Reading, ‘Riting and ‘Rithmetic are the three R’s of education that most parents think of as school starts back up. But there are three more R’s to be practiced in the home that are foundational for the education of the next generation. George Will documented years ago in, “The 9/91 Factor,” that kids spend only 9% of their time from birth to 18 in school and 91% elsewhere. School simply supplements what kids are learning “elsewhere”.
As the primary educators in their children’s lives, dads and moms are responsible for the “elsewhere”. The charge is to take care of the 3-R’s of education in the home:
Relationship
Dad and mom interacting daily as man and woman, husband and wife addressing issues in the home, and loving each other; In a single-parent situation, respect for the mother of your children should be on full display;
Religion
Practicing regular church attendance as a family, Bible study and spiritual discussion in the home around secular issues;
Rules
Establishing clear boundaries that teach discipline to obey and the reality of consequences in life.
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. – Deuteronomy 6:5-9. Moses conveys a 24/7 educational responsibility. The responsibility of dads and moms in the home is reiterated broadly in Malachi 2:15 – “…And what does the one God seek? Godly offspring. So be on your guard, and do not be unfaithful to the wife of your youth.” Marriage and the home are foundational for the sound education of the next generation. When there is a fracture in the foundation or when the associated responsibilities are abdicated to schools and churches, a generation is put at risk. Dads and moms are charged to take care of the 3-R’s of education in the home.
Physical gifts are usually a dad’s forte – having a catch, throwing batting practice, going hunting and fishing, or working on a project around the house. Physical involvement is critical in raising kids but so is emotional engagement and spiritual leadership. Be totally engaged in raising a godly generation by accepting responsibility for the 3-R’s of education in your home, and the schools will be able to focus on what they do best.
Prayer guide: Thank You Lord for the foundational design You have provided through marriage and family. I too often have abdicated responsibilities for the 3-R’s of education to the schools and even the church. Forgive me. Equip me to step up in these areas and engage with my bride in raising the kids You have blessed us with. I commit to accept responsibility for the 3-R's of education in the home. That is the dad You call me to be, and that's the dad my kids need to see. Amen.
A faithful father accepts responsibility for the 3-R’s of education in the home.
