of a child's life that we consider a vital part of every child's education: character, decision making, perseverance, creativity, communication skills, respect, a sense of humour, wisdom, concern for others, the ability to get along with others, generosity, patience, happiness, conviction, determination, appreciativeness, self-confidence, motivation, willingness, ability to handle responsibility, initiative, learning to work in a team, common sense, optimism, ability to work out problems, the ability to seek and draw on the knowledge and resources of others, love for God and others, faith, hope, prayer, knowledge of the Word of God, witnessing and Christian leadership. Such things are never measured by school achievement tests, yet these "subjects" are a central part of our children's education.
OUR CHRISTIAN EDUCATION
13. Our education is Bible-based.
The Word of God is the basic building block of our entire education system. Our whole purpose is education--educating people in the Truth of the Gospel! Our major aim in every field and in every subject is to build faith in God as the children learn about His promises, His Creation, His Love, and His plan for Mankind. The Word of God is an unlimited source of wisdom and knowledge that answers life's most vital questions and solves life's most crucial problems. (For a more detailed discussion on this, please refer to our Position and Policy Statement: "Christ-Centred Bible-Based Education".)
14. The children in our fellowships grow in spiritual awareness and maturity.
We believe there are wonderful spiritual dimensions just beyond the reach of our present physical senses. What inner creative joy, curiosity, and imagination has been stimulated in generations of great philosophers, writers, and world-changers who have sought to look beyond the curtain that divides this world from the Next! When you include a spiritual dimension to life, you step out of time into eternity. You reach beyond your physical senses and touch things unseen as yet. Through God and His Word and the Holy Spirit, we can learn much about this great hidden dimension of the spirit and better understand our physical world as well.
No curriculum can adequately present this other dimension to life, yet it is of vital interest to every human being. We believe the spiritual side of man must not be neglected and must be developed as God intended, to open our hearts and minds to the wonder of God and give us a proper perspective on life. Spiritual awareness of good things can open up for us a taste of Heaven here and now, and make life a whole lot more understandable, reasonable and enjoyable.
15. Respect for God is part of our children's life.
Knowledge of God and respect for Him is a very important part of the life of a Christian. To "fear God and keep His commandments", we are told by wise Solomon, "is the whole duty of Man" (Ecclesiastes 12:13). A sincere respect for the Person, power, and presence of God is very needed in order to guide and govern human actions. A real awareness of God helps keep us on the right track and out of trouble. Not only that, but knowing God is there for us can be a great comfort.
We do not teach our children that God is Someone with a big stick always ready to beat on us for sins committed, but that He is a just and loving Father, ever merciful and forgiving if we are willing and humble enough to ask for His help and forgiveness.
16. Teaching ethics is a way of life.
Today's young people in vast numbers "have severed themselves from the traditional moral anchors--honesty, respect for others, personal responsibility and civic duty." According to Michael Josephson, founder of the Josephson Institution of Ethics (USA), the current "I-deserve-it" philosophy of youth "is exceptionally and dangerously self-centered, preoccupied with personal needs, wants, don't wants and rights. They are more likely to lie, cheat and engage in irresponsible behavior when it suits their purposes." Self-gratification and winning are what kids today feel is right, and a lot of them feel they deserve to get what they want by any means necessary.
How different are the high ethical attitudes and behaviour we strive to instill in our young people. From early childhood on, our children are taught to be considerate, kind, loving, sacrificial, sharing, patient, hard-working, non-materialistic, and unselfish. Sound ethics and traditional good behaviour are very much alive and thriving in our Homes and communities as a part of daily life and education.
We present our children with exemplary role models. This includes not only Jesus Christ, but great heroes of the Bible, great heroes of the Christian faith, as well as courageous men and women of modern times. Our children also have their own dedicated parents and teachers to look up to for wonderful samples of character and dedication in the service of God. We do not just "preach" good behaviour to our children, but show them through living example.
