I would like to share some good news with TEACH families, and some encouragement to other homeschool Mums.
Our daughter Aimee-Louise has recently graduated from the School of Biological Studies at Queen's University Belfast, with a first class honors degree in Agricultural Technology. She was accepted to Queens with no other qualification but the NCSC Level 3 Certificate. She was the only one in her year to obtain first class honors, and also received 3 out of the 4 special awards for students in her chosen field of study: the award for the top student in Enterprise Technology and Enterprise Management, the award for the top student in Livestock Production, and the award for the student with the highest marks over all. She has been accepted to study for a PhD with an agricultural and food research institute in September.
When we first started homeschooling we had no ambition for our children to enter university. Our prime purpose was for them to have a godly education and to learn to hear from the Lord themselves, and to follow the Lord's plan for
their lives. As in most families, the day to day task of homeschooling was left to me. At the beginning I felt totally overwhelmed by the responsibility.
I was not very well educated myself and we had enormous opposition from some family members who felt we were ruining our children's lives, but we had the conviction that this was what the Lord was leading us to do and so went ahead.
There have been some tough times, times when we may have given up had we not had that firm conviction that this was God's will for us as a family. We have battled criticism (mainly from church members, relations and other Christians,
people who you would usually go to for support). I have often felt isolated, as running a home and educating your children leaves little time for anything else and being a homeschooler seems to automatically give you the title
of "Odd Ball". And there has been the frustration of trying to help your children along when you're not really sure of some of the subjects they are learning.
But God is so faithful. We have seen His provision time and time again, not only financially, but also academically, by bringing along someone with just the right skill we've needed at that time. We have been so blessed by the ACE
curriculum, and I feel I have been educated myself just by supervising the children's work.
May I encourage all homeschool Mums to keep the vision and passion for godly education alive in their own hearts. It is easy to feel discouraged and unappreciated, because being a mother, especially a homeschooling mother is a hidden ministry. But the Lord sees, and He blesses in spite of all our mistakes and short comings.
ACE Mums have the chance to give their children one of the best academic and godly educations available, helping their children to realise their full potential. As the regional coordinators for Northern Ireland we have seen the
difference Christian education is making in the lives of many families.
However, those who do the best both in regards to character development and academic performance are those who use the system correctly. Careful adherence to procedures brings self disciplined learning and academic confidence. Don't cheat your children by taking short cuts, stick with the program. Not all children are high academic achievers, but they still have the opportunity to reach their highest level of attainment, and develop a godly character by the self discipline, self motivation and sense of achievement that the ACE procedures provide.
We are very proud of our daughter. She has been so blessed by ACE herself, and knows from first hand experience what an excellent preparation it is for university. As a science graduate, she has the academic confidence to argue the case for Creation and to point out the errors in evolutionary theory that are in so many text books. On her last day at uni, her course supervisor said that Queens have great hopes for her, and so do we. We hope that in the years to come, as a research scientist, she will be able to promote Christian education, and refute the claims of ardent evolutionists who
are prepared to accept poor scientific research when it promotes their agenda, rather than diligent careful study of the evidence for Creation, and the claims of the Lord upon their lives.
Debbie Leslie
Our daughter Aimee-Louise has recently graduated from the School of Biological Studies at Queen's University Belfast, with a first class honors degree in Agricultural Technology. She was accepted to Queens with no other qualification but the NCSC Level 3 Certificate. She was the only one in her year to obtain first class honors, and also received 3 out of the 4 special awards for students in her chosen field of study: the award for the top student in Enterprise Technology and Enterprise Management, the award for the top student in Livestock Production, and the award for the student with the highest marks over all. She has been accepted to study for a PhD with an agricultural and food research institute in September.
When we first started homeschooling we had no ambition for our children to enter university. Our prime purpose was for them to have a godly education and to learn to hear from the Lord themselves, and to follow the Lord's plan for
their lives. As in most families, the day to day task of homeschooling was left to me. At the beginning I felt totally overwhelmed by the responsibility.
I was not very well educated myself and we had enormous opposition from some family members who felt we were ruining our children's lives, but we had the conviction that this was what the Lord was leading us to do and so went ahead.
There have been some tough times, times when we may have given up had we not had that firm conviction that this was God's will for us as a family. We have battled criticism (mainly from church members, relations and other Christians,
people who you would usually go to for support). I have often felt isolated, as running a home and educating your children leaves little time for anything else and being a homeschooler seems to automatically give you the title
of "Odd Ball". And there has been the frustration of trying to help your children along when you're not really sure of some of the subjects they are learning.
But God is so faithful. We have seen His provision time and time again, not only financially, but also academically, by bringing along someone with just the right skill we've needed at that time. We have been so blessed by the ACE
curriculum, and I feel I have been educated myself just by supervising the children's work.
May I encourage all homeschool Mums to keep the vision and passion for godly education alive in their own hearts. It is easy to feel discouraged and unappreciated, because being a mother, especially a homeschooling mother is a hidden ministry. But the Lord sees, and He blesses in spite of all our mistakes and short comings.
ACE Mums have the chance to give their children one of the best academic and godly educations available, helping their children to realise their full potential. As the regional coordinators for Northern Ireland we have seen the
difference Christian education is making in the lives of many families.
However, those who do the best both in regards to character development and academic performance are those who use the system correctly. Careful adherence to procedures brings self disciplined learning and academic confidence. Don't cheat your children by taking short cuts, stick with the program. Not all children are high academic achievers, but they still have the opportunity to reach their highest level of attainment, and develop a godly character by the self discipline, self motivation and sense of achievement that the ACE procedures provide.
We are very proud of our daughter. She has been so blessed by ACE herself, and knows from first hand experience what an excellent preparation it is for university. As a science graduate, she has the academic confidence to argue the case for Creation and to point out the errors in evolutionary theory that are in so many text books. On her last day at uni, her course supervisor said that Queens have great hopes for her, and so do we. We hope that in the years to come, as a research scientist, she will be able to promote Christian education, and refute the claims of ardent evolutionists who
are prepared to accept poor scientific research when it promotes their agenda, rather than diligent careful study of the evidence for Creation, and the claims of the Lord upon their lives.
Debbie Leslie
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