Homeschooling Duties of Fathers

Homeschool Duties of Fathers

By R.E. Olsen

The first duty of a father is to love his wife, the mother of his children. After that, a father’s primary goal as leader of the household is to provide for and protect his family. Sadly, there is a huge gap in our culture of men who are actually willing to stand up and be the fathers that God has called them to be.

Fathers have a God-ordained responsibility for the training of their children. The homeschool father should be involved as much as possible in his children’s education. The more he actively participates, the more credibility homeschooling has in the eyes of his children, the less stressed mom will be, and the more likely it will be a long term experience.

It’s a real blessing to have a father who can spend time with his kids during the day. Even a father who works away from home can be their nightly homework checker or Bible teacher. A father may teach some other subjects as well, but most importantly, he must be supportive of his family’s homeschooling endeavor.

A homeschool father should consider the following duties:

Principal

The principal may or may not do any teaching, but he is in charge to make sure the teachers teach, and he provides the help and support they need to do so. “By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established; and by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches” (Proverbs 24:3-4).

  • Pray for guidance and blessing.
  • Write down goals and a plan of action.
  • Make a schedule and see that it is followed.
  • Help select curriculum and plan lessons.
  • Talk to your children about what they are studying.
  • Review your children’s work; grade papers.
  • Assist with special projects (science experiments, etc.).
  • Go along on field trips.
  • Attend workshops and conferences with your wife.
  • Offer encouragement to your wife and motivation for your children.
  • Enforce the discipline of your children.
  • Take an active interest in politics and legislation that may affect home education.
  • Provide income for purchasing school supplies and materials.
  • Give your wife a break (bring home dinner; take the kids to the park).
  • Hand out the diploma or certificate of promotion at the end of the school year.

Spiritual Leader

As the spiritual head of the household, the father should be a good role model. “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in His law doth he meditate day and night” (Psalm 1:1-2).

  • Pray for your family and your homeschool.
  • Take the family to church regularly.
  • Bring God into everyday conversation.
  • Teach your children about God’s creations.
  • Teach your children about God’s historical works.
  • Teach your children the Ten Commandments.
  • Evangelize your children.
  • Take your children on “fishing trips” (witnessing).
  • Tune in to Christian music on the radio.
  • Lead the family in daily devotionals.
  • Encourage reciting Bible verses from memory.
  • Read the Bible aloud and study Biblical passages together.
  • Read Bible stories to children at bedtime.

Instructor

The father may be better at teaching certain subjects. “Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding” (Proverbs 4:1).

  • Physical Fitness/Sports.
  • Woodworking Shop/Auto Mechanics.
  • Science and/or Mathematics.
  • History, Government and/or Economics.
  • Logic and/or Critical Thinking.
  • Any other subject dad enjoys, majored in, or otherwise knows well.

Finally in all of these things remember Colossians 3:21 which says, “Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.” Similarly, Ephesians 6:4 states, “And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.”

The influence of a father cannot be underestimated. Children with involved, caring fathers have better educational outcomes. Numerous studies find that an active and nurturing style of fathering is associated with better verbal skills, intellectual functioning, and academic achievement.

These benefits extend into higher levels of self-esteem, emotion regulation, and social competence in adolescence and young adulthood. In other words, a father’s role in the upbringing of his children has a direct impact on their overall well-being. “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6).

About the Author: A homeschool dad of three young men, R.E. Olsen takes his role of spiritual head of the household seriously. He also seeks to impart God’s truth to anyone who will listen.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Time limit is exhausted. Please reload CAPTCHA.