17. Our children develop faith through living a life of faith.
"The just shall live by faith" (Hebrews 10:38). A person with real faith in God has many advantages over someone who has no faith or undeveloped faith. "The people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits" (Daniel 11:32). Knowing God gives inner strength and sees one through tough times, times of fear, loss of loved ones, personal setbacks and failures. The children in our communities have a foundation of faith that brings about miracles and changes lives. The Word-based publications that we provide for our children help them learn how to face situations with faith, and encourage them to handle problems positively. Faith does not grow freely in secular schools, because faith comes from hearing and believing God's Word (Romans 10:17), and there are very few opportunities to do that in most schools today. In many schools, it is actually forbidden to read the Bible.
18. The children in our communities develop the valuable inner resource of hope.
Hope is another of God's very important and helpful gifts to those who love Him and believe His Word. The ability to believe God will work things out for the good of those who love Him comes from living one's life very close to God, close enough to see Him at work and to trust in His loving plan. We believe education should facilitate this loving and trusting relationship with God, this positive outlook, this divine measure of optimism in the face of sometimes impossible opposition. Hope is an inner resource that children develop in our Christian Family environment.
19. Love, consideration and understanding are encouraged among all members, and the children in our communities grow up in an atmosphere of brotherly love.
St. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 13, "Now abideth faith, hope, charity [love]; but the greatest of these is charity [love]." Love is the very essence of God, because "God is love" (1 John 4:8). Love is a very powerful gift given to Man by God, which conquers where force fails. "Charity [love] never faileth" (1 Corinthians 13:8a). We love our children and teach them to be loving to each other. Of course, members of our communities do have misunderstandings and communication problems from time to time, but we strive to help each other sort out any differences amicably. "Let brotherly love continue" (Hebrews 13:1). Love is to be the hallmark of a true Christian. "By this shall all men know that ye are My disciples, if ye have love one to another" (John 13:35). In a world filled with hate, we believe this quality must be encouraged and nurtured more than any other single aspect of human character.
20. A personal prayer life is very important.
Taking your problems and burdens to God makes life much easier. Regular prayer can even prevent many problems before they ever begin. Just as communication with each other is a necessary skill, so we believe that we all must learn how to use prayer as a wonderful channel of communication with our loving Saviour. Prayer power is a Christian skill we pass on to our children, and is an essential part of a Godly education. It is very sad to see how many schools are even banning this divine skill, gift of God, and universally accepted source of inner peace and comfort.
21. Our communities foster forgiveness, mercy, and freedom from bitterness.
Negative mental attitudes and unresolved anger and frustration are very damaging to a person's mental and physical state. Such feelings can cause a person's inner growth, happiness and good health to grind to a halt. If unattended, emotional upset can boil over into outrage and hurt people. We believe that the well-educated child will be provided the resources necessary to remove or resolve such inner destructive emotional forces. In order to live a happy and productive life, conflicts and hurts must be quickly cleared away. Some can be resolved directly with Jesus in prayer or through understanding of His Word, while others need to be talked about and worked out to the mutual benefit of all involved. God has many good and positive solutions to all human problems. We feel the knowledge of how to discover these superior solutions needs to have priority in everyone's education. Neglecting God's solutions is having disastrous effects in schools and colleges where the amount of violence has risen dramatically in recent years, as has the suicide rate among young people.
22. Honesty is the best policy.
Children in our fellowships grow up confident that the people around them tell the truth to each other. Children are encouraged to be truthful, and are met with understanding and sympathy when they are open and honest. Trusted adults are available for the children to discuss their honest feelings with, or to share their sincere questions with, for explanation and counsel. Adults in our communities are encouraged to set good examples by also being open and honest about their shortcomings and mistakes. Few children enjoy such openness and honesty in today's society.
23. Confidence and conviction to do what is right are characteristics we encourage in our children.
The children in our communities grow up knowing that what they are doing makes a positive difference in the lives of others. This improves their self-esteem and strengthens their conviction to do what's right, as they see for themselves the direct and positive effects that their good behaviour has on others. Our children grow in confidence and conviction as they reach out to help others and become an example to others of standing up for what is right, even at a sacrificial cost to themselves.
