Simply 'a woman who fears the Lord'

By Angela Wittman Dear friends,  While it is a new year and a time for reflection, here are my thoughts on the patriarchy and homeschool movements.  I wasn't part of the movement as Providence didn't allow me to go that way, but I had many friends who were part of it and I often grieved that my family wasn't as "perfect" as I thought theirs appeared to be. You see, I became a Christian as an adult (approximately 22 years ago) and was not raised in a Christian home.  My mother had been badly abused by her first husband, a youth minister, and was bitter toward the church. My father still laughs as he tells the story of taking me to church as a child on Easter; the pastor asked him if we attended church regularly, to which I replied "Yes sir! We go every Easter!"  My parents then separated when I was 9 years old, got back together, had a stormy relationship and then finally divorced when I was grown. Yet, through the grace of God, I had some knowledge of Hi...

By Angela Wittman Uniting Church and Family: Observations about the current family crisis by Shawn C. Mathis is a collection of published essays (estimated 112 pages, Kindle edition) about the family integrated church movement and what he calls "unsubstantiated" views expressed by some of the leaders in the homeschooling movement. Shawn Mathis is a homeschooling parent and pastors a reformed church, which gives him a unique perspective of these issues, plus a desire to see these things addressed in truth and with Christian love among those in disagreement. Pastor Mathis states in the introduction that this is a "work of love" and "the result of a homeschooling father who investigated the claims of homeschooling's inherent superiority both in history and in academic testing." And "it is the conclusion of a Presbyterian minister who evaluated the claims of homeschooling and family integrated church revivals." The author goes on to say t...

By Angela Wittman Illinois home educators are rallying in opposition to SB 3259 which calls for amending the Illinois School Code compulsory school age from 17 to 18 years . Organizations calling for citizens to take action and call their state legislators include ICHE (Illinois Christian Home Educators) and HSLDA (Home School Legal Defense Association). Disagreement concerning SB 3259 stems from the belief that parents are in the best position to know what is best for their 17 year-old children, whether it be higher education or perhaps an apprenticeship to prepare them for employment.  It may not be in the best interest of a young adult at 18 years of age to be forced to remain in school. Home educated children often advance at a faster pace than students in government schools and as a consequence are ready for higher learning or career preparation such as a trade or technical school at an earlier age.  HSLDA states on their Academic Statistics on Homeschooling page under ...

It has been estimated that approximately 60,000 students were home educated in the state of Illinois with a national estimate of 1,376,804 homeschooled students in 2010/2011 . And in most states the number of home schooled students is growing annually. This article will explore why many parents are opting to teach their children at home and some of the helpful resources available to help home-schoolers. The Illinois State Board of Education states on its Illinois Home-Schooling page : Home-schooling in Illinois is considered to be a form of private education. Parents who choose to educate their children at home are under a legal obligation to meet the minimum requirements stated in Illinois’ Compulsory Attendance Law (Section 26-1 of the Illinois School Code). Parents who choose to educate their children at home are obligated to teach their children “…the branches of education taught to children of corresponding age and grade in the public schools” and they are further obligated to...

Generations with Vision , a daily radio ministry that addresses cultural issues from a Biblical viewpoint featuring home school advocate, father of five and pastor Kevin Swanson as host is planning their Family Economics 2012 Conference for March 8 -10 at Wheaton College, 501 College Avenue, Wheaton, Illinois . This will be their third annual event; topics to be covered include : Raising Sons to Provide Household Budget Management Marketing a Family Business Facing the Onslaught of Socialism Household Chores and Time Management The Duties of Dominion Keys to Being a Successful Family Entrepreneur Stories from Successful Family Start-Ups A Special Proverbs 31 Track for Moms Speakers scheduled for the 2012 conference include Kevin Swanson, Erik Weir, Steve and Teri Maxwell, Bill Roth, Alex and Cassie Michael, and RC Sproul Jr.   A full schedule of events can be found here .   The Family Economics Vision page of the Family 2012 Economics Conference website tells us that: In Ma...

By Angela Wittman Now these are the commandments, the statutes, and the judgments, which the Lord your God commanded to teach you, that ye might do them in the land whither ye go to possess it:  That thou mightest fear the Lord thy God, to keep all his statutes and his commandments, which I command thee, thou, and thy son, and thy son's son, all the days of thy life; and that thy days may be prolonged. (Deuteronomy 6: 1, 2 KJV) Dear Friends, This morning I received a newsletter from a well-meaning conservative grassroots organization that seeks to influence our culture for good.   As I scrolled down the newsletter I came across this news item: . . . * Good News! Illinois School Bans Simulated Sex at Dances Students complained to the school administration about their peers' sexually explicit "grinding dancing"... [Readers beware of sexually graphic content. AW]. Friends, please take heed to what I am about to tell you, as it is the truth. In 1995 I was e...

By Angela Wittman "...Son of man, speak to the children of thy people, and say unto them, When I bring the sword upon a land, if the people of the land take a man of their coasts, and set him for their watchman: If when he seeth the sword come upon the land, he blow the trumpet, and warn the people; Then whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not warning; if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head. He heard the sound of the trumpet, and took not warning; his blood shall be upon him. But he that taketh warning shall deliver his soul." - Ezekiel 33:2-5 KJV Let us sound the trumpet loud and clear... Danger that should strike holy fear into the very heart of God's people is at the door. I am referring to the wickedness of those in high places who push, shove and force their agenda upon the backs of hard working taxpayers in America. They think their thick boot heels can crush the Spirit of God's people, and for good measure ...

