God Schooling

Julie Polanco started walking in the love and grace of Jesus Christ in 2000. She is active in the women’s ministry and on the worship team at a nondenominational evangelical church in the Chicago area. She and her husband have homeschooled their four children from the beginning, graduating their first in 2016. Julie is a regular contributor for Old Schoolhouse Magazine, as well as for the magazine’s official blog Homeschooling with Heart, and is the high school botany instructor for www.schoolhouseteachers.com. Her involvement in the homeschool community includes serving on the board of her local support group, starting her own support group, and teaching science and writing classes in her home and in cooperatives. Currently, she maintains a blog that discusses homeschooling, Christian living, and the writing life at www.juliepolancobooks.com.

Julie reminds us of so many great truths, of so much wisdom - how important it is for children to have time to play, to imagine, to be set loose to pursue their interests and their passions. My favorite reminder is that God loves our children more than we do and will not let them fall away because of my flaws or mistakes - what a wonderful release to quit worrying and be more joyful and relaxed in my days. God Schooling reminds us powerfully of the need to radically seek God for our children's needs, even if God's solution departs from traditional homeschooling wisdom. While it may not be the solution for every homeschooling family, God Schooling provides one possible alternative for families struggling with anxiety over daily schooling. ---Jenny Ginter, Director, onedayenrichment.comOur educational institutions often demonstrate confused ideas as to what is right and wrong, confusion as to appropriate or inappropriate curricula and, at times, outright hostility against those who embrace the truths of Scripture.Julie Polanco, in her book GOD Schooling, does a masterful job of portraying the thoughts and struggles of Christian parents when it comes to the idea and methods of homeschooling.Julie states: “If you get nothing else out of this book, I hope that you get the message that God meant for us to educate our children through our relationship with them.” An educational system built on ideology, academics or indoctrination will fail. A system based on a healthy relationship with God, family and others will succeed.If you have children, you should be evaluating the educational systems available to them, and Julie’s book should be one of the resources you read and consider.I would encourage you, as you read GOD Schooling, to not get caught up in agreeing or disagreeing on a single point but read and consider it in its entirety and to allow God to lead and direct you as to what would be the best educational avenue for your children.Julie has let us in on her struggles with the educational system and demonstrated sensitivity to following God's plan for her family. There are many alternatives to public education that we should discuss in the public square. Let the discussion begin!---Dave Wager, President, Silver Birch Ranch