Witnessing is one activity which exposes our youth to many people and their problems in life. They see firsthand the collage of other religions, philosophies and mind-sets that other young people in society have. They are able to compare these with their own way of life, and make well-informed choices and personal decisions in life as they grow older.
CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP AND MISSIONARY TRAINING
24. Missionary training is good for character.
Missionary life is adventuresome, challenging, full of new interests, places to go and an endless variety of fascinating people to meet and minister to. From childhood, we encourage our children to have an outgoing concern for the spiritual well-being of others.
Our missionary life is not self-centred, but centred on serving others. We do not encourage individual materialistic pursuits, but rather sharing, and the wise, effective and efficient use of available resources which are made accessible to all. Good stewardship is encouraged, as children learn responsibility at an early age.
25. Organisational skills and working with people are learned through participation in a variety of activities.
The children and young people in our communities are often involved in helping to organise and direct various types of group activities and performances inside and outside our communities, including Bible study groups, youth meetings, special performances, seminars, and so forth. Our young people learn group management and how to attend to the needs of newcomers, schedule group activities, and exercise leadership and managerial initiative.
26. Witnessing provides an excellent education in counselling and communicating with others.
Witnessing is a powerful, positive, personal heart-to-heart form of communication. It is a unique act of exchanging inner feelings and beliefs with another person for the purpose of imparting God's answers to life's mysteries and problems. Witnessing Christian faith is a very unique form of human interaction. It can be very spiritual, liberating and highly beneficial to all involved. Why is this skill not more developed amongst Christians in our society? To do it, one must have enough courage, initiative, conviction, confidence in God and concern for others to buck the tide of social pressures and conventions which inhibit such open expressions of faith and honest communication with others. Jesus expects everyone who believes in Him to be a witness and share with others the Truth they know and the love they have received. The more practice, personal experience, understanding of people's inner needs, knowledge of God's Word, prayer, and empowerment by God's Holy Spirit you have, the easier it will be to witness effectively.
What are the benefits? Aside from growth in spiritual awareness, and hopefully the salvation of those witnessed to, witnessing helps our young people and the people whom they meet break down artificial walls and barriers that inhibit them. It opens up new thoughts, aspirations and assurances of personal worth. They learn that others go through many of the same experiences and emotions that they do. Witnessing helps restore people's perspective on life and assures them of the important part they play.
Some of our children acquire firsthand witnessing experience at remarkably early ages. Not only do they occasionally accompany their parents on visits to witness and minister to others, but from an early age, they often participate in witnessing through performances such as singing, dancing, and even puppet shows in institutions, orphanages, senior citizens' rest homes, etc. These are experiences which they greatly enjoy and find very fulfilling, as they see firsthand the lives that are touched and changed through their witness.
Witnessing our Christian faith is a beautiful form of deep and sincere communication with others, but one which is not always understood by society at large. Our children and young people receive training in this most stimulating and wonderful of human exchanges and interactions. It is one skill that can only be learned through personal practice and experience. No achievement test can ever measure this priceless inner resource that is central to our life as active Christians.
27. Travelling is a missionary's way of life.
Cross-cultural interaction gives our membership a broadened education and balanced world view. Our young people grow up with a natural interest in all parts of the world and have opportunities for travel equal to the very best "student exchange" programmes in existence. Many of our members travel extensively with their children, and our teens and young adults have frequent opportunities to travel abroad as well. Travel is not only for the privileged few, it is a natural part of being a missionary. Many universities today recognise the great educational value of travel, and grant credits for one's travel experience.
28. Linguistic skills are encouraged.
More than most other children, the children in our communities realise the need for, and are encouraged to learn foreign languages. This is a natural outcome of our way of life, as our children meet and mingle with other children of our group, or friends who speak other languages. Children in The Family are encouraged to learn English, as well as the local language of the country they live in. The majority of adult members in a typical Family Home are proficient in more than one language and many of these language skills are passed on to the children.
