+JMJ+

St. Thomas Aquinas Homeschoolers of the Rochester Area - The Father's Role
(Ideals for which we strive)
"Above all, where social and cultural conditioning so easily encourage a father to be less concerned with his family, or at any rate less involved in the work of education, efforts must be made to restore socially the conviction that the place and task of the father in and for the family is of unique and irreplaceable importance."

Pope John Paul II in The Role of the Christian Family in the Modern World
(Familiaris Consortio, #25)

What Homeschooling Moms Would Like:

1. Philosophical Support

  • is involved in making the decision to homeschool; informed about educational options, reasons for homeschooling etc., willingness to read books on the subject, discuss the pros and cons, visit and/or observe schools to see alternatives available.
  • agrees with the decision to homeschool.
  • willingness to attend homeschooling functions (conferences, picnics, etc.).
  • defends the decision with extended family and the public when necessary.
2. Financial Support
  • his income allows Mom to remain home full or part time.
  • sets aside money in the family budget for books, supplies etc.
  • pays for music, dance, art, sports lessons.
3. Active Head of the Domestic Church
  • his personal example of prayer life, attendance at Mass, and frequent reception of the Sacraments makes him a good role model.
  • willingness, and desire to learn more about the Catholic faith.
  • helps to establish and maintain family religious traditions.
  • willingness to participate in the faith formation of the children.
4. Emotional Support
  • loves wife and children.
  • respects wife's abilities, gifts and talents.
  • has confidence in wife's ability to teach, make curriculum decisions etc.
  • his commitment to family precludes personal interests.
  • actively present to wife and children.
  • genuinely interested in the day's event/learning.
  • provides encouragement when there has been a bad day/week.
  • provides time away for Mom ("baby-sitting"), arranges nights out.
5. Discipline
  • supports Mom's decisions during the day and backs them up in front of the kids.
  • desire to maintain consistency and a united front at all costs.
  • willingness to talk to a child on the telephone from work if necessary.
6. Housekeeping/Cooking Support
  • pitches in without being asked.
  • sees a need and fills it.
  • helps during evenings, weekends and days off.
  • helps to train children to do jobs.
  • does both yard work and house work (not just "men's jobs").
  • willingness to accept the homeschooling lifestyle; patient understanding when:
    dinner is late / simple / or nonexistent.
    house is a mess.
    house is full of school books, projects etc.
    laundry is piling up.
    Dad has to relinquish space in the office or basement to make room for school.
7. Instructional Support
  • acts as primary teacher for a subject or subjects.
  • acts as a tutor, providing extra help in a child's weak area.
  • helps to select curriculum material, books, computer programs etc.
  • arranges for and or attends family educational "field trips".
  • plans physical education activities.
  • picks up and drops off books at the library.
  • chauffeurs children to varoius activities.
  • reads aloud to the children.
  • discusses/shares information about topics, books read, current events etc.
Books of interest: The Homeschooling Father; the key to Success and Sanity
by Michael P. Farris

Christian Fatherhood
by Steve Wood

Above all every family is different! Use this as a tool to get you thinking about the roles each parent plays in your individual family. Every Dad should not feel that he has to teach a subject in order to contribute to the homeschool. Not So! The first six areas listed above are far more important than the seventh!