LC: 45. SCHOLASTIC AND SCHEDULE RULES
A. Schooling Hours during the school year:
1. For children ages 6 to 12: Enough time each week for them to become competent in a manner appropriate to their age, ability and aptitude in reading, language arts, mathematics, social studies, science, practical-life skills, as well as other curricular subjects. (A minimum of twelve hours is suggested, although more or less time may be needed, depending on the child's age, ability and study habits.)
2. For JETTs (ages 12 and 13): A minimum of eight hours of scholastics per week; aiming to complete a junior high school curriculum (approximately grade eight).
3. For junior teens (ages 14 and 15):
a) Junior teens who have completed their junior high school curriculum: A minimum of four hours of study time per week (vocational study and/or scholastics, as chosen by the teen). (Note: Vocational study refers to quiet study time or classes from the pubs or reference material. This is time other than on-the-job vocational training.)
<<[New]>>
b) Junior teens who have not completed a junior high school curriculum: A minimum of eight hours of scholastics per week; plus an optional four hours of vocational study.
4. For senior teens (ages 16 and 17):
<<[New]>>
a) Senior teens who have completed a junior high school curriculum: A minimum of four hours of study time per week--vocational study and/or scholastics, as chosen by the teen. (Note: Vocational study refers to quiet study time or classes from the pubs or reference material. This is time other than on-the-job vocational training.)
<<[New]>>
b) Senior teens who have not completed a junior high school curriculum: A minimum of eight hours of scholastics per week; plus an optional four hours of vocational/ministry study.
5. Two hours weekly of local language study for all children (ages 6 through 15) until they can speak the local language enough to capably converse and witness. This is in addition to the above-mentioned hours of scholastics, unless the children are schooled in the local language. JETTs' and teens' local language study can be incorporated into their witnessing.
a) National children, living in their own country, must be given the necessary time to learn to sufficiently converse in their national language.
These are the minimum requirements for the schooling of our children. Please remember that our children have a right to an education as specified in the "Charter of Responsibilities and Rights." It is the responsibility of each Home and each parent to make sure that every child is receiving a proper education. Every Home must set aside the above listed minimum times for the education of their resident children; however, if the amount of schooling given during this time is not enough to give the children, or a specific child, the education guaranteed them in the Charter, then it must be increased.
If the parents or the Home cannot supply an adequate education via home schooling, they may need to consider outside schooling, private tutoring, etc. It is not enough for a Home to supply the minimum school time if it does not result in an adequate education for the children.
The Junior High School curriculum, as referred to above, should cover at least a grade 8 level of education. For course materials, you could (1) develop a suitable program following the "Childcare Handbook" and the "Home Schooling Program," supplemented with appropriate reference books and materials; (2) use suitable Christian materials; and/or (3) use suitable secular study materials available in the local language.
When JETTs graduate to junior teens at 14, they can begin their Christian Vocational College (CVC) program, pursuing their High School diploma and a number of Vocational and Christian Studies Proficiency Certificates, if they so desire. (Note: The completion of their Junior High School curriculum is included in the CVC Academic program.)
While not considered "children" under the Charter, senior teens must also receive a sufficient education. They must fulfill a minimum of four study hours per week, or eight hours per week if they have not yet completed a junior high school curriculum.
All children may seek official certification, or outside testing, of their home education if they or their parents desire.
Those 18 and over may also continue their education by means of the CVC program, private study of other educational materials and resources, or outside school, classes or courses. They may also seek official certification of their home education if they so desire. (See also Rights of Children, F. and G. and Home Life Rules, J. )
We've got what amounts to an education program with four major areas of learning: 1) Word studies, 2) Witnessing, 3) Scholastics, 4) Practical Life Skills or Vocational Training. Our goal has been to see that all these are covered properly (ML #2956:2).
Because our Family is international and thus multilingual, there is a need for a common language, one in which most Family members can communicate. Because Dad and Mama's mother tongue is English, and thus our WS pubs are originally published in English, English has become the common language of the Family, the language that is generally spoken within the Homes. There are, of course, certain areas of the world where Home members speak the local language within the Home, which is commendable and encouraged where feasible and expedient.
However, the fact that English is spoken in most of the Homes has sometimes made it difficult for the national children to become competent enough to witness in their national language. All of their friends within the Home speak English, and thus most of the day they converse in English rather than their national language. It is, however, very important that the national children living in their native country or language area learn to speak their national language. To accomplish this, our national children must be given the necessary time to learn their language.
There may be times when an individual family will be in a foreign land, and not have the opportunity to use their national language. In such cases the parents should still try to speak to their children in their national language in order to teach their children their mother tongue. For example, if a Japanese family were to move to Australia, it would be beneficial for the parents to make an effort to regularly speak to their children in Japanese, so that their children will learn or retain their national language.
Although it is only required that children (ages 6 through 15) have two hours of local language study per week, it is good for everyone in the Home to learn the local language so they can witness. This is especially true for our JETTs, and our junior and senior teens in countries where learning the local language is important, as otherwise they will have a more difficult time in their witnessing. Of course, the earlier children begin learning other languages, the better.
If you can't talk to folks and pray with them, it's pretty hard to win'm, and it's a little hard to convince them you love them if you're not even willing to learn their language (ML #1078:23).
Little children's minds just sop up knowledge like that, it's wonderful. They say the best age to learn another language besides your native tongue is the early years, even as a preteen (ML #2208:57).
B. Children must be given sufficient Word time, individually or in united classes, to consistently study and make significant progress in the Word Curriculum course for their age.
To grow in faith and knowledge of the Lord, our children need to read God's Word. The Word Curriculum course has been designed to help them get the Word-based spiritual training they need. Each child should have their own copy of the Word Curriculum booklet (Kidz #79 and Hope #54, reprinted in the Childcare Reference Handbook), and their progress should be recorded by marking the checklist.
The primary factors necessary, of course, in raising children are the Word and the Lord and love! (ML #1396:1.)
[The Word] has been the basic building block of our whole educational system! (ML #780:39.)
C. Minimum schedule requirements for school-age children (except for family day):
1. Nine hours sleep nightly for children ages 6 through 13.
2. Eight hours sleep nightly for junior teens (ages 14 and 15).
3. Two hours Word daily (may be united, private or a combination).
a) On days when school-age children and teens go witnessing, only one hour of Word time is required.
4. One-hour naptime or quiet time daily for children ages 6 through 13.
All the above schedule requirements are minimums. The Home and the parents must see that children are provided the time and opportunity to get their minimum sleep and Word time. Since each child is different and has different needs, the amount of sleep needed will vary from child to child, so the parents and the Home should take into account each child's needs.
When children up through the age of 13 are out witnessing, it may be difficult for them to get a full nap, but hopefully it will be possible for them to have a quiet rest period.
Although not required, some 14 and 15-year-olds may also need a daily or regular nap, or rest period. The need for rest time for that age group should be decided by the Home, in consultation with the 14 and 15-year-olds.
Copyright (c) 1998 by The Family