29. Our youth are globally aware.
As a group and a missionary movement, we literally go into all the world. (See Mark 16:15.) This focus on the world encourages the children in our fellowships to be much more globally aware than other children. Our Family has Homes in many countries, friends who travel much, and our members witness to people from many different parts of the world. Even in their home countries, they often witness and minister in a variety of immigrant communities.
Our global awareness also comes from our global concerns. We believe we are living in the Endtime and that Biblically predicted events preceding the return of Jesus are now coming to pass. Hence it is important to keep abreast of world events. Prayer requests from around the world also foster in our children a broad perspective and understanding of the world they live in, and help them stay in tune with the times probably more than most children.
30. Love takes the trauma out of travel.
We have found that children who travel a lot in our Family benefit from and enjoy the experience, because love, personal care and attention remain consistent in their lives. Our children do not experience any great social or educational disruption, because our Family way of life and education is similar wherever they go. We home school our children, and our Homes worldwide follow a similar curriculum, so this remains consistent. Moving from one Family community to another is not usually an "uprooting" experience at all, but is more comparable to simply moving to a different house on the same block, or like visiting close relatives or friends.
Since our overall population is small, many paths cross and old acquaintances are frequently renewed. Our children also often correspond by mail with former friends and acquaintances in other countries, like "pen pals".
31. Flexibility and adaptability are life skills missionaries must learn.
One of the key skills a missionary needs is to be able to adapt. Missionaries must become all things to all men. (See 1 Corinthians 9:22.) Missionary life requires a very sophisticated level of individual and group adaptability to all sorts of new and challenging situations. Local politics, beliefs, languages, economics and history--all have a direct effect on our communities, and members must be at all times able to change in whatever ways are needed to accommodate the culture and people they live among. It is a tremendous learning experience for young and old. The need for adaptability and flexibility demanded by a missionary lifestyle prepares our young people well for the modern rapidly changing world, where people must often be prepared to change their occupations several times in their lives.
We are always looking for ways to improve our lives and the lives of others. We try not to become inflexible in the way we do things, but are open to change in order to find new solutions to problems and put new methods into practice, especially if those changes will improve our way of life, our ministry, our education, our ability to communicate, or our effectiveness in relating to our children. This constructive flexibility teaches our children initiative, improvisation, problem-solving, and to have a positive attitude towards obstacles or new challenges in their lives.
Flexibility and adaptability flourish best in environments free from fear and turmoil. Family Homes provide very stable, secure home environments where children can grow and mature, confident that they are loved and accepted.
32. Our kids learn to be cautious and aware of danger while in public, and safety-minded at home.
We strive to make our Homes as accident-proof as possible, taking special care to "baby-proof" and make them safe environments for our children. Everyone from the youngest to the oldest is taught to be safety-conscious and alert to the many hazards of modern-day living. Of course, we always emphasise the importance of having faith and confidence in God's help and protection. Our children are exposed to less danger than most children in society, because we supervise them closely and teach them by personal example. Sometimes we are criticised for the close supervision, attentiveness and special training we give our children. Such concerns are most often raised by people who do not personally know us or our children, and who themselves have little personal understanding or experience in the added travel, exposure to different cultures and situations, and the other challenges missionary families must face in order to reach and minister to people in all parts of the earth in all walks of life.
33. Meeting and working with all types of people requires good personal relations skills.
One skill we encourage in our children is the art of relating to people from many different backgrounds and beliefs. Our older children in particular frequently accompany us as we visit & minister to people of all walks of life, from the poorest to the richest. This experience is a very socially and culturally enriching part of their training.
While witnessing, doing personal visitation, performing in public, entertaining visitors, or fielding questions from the press, our children learn public and personal relations skills in the most natural way, meeting and ministering to many different types of people firsthand. They learn how to be good guests or accommodating hosts and hostesses.
34. Peacemaking and problem-solving are a way of life.
Our faith teaches us that every problem has a solution. Conflict in our communities is not resolved by aggression or violence. Nor is physical discipline considered a lasting solution to a child's problems. The only lasting solution is a vital personal relationship with the Lord and a good education with lots of love, personal attention, and explanation.
