This is really a carry over topic from yesterday’s muse. Today I’m reflecting on the Biblical Principle of Individuality as recognized by the Principle Approach to education.
If you are at all familiar with the Principle Approach, you probably, at first look, thought it to be quite structured, rigid, and scholarly. Perhaps that appealed to you, perhaps it sent you running the other way. Most likely, you had a mix of emotions. You were intriqued, yet skeptical. Components such as big fat books written in precise language from days past (using words you had to look up), primary documents, master teachers (who have mastered the subject they teach, through thorough study), blank notebooks just waiting to be filled (rather than pre-designed worksheets), can all appear overwhelming at first, especially the thought of those things coming into your home, where it was already a major challenge to put nutritious food on the table (serveral times, every day), clean laundry in the drawers (for everyone, everyday), supervise & train toddlers so the house wouldn’t be destroyed (every minute of everyday), nurse babies (seems like every minute of everyday sometimes) AND oversee the complete education of your older children. Perhaps you took one look at the Principle Approach and said, “I love the concept and the outcome, but I really see no way possible for me to add, to my already spilling over plate, learning a whole new way of teaching and learning, and research, plan and teach lessons for every subject, every grade level, EVERYDAY!” Perhaps you said, “The Principle Approach is for those families who have only 1 or 2 children – quiet, compliant ones at that, a husband with many hours and the interest to learn and teach right along with you, and a maid to take care of the house, meals, and laundry.” (The last two would be nice though.)
I hear you, loud and clear. I have all those things and more on my plate too. But to think the Principle Approach is not for your family, based on those givens in your family, is a faulty conclusion. F.A.C.E. may not have tailor made its materials to a mom in your situation, but they did base their philosophy on Biblical Principles; the first of which is: The Principle of Individuality.
This should be the most freeing thing you’ve heard today. This means that they recognized that God designed each of us uniquely, as individuals, families, and in our own unique situations. So each of our “Principle Approach” educational layouts will look different. That’s why no pre-written curricula was available until recently. They wanted each teacher to make it her own. They wanted Individuality to shine through. But we (home educator’s in general) took one look, and didn’t see freedom to express our own God-given design and destiny. We saw bondage to learning new ways through a hard, rigorous, pre-prescribed road. We are such creatures of the Law, aren’t we? Always seeing the letter that brings bondage and kills, rather than the spirit that brings life and liberty.
I love the Principle Approach. Yes, it took me a while to get beyond the guilt of “I know I’m not doing this the RIGHT way”, to the freedom of “God has sent those ahead of me, Master Teachers who had the time and the love, whose God given purpose was to prepare the way for me to walk on the path HE LEADS ME on.”
I know my utilization of the Principle Approach does not look anything like Stonebridge School. I know there are aspects that may seem essential to some, but we don’t use at all, or use inconsistently. I know our “style” is not “pure”. We have gleaned from several educational forerunners, as well as birthed our own unique “styles” in the spirit and prayer. But I also know we are doing exactly what God has called us to do, in the way that He has set before us. One study may pull in more aspects of the Principle Approach. Another study may pull in more aspects from another area. But ALL of it is based on Biblical Principles. All of it is designed to instill a Biblical Worldview; to produce excellence, Truth, preparedness, productivness, self-discipline, a love for learning, lifelong learners, a teaching mentality, and a host of other goals we are working toward for the Glory of God.
We are truly a Principle Approach home, for we are closely following the first Biblical Principle given – that of Individuality.
