or Universal Principles with Unique Applications ~ how L.E.D and PA share the same spirit, but individual expressions.
Here I go with initials again. For the uninitiated, L.E.D. is our biblically principled approach to home education. It stands for Lifestyle Education through Discipleship™. We’ve been around, undercover to most of the world 🙂 , for about 18 years, or somewhere there about. PA stands for the Principle Approach®, a biblically principled approach to education developed by Rosalie Slater, and her work with Verna Hall. PA’s been around MUCH longer, since the ’60’s, I think.
So if L.E.D. and PA are both biblically, principled approaches to education, what’s the difference? The main difference between PA and L.E.D. is that L.E.D. is my individualized application of biblical principles education for the home and family setting – seeking to make education a Lifestyle. Much of the ideas in LED and PA are the same (although perhaps stated a bit differently) and some things I have gleaned from PA and adapted to fit into L.E.D.
Another difference is – They are professional educators; I’m a mom. PA was designed by professional Christian educators, mainly working with/within Christian schools, (although it has made definite inroads to home ed now too). L.E.D. was designed by a Christian mom discipling her family and searching the Word, and trusting God to do that. (I have a GREAT PASSION for discipleship! and biblical wisdom/philosophy, especially in education.)
As I studied various philosophies of education, to see what fit in with what I’d found in the Word, I saw that PA was really the same philosophy of education I had, just laid out a bit differently, primarily for the classroom setting, (more “school” structured than we want – more academically rigorous in younger ages than we feel necessary). They (naturally) had different terms for the same things I saw, etc. But they were in essence/in spirit the same thing (because they are both centered on seeking and applying the Wisdom of the Word) – just in “law”/application looked a bit different.
Since it was the same philosophy, I learned more about PA, and how they apply it. (Actually, I came in through the backdoor, as when I first approached the PA front door, I turned away. My initial response to PA was probably the same as most people’s – somewhat like, “Wow, this sounds great. Whoa, it looks complicated.” ) Anyhow, learning more about PA has (undoubtedly and unavoidably) led to some “tweaking” in L.E.D. It has also helped me to “learn to speak their language”.
I work with moms, not within an educational system/institution, so I have always tried to help simplify things as much as possible, and relieve the stress and bondage many moms feel while trying to do things “right”, as prescribed by either ‘schoolish’ ways (ingrained from their past) or someone looked upon as an ‘authority’ in education. I don’t try to take the home into the “school” realm, but rather bring biblical education into the Home realm.
A mom of many usually doesn’t have the amount of time to devote to learning all the “school” things that a classroom teacher does, (nor does she need to,) and perhaps she doesn’t even have the natural inclination for teaching. She is just following the command of the Lord to disciple her children, teach and train them in the way the Lord would have them to grow. Her day isn’t spent just focused on academic education, but also wiping runny noses and doing laundry and cleaning and cooking and nursing the baby, etc. – all while teaching, perhaps several levels of students, not just academics but all of life. But she will fall into trying to apply what she does know, from past experience, if she is not Renewed to a biblical perspective of education.
For those moms Freedom & Simplicity™ was designed. I know thinking philosophically is not always every mom’s strength, but I try to make it as easy as possible. A biblical philosophy of education is a different way of thinking about education than most of us have grown up with/learned. Therefore those foundations (the philosophy) have to be taught first, and internalized by the parent before they can begin applying the methods to any content.
I’ve (in more recent years) worked with many moms who have tried PA, (and many times given up on it, as just being “too hard” to understand.) And I desire to bring them (back) to biblically, principled education, as a way that is not only good and biblical, but also “do-able” for moms that don’t have years to learn full-time before they can begin teaching their children. Most moms fear that ticking clock, feeling they are getting “behind” or don’t have much “time left.”
I don’t say this against F.A.C.E. at all. (Yep, more initials. FACE is the Foundation for American Christian Education, the PA people.) I believe FACE is doing a great job of trying to reach and work with moms in the home. Everyone I’ve talked to there has a heart to help moms see the spirit behind this and find freedom, too. But if God can apply His grace to my passion of sharing biblically principled education with others, as I’ve learned it from His Word, and help moms to learn to apply it in Freedom & Simplicity™ in the Lifestyle of the home, all praise goes to Him.
I am blessed by those of you that God helps through me, to find understanding and application of a biblically principled education based on a Lifestyle of Discipleship in the home. But if you prefer to apply “straight PA” as developed by the experts, I am happy to help as I can there too. I know enough PA that I generally know where L.E.D. differs from it, so I think I can present it fairly, but I don’t claim to be an expert on anything. 🙂 Yet, I continue to grow and learn more, on education and life in general, as God’s Word transforms me daily.
It is a biblically principled education we are after, (whatever we call it,) ~ Seeking Biblical Wisdom through Universal Principles with Unique Applications.