We strive to help our children work through every problem to a solution. When children clearly understand the problem and what is involved, and can discuss possible outcomes and options, they can often make the right decision on their own. This requires good communication, prayer, love, trust, removing barriers that build up, and learning to apologise. We believe in learning from the wisdom and also from the mistakes of others, drawing examples and illustrations from the Bible and many other sources to give our children insight into human behaviour and social interaction. This helps build their decision-making and problem-solving skills.
COMMUNAL LIFE SKILLS
35. Communal living is an education in itself.
Communal living provides our children with a wide range of social, educational and vocational learning opportunities that few other children in the world enjoy. Our children form many enduring friendships, enjoy all the benefits of a large extended family, and have a great deal of personal and moral support while growing up.
Living cooperatively with others of different ages who come from different ethnic origins, nationalities, languages, social, economic and educational backgrounds is a very enriching learning experience. In addition, there are a host of social and behavioural skills one must develop in order to live cooperatively: consideration, good behaviour, open communication, tidiness, diligence in work, punctuality, willingness to help out, faithfulness and reliability, to mention a few. Living cooperatively as we do in The Family is an acquired social skill that many other people could benefit from. For example, aging singles, and singles with children, the homeless or lower income families could reap many needed social and financial benefits from living together and sharing resources.
36. We learn from each other through communal living, common goals and good communication.
Our children not only learn from the riches of God's Word, but from the experience and know-how of others, as the cumulative knowledge of our Family is freely passed on to them. Working together and learning from the experiences of others creates a very effective learning environment. In The Family, we record, print and continuously share what we learn so all can benefit. Experience is an excellent teacher, and our members are greatly enriched through shared knowledge and learning from each other.
37. Our children's lives are socially and emotionally stable.
A lot of children in society today suffer learning disruptions because their home environment is in a turmoil--parents arguing, marriages breaking up, drug problems, alcoholism, gambling, siblings going astray, financial difficulties, parents unskilled in child care. In contrast, the children in our communities enjoy very stable home environments. Home life is seldom, if ever, an obstacle to learning for our children. Even if the children do face a disruption, such as a parental separation, the close family environment and the particular individual care granted to a child in such a situation, make the disruption less critical or damaging than would be experienced in most homes in society at large.
The family atmosphere of our Homes enables our children to make friends easily and not suffer through extended adjustment periods when they change locations. They seldom suffer from the great loneliness that plunges many children in society today into despondency and problems.
38. Children learn good healthful habits and enjoy a proper diet.
The Family considers the physical health and needs of our children of major importance. Good health and a proper, balanced diet are very important factors in a child's educational progress, and our children learn good health and hygiene habits from early childhood. We go to great lengths to assure that they get sufficient rest, daily vigorous exercise, and a well-balanced diet, with limitations on sweets and junk food.
Communal living, witnessing and missionary work involve a lot of close contact with others, so children are taught to be attentive to personal cleanliness and appearance, giving consistent attention to grooming, dental hygiene, cleanliness and dress.
39. High standards and good Home guidelines facilitate learning.
There are great learning advantages to be had from growing up in a loving, orderly environment where rules are based on the teachings of Jesus. All Family Homes agree to abide by common guidelines of behaviour, and this leads to respect for orderly conduct and good citizenship. Our children learn early to maintain good standards of hygiene, conduct, safety, health and respect for the rights of others. One of the beautiful aspects of our rules and discipline is that they are always tempered by love, mercy and forgiveness.
40. The children in our communities enjoy very positive peer group influences.
Many of the problems that undermine learning efficiency and effectiveness in schools today do not exist in our communities. Our children grow up with well-disciplined relatively problem-free peers: no drugs, no alcohol, no smoking, no gang involvement, no child weaponry, fear or intimidation, no bullying, crime or other serious youth-related problems. We do not encourage overly competitive games or rough-spirited sports. Cooperation, rather than competition, is the norm. Youngsters who have serious problems are given special personal attention, training and counselling, to help them find positive ways to solve their frustrations and problems.