I recently received an email from a 19 year-old young lady who has declined to go away to college or seek to live independently outside of her parents home. Instead she is content to wait for the LORD to bring her a husband who will honor, cherish, love and protect her. Her father, a Christian man, is in agreement and pleased to continue to protect and take care of his daughter. I think there is a beautiful lesson in this father and daughter relationship for all of us to learn: God created the family and He instructs fathers to protect their daughters. If you are grieved by the recent statistics from the CDC which report that one out of four teenage girls (14 – 19 years old) has a sexually transmitted disease, then you cannot help but acknowledge that something is terribly wrong with America. We have allowed our children to become sexual playmates with no moral sense of right and wrong. We have not only lost our moral compass, we have sacrificed our children to the hedonistic world whi...

By Angela Wittman "There is a vast difference between a man who goes to work every day to serve God and a man who goes to work everyday to make money....If a man sells insurance chiefly to make money, he will work to sell his client what will bring him the greatest commission. But if a man sells insurance chiefly to serve God, he will work to sell his client what will best meet the needs of that client. The primary motive for work does matter!" (Taken from: "Whatsoever You Do" A Pastor's Perspective, written by John Sartelle.) "Many Christians, in sales and other careers, are discouraged because they cannot see the eternal significance of their work. Some adhere to the idea that the best careers are those in "full time Christian service,"; which is taken to mean work as a pastor, missionary, teacher in a Christian school, or some such work. Certainly the work of pastors and missionaries is important. However, even a job seemingly far removed from ...

By Angela Wittman As a newly elected school board member in the spring of 1996, I was honored to be caught in the midst of a controversy involving comprehensive sex ed (the teaching of condom use and birth control) and Planned Parenthood materials being used in the high school Adult Living Home Economics class. Some of you may remember the resistance parents encountered when requesting the teaching of abstinence only to students. I am sorry to say that I recently reviewed the materials used in the Waterloo High School Adult Living Class and found that they have not discarded the Planned Parenthood hand-outs. I have been told by the teacher of that class that nothing has changed in the curriculum since I was on school board. This saddens my heart greatly as I have become more aware of the deceptive practices of Planned Parenthood and the immorality they promote. In the year 2000, according to the Planned Parenthood website, the organization performed 197,070 abortions. This is in itself...

By Angela Wittman I recently read the article "First Wave of Homeschoolers Comes of Age," written by Robin Wallace for http://www.foxnews.com/ . The reporter interviewed a young man who had been entirely schooled at home. When asked if he felt he had missed out on "cherished school memories", he responded, "It was more that I was spared a lot of the stuff that goes on in high school." The 20 year old college student went on to say that instead of "experiencing" the trials and tribulations of high school, he got to focus on the things he wanted and liked to do. The article goes on to quote J. Gary Knowles, a researcher from the University of Toronto,as saying that he has found home schooled adults to be no more less engaged socially or politically than those with traditional educations. He also found the home schooled students to be more self-reliant and focused. It seems to me that the most natural thing in the world is for parents to nurture and...

By Angela Wittman School choice , accountability, education reform, parental choice, vouchers, charter schools; it seems we've been hearing these words with increasing frequency the past several weeks. But have we really examined the meaning of these phrases and the impact that they will have upon our educational freedom? Perhaps we need to examine the long term effect that a Federal and State voucher program will have upon our private schools, religious institutions and families. As a former Government School Board Member (1995 - 2000), I have seen firsthand the danger of accepting government funds and the involuntary chains that accompany it. Some of these chains are not so apparent in the beginning - but chains they are. Any time you accept any type of government funding, you are accepting the stipulations and regulations that accompany it. It is this knowledge that caused me to reconsider my position as the Southern Illinois Founding President and Coordinator for Citizens for E...

9/7/01 To the Editor: As a former public school board member, I am shocked and dismayed at the recent resolutions passed by the liberal National Education Association (NEA) at their annual convention in Los Angeles, Ca. It is true that after much outcry and pressure from their own membership, the NEA withdrew Resolution “New B” regarding “Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Education”. But don’t let that fool you. Following is a brief summary of resolutions that were passed and are reported to affrim the criteria of “New B’. Ø B1 – Calls for programs in public schools for children from birth through age 8. (The NEA is calling for Universal Pre-School.) Ø B7 – Calls for acceptance of “diversity” which includes sexual orientation. Ø B9 – Includes Sexual Orientation as discrimination if you do not accept your child being taught about gays, lesbians, bisexuals, and transgendered people. (They are proposing plans, activities and programs for students to increase their...

By Angela Wittman I recently read an article concerning the National Education Association and the policy changes that have been and are taking place at the National Leadership. It seems that the largest and most powerful teacher’s union is concerned with more than retirement funds, salary scales, and contracts. The article, ‘Homosexual agenda promoted by NEA?’ written by Julie Foster only confirmed what I had suspected from my knowledge of the National Education Association and our public schools while serving on a public school board in the mid to late 1990’s. Public education has shifted from learning the three R’s to conditioning young minds and promoting “values” that have many parents up in arms. This is referred to as affective education. One has only to watch the local news to see the effect it is having on our youth and the culture. What is affective education? It deals with feelings, attitudes and beliefs. The emphasis is no longer on academics or educational skills. Affectiv...