The word “freedom” isn’t just for ol’ graying hippies and revolutionary wannabes? It’s a biblical concept and at the core of what it means to be an American and a home- schooler. How’d we get our homeschool freedoms? Why should we care? Are we really free? How might we lose this liberty? What are the enemies? You need to know the core principles of educational freedom and why we must strive to keep or expand that liberty. Dr. Ray has been in the battle for over 30 years

Ever feel lost, wandering, ineffective, or downright wimpy? Ever wonder where your roots really go? Only if you know who you are and where you are going can you be the most successful and effective in life. Face a few big questions with Brian and hear some practical, biblically-based suggestions. This session is aimed especially at youth but is for all ages, single or married

Many parents fall prey to their own insecurities and the critics’ darts when their children reach age 14 and they consider abandoning home-based education. Professionals, institutional schooling, public school enticements, misperceptions of reality, and the world’s opinion muddy the waters. Dr. Ray will rally parents’ spirits and harden their resolve to continue homeschooling for the long term to reap the harvest of its excellent fruits

Lures abound to sidetrack homeschooling parents. One such lure is the promise of “free,” state-run, “home” school programs to “help” you educate your children. It is paramount to consider who should be in authority over what is taught to the minds and hearts of children. Dr. Ray will challenge you to think through this issue and provide you with information and insight that will help you promote the concept of the separation of school and state. This has emerged as one of the most important issues with which homeschoolers must grapple

You want your children to be the best in – well, everything. You also want to have tender relationship with and godly compassion for them. In striving to lead his wife and eight children to "greatness," Brian has found that he can fall into the sin of provoking them. He will talk about how to combine high expectations with faithfulness, grace, justice, mercy, and kindness.

Education Savings Accounts for elementary and secondary schooling is a new tax-funded student in the neighborhood. Even some so-called conservatives are promoting them, and “choice advocates” are promoting them. Dr. Ray will use a biblical perspective, a freedom-loving perspective, and historical research evidence to explain why ESA-tax- funded schooling is a bad idea. And Dr. Ray will challenge you and encourage you that private, parent-led, home-based education, with the volitional help of others, is the best way to execute God’s principles and expand the “education freedom space” in America.

Dr. Ray provides a brief summary of homeschool research to date and explains current projects and trends. He explains that scholarly writing and research are powerful tools used by both friends and foes of parent-led education, that they should be guided by clear goals and theory that are based on sound values, and suggests where they should be headed.

Dr. Ray's major study examines the lives of 7,306 adults from across the United States who were homeschooled. This study and research by others focus on adults' general demographics, attitudes towards their own home-education experience, and success in life. Success is evaluated with respect to civic, social, educational, employment, worldview traits, performance in college, and in occupations. In many ways, they are very "normal." On the other hand, they are remarkably different than the general U.S. population. Generally speaking, the findings of research defuse many of the long-held negative criticisms of those who doubted homeschooling's benefits, whether practiced in the U.S. or in other nations. And the findings will likely be a great encouragement to those parents and advocates of home-based education over the past two decades.

From where does the homeschooling movement come? What are its precursors and motivators? Key-events? Further, what are the movement's-and your-vision for the future? Dr. Ray will give a very quick history of about 6,000 years of education/schooling then slow down for the modern parent-led home-based education movement. Christians need to take history seriously so that they can move ahead with a strong foundation, vision, effectiveness, and grace and avoiding mistakes and slumps with their families and homeschool organizations in the next decade. Many realize that you really do not know where you are going until you understand where you have come from. Come and be challenged by Dr. Ray about both.

Is that word "freedom" for just ol' graying hippies and revolutionary wannabes? No. It is a biblical concept and at the core of what it means to be an American and, especially, a homeschooler. Dr. Ray will answer: How'd we get our homeschool freedoms? Why should you care? Are we really free? How might we lose this liberty? What are the enemies? Risks? Is Common Core related? What about compulsory attendance laws? Parental rights? Whether your youngest child is pre-born, 7, or 18, you need to know the core principles of educational freedom and why we must strive to keep or expand that liberty. Dr. Ray has been in the practical and theoretical battle for over 30 years.