41. Our young people receive excellent preparation for parenthood.
We often have large families, and older boys and girls receive very good training and see excellent examples of how to care for and train all ages of children. This is very needed and practical preparation for the time when they will be grown and have families of their own. Few teens receive as well-rounded a preparation as ours do to help them learn the roles and responsibilities involved in adulthood. Older teens & young adults, if they choose, may become actively involved in child care as part of their vocational training.
42. Children are taught racial and ethnic tolerance.
There is little or no racial or ethnic prejudice present in our Family. Our Christian teachings, missionary work and international base of members create a naturally open and positive attitude to those of all faiths, languages, races and social backgrounds. Our members are united through our common faith in God and bonded as brethren through the love of Jesus. Our membership is drawn from many races, yet in Christ we believe we are all the same before God, and we treat each other so.
43. Our children enjoy a classless society.
Youth in our communities enjoy the benefits of growing up in a classless society. There are no great disparities between Family members, regardless of the jobs they do. We have no extremes of rich and poor, educated and uneducated, racial or religious discrimination. Everyone enjoys close to the same standard of life and equal treatment. Home Shepherds (Home overseers or pastors) live in and not apart from the Home, and enjoy the same material benefits as everyone else. Each person is valued as a person and for his or her individual personal merits.
No Family member is made to feel inferior or ashamed because of his or her car, house, parents' position, clothing or material possessions, since "all things [are] common" (Acts 2:44). This equality of opportunity and treatment in our Homes removes many social barriers and class-conscious attitudes common in secular society, especially in public and private schools, so that our children do not suffer the pains of ostracism from their peers, but rather a feeling of belonging and the knowledge that they are an important member of their Home and of society as a whole.
44. Our women assume leadership roles equally with the men.
In our Homes, our children see wonderful role models where men and women work in teamwork together, pooling their unique qualities to create a balanced approach to life's challenges. Ability and spiritual maturity, not gender, determines one's leadership role in a community. Children are very accustomed to seeing women take leading roles in Homes and throughout our missionary work. "There is ... neither male nor female ... in Christ Jesus" (Galatians 3:28). Family women do not have to compete with men, or discard their feminine charm and beauty to assume positions of responsibility in our communities. Each sex brings their unique perspective to leadership, and both are equally valued and respected.
45. We specialise in teaching children cooperation and teamwork skills.
The Family is founded and organised around love and cooperation, learning to work together in unity and harmony. The children in our communities have a lifetime of opportunities to learn these skills. We consider ourselves and our children very blessed to be able to learn and live these principles of teamwork as a part of our normal daily lives. Teamwork, cooperation and sharing are skills that could easily help solve the problems of all kinds of people today: single parents, the elderly, the homeless, the unemployed, the discriminated against, etc. We feel that most of the problems of society today are manifestations of lack of love, selfishness, refusal to cooperate, and reluctance to share or work together to find solutions.
46. Self-discipline and self-sacrifice are character skills we pass on to our children.
Missionary work requires a lot of self-sacrifice, preferring the happiness of others to one's own self-interests. Personal desires may at times have to be set aside for the sake of others. Like a doctor on call, our lives are not totally our own; our occupation calls us to serve the spiritual needs of others. Our children grow up in the knowledge and experience of seeing those around them sacrifice self-interests on many occasions in order to accomplish the greatest good for the greatest number. Self-sacrifice is a human resource much needed in today's society, and again, the best way to learn it is by living it.
47. We teach our children responsibility and leadership skills.
Teaching children responsibility and concern for others is very important in our Family education. Some people think that qualities such as these are not teachable. We don't agree. While they can't be taught from a textbook, or as theory out of someone's head, they can be learned from living examples surrounding the children. Leadership qualities like taking responsibility, delegating jobs, assuming authority, being a creative thinker, problem-solving, decision-making, showing initiative and demonstrating consideration for others are important to master. We find these skills develop best in an environment of love, respect, understanding and mercy. Leadership responsibilities are best learned through involvement and working with people in real situations. In our Homes we try to give each person as many leadership duties and responsibilities as they can comfortably shoulder. Children may be "put in charge" of feeding the pets, or being a room tidiness monitor, or be in charge of special clothes, or costumes, or clean-up crews, to name a few. Responsibilities increase as the child matures.
