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 "Mom, Dad – We’ve Decided on Homeschool!"
Copyright 2001 by Barbara Curtis

This article provides great information for answering the many questions you may receive from the grandparents, and maybe even your friends and neighbors.

Ever wonder if the grandparents of Ben Franklin, Florence Nightingale, Agatha Christie, Douglas MacArthur, and Thomas Edison had misgivings about the youngsters’ education? After all, their accomplished progeny were all homeschoolers.

With an estimated 1.5 million U. S. homeschooling families – a number growing daily – more and more grandparents face the possibility of joining these illustrious ranks:

"Mom, Dad – We’ve Decided on Homeschool!"

WHY THEY CHOOSE IT

The decision to homeschool isn’t that easy. It runs counter to convention. It requires a major time and energy commitment on the part of mom or dad or both. It may mean facing skepticism – or downright opposition – from family and friends, as well as overcoming feelings of self-doubt. By the time parents announce their homeschooling intentions, you can be sure they’ve risen to the challenge because for them the pros outweigh the cons. Here are a few compelling reasons:

Homeschool parents want to provide a solid moral foundation for their children before launching them into the larger world. Christian homeschoolers want their children to be familiar with the Bible, to learn history and science from a Christian perspective, to read good and wholesome literature. This is not to say the children will remain ignorant of other world views; most parents want their children to be familiar enough with other perspectives to better defend their own.

In some important ways, homeschooling is like a greenhouse where precious plants are given extra safety and nurture until they are mature and hardy enough to withstand the rigors of life outside.

Some parents are convinced from the start that they can provide their children with the best education available. Some have teaching backgrounds; others are self-starters, who have a deep love of learning themselves.

But even those who are in it for the values, sooner or later find homeschooling itself is of great value. Achievement test scores consistently demonstrate that homeschoolers receive a superior education, scoring in the 80^th percentiles in all categories (national average is the 50^th), whether their parents are certified teachers or not.

Homeschool students benefit not only from a smaller student/teacher ratio, but also from individually-paced learning. They are never held back by slower students nor left behind by brighter ones. Time is not divided by distractions or discipline problems.

Recent years have seen a significant upsurge in parents choosing homeschool to keep their children safe. While in the 1950's the top ten teachers' concerns included nothing more alarming than gum chewing, the sad reality is that today’s schools cannot keep children safe from violence. This is a powerful motivator for many parents to give up a second job and keep their children home.

Also for children with chronic illnesses, asthma, or severe allergies, parents may choose homeschooling to minimize health risks and increase stamina.

Regardless of why they begin, homeschooling parents observe this favorable result: children who learn at home become easier to live with. Minus peer pressure-induced "cool," they are more comfortable around and respectful to adults, more enthusiastic about their studies. As one mother explains, "These kids know that learning isn’t about being in a certain room in a certain building at a certain time with a certain age group. Learning is connected to love, to wanting to be the best you can be. It’s integrated with your family and your home, an intimate part of everyday life."

Once they’ve set their course, homeschool parents find a vast array of resources to help them do a good job.

Networking is an investment that pays big dividends for homeschooling families. In local groups parents brainstorm and share the planning for field trips, art and science fairs, drama and speech meets, play days and other social activities.

Regional and state groups offer workshops and conferences featuring successful veteran homeschoolers. Since homeschool laws vary from state to state, these groups also serve as clearinghouses for current statutes and pending legislation.

"So many materials, so little time!" might be the homeschool motto. An abundance of material is available – from grade-by-grade curriculum packages, to guides to creating programs based on individual needs.

Seven-year-old Johnny may be doing second grade phonics work, but ready for fourth grade math. His eight-year-old sister, Elizabeth, may be reading well enough to be out of readers and into classics. With school at home, there are no limits.

With computers and the Internet has come an explosion of educational opportunities for homeschoolers, bringing the world of information as close as their fingertips.

The homeschooler's community is a rich resource – with opportunities for sports, music, art, dance and drama. Libraries, museums, church youth groups, Boy Scouts, 4H, entrepreneurial enterprises such as newspaper routes – all provide a well-rounded cultural background for children. Far from being isolated, homeschool families often become more deeply involved with their communities than their conventional counterparts.

Many home schooled teens take classes at the community college. These kids aren't wasting any time. Now accepted at hundreds of universities – including Harvard and Yale – many will embark on adult careers years before their peers.

George and Shirlee Jefferson of Virginia Beach, Virginia have 8 grandchildren, 7 homeschooled. Did she have reservations about homeschool? Shirlee says emphatically no. "I understood my children’s reasons. I used to teach in public school myself, but things are so different now. Some of my friends wonder how they can receive a well-rounded education and adequate socialization. But with the wonderful curriculum materials available, soccer league, chorus, Sunday school – as well as my capable daughters-in-law – I’ve been happy with their choice."

Shirlee’s blessing upon her children’s decision has no doubt contributed to their success.

The blessing for all, according to Shirlee: "Homeschooling keeps a family closer."

Homeschoolers in Your Life? Here’s How You Can Help. . .

Whether the homeschoolers you know are your grandchildren or someone else’s, by getting involved you can enrich their education in many ways. And it might be fun for you!

Share special skills: Do you know how to make jelly, embroider, paint landscapes? Can you weld, fix cars, prune rosebushes? Can you teach a musical instrument? Most homeschooling parents would jump at the opportunity for their children to learn things they never learned themselves.

Spend time: Homeschooling families have enormous respect for their elders and the benefits of children of spending time with them. Since statistically they tend to have larger families, homeschooling moms often need an extra pair of hands. They will appreciate offers for rocking babies, taking walks, library trips, story-telling, or listening to new readers. Of course, if you still remember your algebra, that’ll be welcome too. . .

Help with finance: Homeschool parents pay double for school – the public schools they don’t use as well as their own. If you are a grandparent who can afford to help with purchasing curriculum, your investment is sure to bring mighty dividends.

Give them security: If your children have not joined Home School Legal Defense Association (540-338-5600), you might consider the gift of a membership for them. For $100 a year, the HSLDA not only offers state by state legal updates, but also promises "when you’ve got a problem that needs immediate attention, we’re just a phone call away—24 hours a day. HSLDA enables our members to home school their children in peace and freedom."

Pray: Last, but not least, pray for the homeschooling families you know – no matter whose grandchildren they are. Homeschoolers tend to be raised with a strong sense of purpose and civic duty. They have the potential to become fine leaders – in their communities, their churches, and their homes. Our country needs such men and women, so keep them in your prayers.

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