Is that word “freedom” for just ol’ graying hippies and revolutionary wannabes? No. It is a biblical concept and at the core of what it means to be an American and, especially, a homeschooler. Dr. Ray will answer: How’d we get our homeschool freedoms? Why should you care? Are we really free? How might we lose this liberty? What are the enemies? Risks? Is Common Core related? What about compulsory attendance laws? Parental rights? Whether your youngest child is pre-born, 7, or 18, you need to know the core principles of educational freedom and why we must strive to keep or expand that liberty. Dr. Ray has been in this practical and theoretical battle for over 30 years.

You diligently home educate your children, but many voices (including some within the homeschool community) tell you why and how you should be doing it. Many of these voices are disconcerting, not building unity with the King of your home-based discipleship efforts. This session will explore the interrelationships between the basic reasons for homeschooling, the freedom we have in Christ, our attitudes, our choices, and our practices as we teach our children. It will tackle the expectations and messages of the world that may still have deep roots in our and others’ home-education paradigms. May the Spirit free us at last, and help us spread the message of liberty in Christ.

Dr. Ray explores scripture, the state of government-run education, the origins of public schools, research on homeschooling, and personal experience to answer the question, “Who Should Be Educating Your Children?” He boldly challenges every Christian parent to face the idea that perhaps home-based education is the “default setting” that God has designed for the education of children. Dr. Ray, one of the world’s leading homeschool researchers and homeschooling father of eight children, calls and warns parents to not be a stumbling block in their children’s lives (Matthew 18:6).

Dr. Ray explores scripture, the state of government-run education, the origins of public schools, research on homeschooling, and personal experience to answer the question, “Who Should Be Educating Your Children?” He boldly challenges every Christian parent to face the idea that perhaps home-based education is the “default setting” that God has designed for the education of children. Dr. Ray, one of the world’s leading homeschool researchers and homeschooling father of eight children, calls and warns parents to not be a stumbling block in their children’s lives (Matthew 18:6).

Many parents finally fall prey to their own insecurities and critics’ darts when their children reach age 14 (and sometimes much earlier). They consider abandoning home-based and home-guided education. The cacophonous voices of professionals, generations of institutional schooling, “public” school giveaways and enticements, personal misperceptions of reality, and the world’s opinion about what is important muddy the waters. Getting closer to the source — the headwaters — brings refreshment and clarity to vision and action. Dr. Ray focuses on key educational goals and philosophy (biblical), research findings, the importance of separating the state from education, and homeschooling for the long term in order to reap the harvest of its excellent fruits.

Dr. Ray's major new study examines the lives of 7,306 adults from across the United States who were homeschooled. This research, a long time in the making, focuses on these adults' general demographics, attitudes toward their own home-school experience, and success in life. Success was evaluated with respect to civic, social, educational, employment, and worldview traits. In many ways, they are very "normal". On the other hand, they are remarkably different than the general U.S. population. Generally speaking, the findings defuse many of the long-held negative criticisms of those who doubted homeschooling's benefits, whether practiced in the U.S. or other nations. And the findings will likely be a great encouragement to those parents and advocates of home-based education over the past two decades.

Dr. Ray will first ask "Should you teach your own children?" then proceed to help his audience answer the question which is the title of this message. Brian will use Christian thought, his experience as a long-time home education father of eight children, ideas from the education profession, and research to stimulate, challenge, and encourage both veteran and novice educators.

Lures abound to sidetrack homeschooling parents. One is the fast-growing nationwide promise of “free,” state-run, “home” school programs to “help” you educate your children. Dr. Ray will challenge you to consider the paramount importance of who should be in authority over what is taught to the minds and hearts of children. Related to tax-funded programs, there are (1) subtle and negative practical consequences of enrolling your children in them, (2) serious problems from the perspective of a liberty-loving republic such as the United States, and (3) contradictions to a biblical worldview that demands parents and private associations be the main educators of children. Dr. Ray is convinced this is one of the most urgent issues with which homeschoolers should grapple during the next several years.

"I'm from the government schools and I have some 'free' curriculum, computers, and programs for you." Does this make you jump for glee, or does it make your hair on the back of your neck start to twinge? Every Christian needs to consider the principles of scripture and what makes a liberty-loving nation succeed before accepting such "free" services of handouts. The spreading practice of charter schools, virtual schools, and other permutations of state-run schooling-at-home that is marketed to current and perspective homeschoolers is one of the most serious issues facing the parent-lead home-based education movement in America. Dr. Ray will challenge you to go deeper and face the realities of what and why you believe and do what you do as you model courageous living for your children and adult peers.