20 August 2009
The following comment was left at Like a Warm Cup of Coffee â–ş (in response to this post):
“I would be curious to know what these young ladies do (or plan to do?) for health insurance when they are no longer allowed on their parents’ plan. Or if one of them decided she wanted to study something that she could not do at home (such as nursing! :-) ). Would she be allowed to attend college? Would such a profession not be appropriate? Sorry for all the questions, just curious!!”
My reply:
As a daughter living under the protection and guidance of my father, I choose to stay at home. My mother is a wonderful Titus 2 Woman, and has taught us Biblical womanhood daily by both her words and actions (one of those aspects being “keepers at home”).
I, personally, have no desire to go to college. But, if I chose to be educated by a college in a specific field, it would be with the intention to further bless my family, not to pursue a career.
Going through a university isn’t the only route to higher education – the world is full of information with which we can educate ourselves. Being a lifelong-learner, I have no intention to stop learning just because I graduate from home education. :)
If I were, for instance, interested in a field that required a college education, I would CLEP out of as many classes as possible and acquire my degree online, if possible (CollegePlus! is a great place for such degrees!).
As far as going to college and going into debt, we do not want to bring debt into our marriages, rather, we want to bring wealth.
For health insurance needs, we would purchase it. :)
P.S. For further reading, I highly recommend that you read this article by the Botkin ladies on a similar topic: “But What If?”
You have no idea how refreshing and encouraging it is to know that there are other young ladies out there that share my opinions on these “issues”.
God bless!
Your sister in Christ,
~Esther
How interesting that I should read this just as I sit down to write a post on CollegePlus!
Where would you purchase your health insurance?
You can stay on your parents insurance or be “allowed” as long as you are a full time for a long while I think 25, I was on my moms until I got a full time job… This website is for NY but the applies almost anwhere you go.
http://www.health.state.ny.us/publications/4989/
Option 1: Keeping your family’s health insurance
To qualify you must be in one of these three situations:
You are a full-time student: You can remain on your parent’s private insurance plan as long as you can provide proof that you are a full-time student. Depending on the policy, the length of time you will be covered will vary. If you are a student with a disability, you can ask your college to grant you full-time status, even with a reduced credit load.
Your family pays for “COBRA” coverage after you turn 19: You can remain on your parent’s private insurance if they pay for COBRA (Consolidated Omnibus Reconciliation Act) coverage. This coverage is available for 36 months after you turn 19. It usually costs more.
You are disabled, need help with daily living, and cannot work: If you are already on your parent’s private insurance, you will remain covered as long as they carry the same plan and their policy allows this coverage after you turn 18. Apply to continue your coverage soon after you turn 17 – well ahead of your 18th birthday.
most colleges have health insurance plans to go through their student union for pretty cheap….
good luck
Would you views differ for guys? Would you also advocate men not having a college education (for fear of going into debt) or would male debt be okay?
Thank you, ladies, for your comments and questions!
Sara,
That is something that we have not put a whole lot of thought into yet or decided upon, but I’ll let you know when we do! ;)
Leslie,
As I will not be continuing a “formal” education (I will always be learning . . .) as a full-time student, we will have to seek other means for health insurance, but thank you for taking the time to compile this information!
Kay,
God has appointed the man to be the provider and protector for his family. If a man needs to pursue a college education to become accredited in his desired field, I believe it would be to his best interest (and to the best interest of his family) to go into the least amount of debt as possible. In most cases debt is an unnecessary burden that should be avoided. CollegePlus! is a cost effective place to acquire a degree. (Know that I am not speaking authoritatively, but rather, speaking my opinion.)
Vintage Girl,
I liked your reponse to the health care question. Just buy it. ha. I thought that was funny.
I am currently pursuing my Master’s Degree in Voice/Opera Performance, and I feel perfectly confident that the Lord is directing me in this career. Although our views may differ when it comes to women’s roles outside of the home and in the working world, I appreciate your thoughts on what you would do if you wanted to get a degree. I would agree that it is best to not acquire debt, if possible, but I know that God calls us to complete confidence and obedience to Him and His plans for us; so if debt is unavoidable, I feel perfectly sure that God will provide the means to getting out of debt, as long as our trust remains in Him and His abilities. I think it is nice to hear all kids of different thoughts on these subjects.
I find yours and your sister’s blogs to be refreshing and sweet. I’ve added them to my blogroll!
All the best for a sunshine-y week to you!
Annie
Fabulous post, dear Emily!!! :)
Such encouragement!!
Love in Christ~ Miss Jen
What a wonderful post, Emily!
Great answer, Emily! If I can throw in a guy’s perspective on the debt issue: Yes, it is a much less stressful prospect to marry a girl who is debt-free, especially if you plan to have children without the use of daycare. I think you’re also right about the guy’s side–debt is never an ideal option for starting out in life. However, it also depends on the career path he’s heading into. If he plans to be a surgeon, debt is almost certainly necessary, but his education will enable him to enter a high-paying field soon after graduation. The problem is when a guy goes thousands of dollars in debt to learn elementary subjects for a degree that won’t apply to his ultimate career choice. There are better ways to start your marriage in a down economy than with monthly payments.
Lovely post, Emily Rose!
I am curious, if you feel a teaching degree (or any degree for that matter) would be beneficial to homeschooling your children. Isn’t it a disservice to your kids NOT to have the background (student teaching), subject knowledge, etc. I am not trying to be mean, just curious. If you don’t find it necessary, how do you plan on attaining the material to teach them? Do you read their textbooks and learn alongside them? Surely you don’t remember everything that was taught to you. What happens if your child has a learning disability?
Thank you,
Ann
Ann,
Thank you for your questions.
I do not think it at all a disservice to not attend college. For one, as you mentioned about my years in home education, I will not remember everything taught me. And two, the same information that may be taught at a university I can learn by other means if I so desire. For example, I heard of one college graduate recommending a book saying that he had learned more in it than during the four years at the university.
The materials to teach my children can be acquired many different places. I, personally, prefer living books over textbooks, as textbooks seem to remove all creativity and interest in learning. One curriculum that I have learned much from is Tapestry of Grace (it teaches History, Geography, Philosophy, etc. through a very wide variety of living books).
My mother has said that she has learned more through learning beside us than she ever did in the public school system.
My trust is in the Lord and if one of my children has a learning disability, my husband and I will continue to trust in the Lord and seek Him, finding ways to teach that particular child. In fact, each child learns differently, and home education is the perfect way to fit those needs.
I hope this answers your questions!
Joyfully in Christ,
Emily Rose