Investing in Homeschooling We often get emails or phone calls from people who tell us in an almost whispered confession, "You know, we're a single-income homeschool family and we're on a very strict budget!" I know I shouldn't, but I want to laugh! That's the definition of homeschooling! One parent works, one parent stays home! Yes, it is Biblical to be wise stewards of our finances and to live frugally, but I feel I need to challenge some people on this issue: 1. Greed I believe that some families are wanting to save on education because Either one of the above scenarios does not fall into the category of frugal living in my book. I call it greed. Its the "let's spend as little as we can on school stuff so we can have more money to spend on other stuff" mentality. I know a family whose daughter is passionate about ballet. From a young age she has attended classes and been taken to a ballet company for extra training so that she can pursue her passion to a professional level. This girl is now in high school and every Saturday her family drive from Hermanus to Cape Town (over an hour's drive) so that she can dance there too. Now, we may not be raising prima ballerinas, but there is a lesson to learn from this family. "Education is important to us and it is worth sacrificing other things for good educational materials. YOU and your education are worth it!" The other side of the coin, is that by supporting curriculum suppliers that provide good quality products, you are ensuring their survival in the market-place. I know that it looks like I am writing to protect my own interests, but actually the business I share in only fills a small niche in the wider homeschooling market, so what I write actually applies to other curriculum providers even more. Whenever possible, buy from the publishers themselves because without income they won't be in business for long. When you support them, it makes it viable for them to continue their services and create more new products, which further benefits the homeschooling community. Many curriculum suppliers not only supply products, but spend a lot of time answering questions about homeschooling and giving general advice and encouragement to homeschoolers and prospective homeschoolers. This time can only be justified if their homeschooling business is putting money in their pockets. I am very thankful that our homeschool business is growing from strength to strength. However, these are the words of a well-known, established American curriculum supplier who was writing about the effects of the second-hand market and pirating (photo-copying and illegal sharing) on their business: a). If you want to get into the homeschool publishing business, do it for love of the people - not for money! What's that old joke? "How do you make a small fortune in the homeschool publishing business? Start out with a large fortune!" It is horrifying that some (Christian) people are willing to copy and share copyrighted materials, like music CD's, DVD's, digital files, software and books. That is taking the author or artist's work without paying them for it. Its not only illegal but immoral and unbiblical, yet people seem to justify it by the "we're a single-income homeschool family and we're on a very strict budget!" excuse. If they knew their Bible, they would understand the principle of sowing and reaping and the financial curse they are keeping themselves under by continuing to steal! I know that the topic of selling goods second-hand could provoke a heated debate and it is not my place to judge or condemn anyone. However, I'd like to challenge readers to think again: When it comes to buying and selling homeschooling materials on the second hand market, I would like to ask families to refer to points no. 1, 2 and 3 above. Then consider what sending your child to school would have cost you. Would you have afforded schooling had you not had the option to homeschool? "Sacrifices are investments. When God calls you to do something, He provides, protects and equips you with the desire, time and resources." (Randy Wilson, Celebrations of Faith) If you can't afford a product now, perhaps you should save up for it, or perhaps you should ask our Father to provide, if you are sure you really need it. Perhaps, its just a 'want' and if you don't have the resources, then maybe this is not the season for you to use that product. Perhaps He wants you do something else. Here are some suggestions for Frugal Homeschooling . I challenge you to spend some time in prayer and consideration, to put your faith in God to supply all your needs and to be humble if you really are in need. Those of us who have the resources, are called to help the poor and needy and the genuinely poor need to be humble enough to allow us to do so, not cover their need with pride. Businesses are blessed when we are able to give to those truly in need but they can only do so when others do not deprive them of income they deserve, by buying and selling goods on the second hand market. As a business, we are able to support two orphanages and another community-based charity ministry on a monthly basis as well as donate products freely to families or ministries that need our support. When homeschoolers don't support curriculum providers, but buy those goods elsewhere, they may think they are saving money and enriching themselves, but in fact, in our case, they are also limiting others, both those who have worked to earn their living and those who are in need. So, if you have a used curriculum, that you don't wish to keep, what should you do with it? My advice, GIVE it to someone in need or return it to the supplier to donate elsewhere and trust Abba Father to supply your own needs!
The bottom-line: My thoughts on this are not unique. Read this amusing article about
Betty Borrower vs. Barbara Blessing
"The way you help heal the world is you start with your own family."
~ Mother Teresa Copyright © 2011,www.south-african-homeschool-curriculum.com All rights reserved.  |