Ask The Expert

by Micheil Cole

To school or not to school? Could that be the question most parents are struggling with at the breaking dawn of the new millennium?

Homeschooling
Joey Johnston, 15, is taking care
of Anna for a minute. Deena
Johnston homeschools her
children and her grandchildren
while taking care of Anna, whose
parents are teachers in a local
school system.

Whether it is nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous stereotypes; or, by taking the helm of your child’s education—to teach; perhaps to preen.

Parents, guardians and child caregivers are consciously reviewing their options when it comes to educating children. Where the homeschool alternative seemed odd and almost a little mysterious not a decade ago, even the name of the process has become one word, one way to raise an accomplished and well-educated child.

In the last few years, more and more families have taken on the mission of education. American home classrooms have grown from an estimated 850,000 students in 1999 to about 1.1 million two years ago. The 2006 statistics have not been compiled yet, and although the number of families fluctuate in Alabama and Georgia, homeschooled students, groups and participants ebb and flow within the Valley community with only small variations annually. In the Muscogee- Harris County area, an average of 150 families each year are involved in L.I.G.H.T. with children ranging in grade levels from pre-kindergarten to college sophomores. L.I.G.H.T. is a structured group of parents and home educators with a Christian focus, but the group does not require a statement of faith to join. What is required is an open mind coupled and reciprocated with acceptance and tolerance. L.I.G.H.T. stands for Leaders In Godly Home Teachings.

“We have a lot to offer,” said Beth Garcia, president of the L.I.G.H.T. governing board. “Anybody can be a member.” In an atmosphere similar to a parochial school, Christianity is practiced in prayer and L.I.G.H.T.’s value system, but the group by no means demands an orthodox nature for a family to share their resources, experience or mentoring support in homeschooling.

Research confirms, if a family has decided to homeschool, support is essential for a successful venture.

None of the Garcia’s eight children have ever been to a traditional school. Beth said they knew before they had children, they wanted to homeschool.

“I honestly never really thought I would do anything else,” said Beth. “If I was going to go to all the trouble of having these children, I wanted to be the one to raise them and be the major influence in creating their world view. Not that I wanted to create a bunch of little robots that think just like me, but I did want to be the one to steer their thinking, not somebody else. The first thing I did when my first child was five was order ‘Kindergarten in the Box.’ I discovered; this isn’t that hard and it doesn’t require a lot of materials.”

Homeschooling
The Garcias traveled to Seattle
and used the trip as part of
homeschool study, visiting the
Space Needle and Seattle’s
famous Fish Market. Beth and Paul
have homeschooled all of their
eight children.

Two of the children are now in college; one is dually enrolled at Columbus State University as a senior in high school and clearing prerequisite hurdles with a perfect 4.0 GPA. The oldest is a freshman at LaGrange College. Paul and Beth’s youngest is 5 years old.

“We really enjoy our children,” said Beth. “Just listening to them interact with one another is lots of fun.”

And every child is different, say the parent-teachers who have launched into taking care of everything from the ABCs to college-level algebra. It is part of what makes homeschooling successful. In homeschool, studies, projects, field trips, virtually all lessons can be tailor-made to meet the individual student’s needs. There is a unique and valuable freedom in cracking the learning code at the kitchen table, within a theater group or at the local museum.

“What works for one, may not work for the other,” said parents in several groups. “That is the beauty of homeschooling. You can pace the curriculum to the individual child.”

“Fortunately there are a number of options,” said Deena Johnston of Cataula and president of Chattahoochee Homeschoolers. “There are DVDs now, distance learning and cooperative classes. We have a homeschool dad that teaches chemistry. You can buy everything you need.”

Not to mention, the Internet. Homeschoolers say cyberspace is simply chock-full of lesson plans, materials, curriculum, activities for all ages and stages and vital support.

“We have phone lines for questions and e-mail,” said Deena, whose group also sends out about 25 newsletters bi-monthly to members. We are here for each other.”

Homeschooling
Homeschool graduates pose for a
few pictures before the ceremony.
The graduates and their families
put together the program for the
night, including guest speakers
from local government.

Deena, who has five children, is now teaching her son and her grandsons. She began with her daughter, many years ago. She felt the school systems her family had tried simply weren’t providing her daughter with what she needed. However, she said she continued to homeschool her other children because she found that it worked.

“I have not seen any detriments,” said Deena. “I have seen homeschooling strengthen the family unit. People need to be able to make a reasoned decision about their children’s education.”

Even with the upsurge in this family decision in recent years, most homeschoolers lament that the myths continue: Homeschooled children lack social skills; the kids might be smart, but they are not ready for the “real” world; that family must be extremely religious; teaching your children every day changes the parental role and confuses the child; they don’t really study or work hard like kids in “regular” school do; if you are homeschooling your child, you must be disillusioned with the public or private school systems.

“We are anything but stereotypical,” said Beth. “The one thing I really like about homeschooling is that my children are able to interact with any age group. We don’t just stay at home. We are very involved in several activities. That is not to say we don’t pick up a textbook. We definitely do. In our family, homeschooling is everyday living.”

Homeschoolers in the Chattahoochee Valley have access to various sports teams, programs at the Columbus Museum, the Springer Theater, standardized testing sites, teaching resource centers, organized field trips and recess—sometimes in the form of “park days.”

“I just missed my kids,” said Kim Hardin, who educates her two sons at home.

The Hardins began their adventure at a local private school in Alabama when the boys were in pre-kindergarten and choose homeschooling simply because it better suited their family. The learning format also agreed well with their children’s natural pace of study. Their oldest child was privately educated until grade 3. He will be 19 when he finishes high school, although with his current curriculum and progress, he could finish earlier.

“He has told us he wants that extra year,” said Kim. In Alabama, homeschoolers must “fall under an umbrella,” the law says, meaning they must be a part of a church school. The church school collects progress and attendance records and interfaces with the state about the families. Different church schools have different criteria for contact and governing, primarily to protect homeschoolers from less committed families. Almost exclusively, the children’s education, school hours, curriculum and extra-curricular activities are the family’s responsibility. At Golden Acres Baptist Church in Phenix City, again, a statement of faith or a religious affiliation is not necessary to be covered by Golden Acres’ “umbrella.” The church offers resources and support for the children’s education and “welcomes the traditional homeschooler.”

Homeschooling
There was much pomp under the
circumstances. Homeschool
graduates wore caps and gowns
and received their diplomas during
a ceremony held at Morningside
Baptist Church.

In Georgia, a statement of intent by the homeschooling family to the prevailing school board and monthly attendance records are required. The statement merely says the family will be teaching the child at home. Mandatory attendance is 180 days during the year with 4.5 hours a day dedicated to education. Georgia homeschool students are tested every other year with standardized tests and most groups organize graduation events for seniors. This year, L.I.G.H.T. is working on having a prom.

“If I had it to do all over again, I would do it exactly the same way,” said Beth.

Homeschooling Online

To learn more about homeschooling online, the legal issues and groups in Alabama and Georgia visit:


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