48. Our children's self-esteem develops through meaningful tasks, praise and appreciation.
All tasks small or great, are considered important, and the child is praised and appreciated. Children are involved, where possible, in meaningful chores and activities, and they grow up knowing they are needed and have much to contribute. We do not belittle menial tasks, and we stress the importance of being faithful in the little things. A child can feel as proud of his small contribution as an adult can of his work. All jobs in a Home are treated as very important: cooking meals, teaching children, fixing a plugged sink, performing at a banquet or cleaning house.
Like different parts of a body, we all work together for the good of the whole work and each part, great or small, is just as needed. Work is shared, rotated and proportioned according to ability, interest or availability. We believe in sharing the load and not overburdening anyone. (See Galatians 6:2.)
49. The children in our communities grow up in a debt-free lifestyle, relatively free of the stress that is so common in society today.
There is much to be said for growing up in a home environment where going into debt is not considered a virtue. We believe and teach our children that debt <M%1>can be avoided by avoiding excesses and extravagances, by properly managing finances and living within our means, by working together, and sharing and pooling resources. Abiding by these principles also frees us from the heavy burden of compounded interest and large monthly payments which strain and sap the vitality of many people today. Our children are seldom, if ever, exposed to money-related disagreements, a cause of increased anxiety and fearfulness in many children in society today.
Although we live in a very stressful world and face many challenges, our faith in God gives us the confidence to trust that He is in control of our lives, and this trust helps take much of the stress out of life.
50. Open communication and counselling are encouraged.
Being able to talk about and clear up things that bother a person is vital to good mental health. One job we have as "soul doctors" is to learn how to communicate on a personal level, heart-to-heart, in an open, meaningful way. This open form of communication runs through all our lives. Our children grow up in an environment where communication is emphasised. Not to say that communication problems never occur in our communities, but our children are taught to quickly resolve these problems, thus learning important lessons of humility, consideration of others' feelings, and the benefits of admitting one's errors. Open communication is a very needed skill for anyone to have at any point in his or her life.
Counselling with others is a way of life, and a skill that our children soon acquire. Feelings are very important and can help or hinder any person's progress. We encourage all our members and children to communicate their feelings freely and get help and prayer from others if life's burdens seem to be getting too heavy. The children in our fellowships learn early that we do not have to endure or work out problems and worries our-selves, but problems can always be resolved somehow. With God's help and the help of others, no burden need be more than we as an individual can bear. This attitude helps keep young minds and hearts from getting tangled up, and assures good mental health and happier living.
Our children are also taught not to hurt others with their words, and to use their gift of being able to communicate to help and heal, rather than hurt or gossip or complain or boast or belittle. Words are wonderful and very real if used wisely. Learning to use our words as God wants us to is a daily challenge and an education in itself.
CONCLUSION: AN EDUCATION THAT LASTS FOREVER
What is the final product of the education provided by The Family?--Happy, healthy children who see they have a purpose in life; children guided by enduring Christian principles; young people with the skills, experience and practical training needed to lead fulfilling, productive, successful lives in whatever path they choose to follow. Our approach to education allows parents to be actively involved in their children's education. This strengthens family unity and helps remove barriers to communication and understanding. Each child's character, talents, interests, skills and abilities develop in a wholesome Christian environment, where parents and other role models are themselves dedicated to serving the needs of others. Our children benefit greatly from seeing Christianity actively applied to daily life, while they study the Word of God, and experience and practice the leadership skills active Christians must possess in the world today. We desire the best education for our children, one that will serve them well in this life and in God's great Kingdom to come.
If you would like to know more about our Family, please feel free to contact us. We would be happy to share with you and your family what we are learning about faith, prayer, God's Word and His wonderful Love. May God bless you and those you love with His gift of Eternal Life as you open the doors of your life to Jesus.
Copyright (c) 1998 by The Family