Homeschool

by Anna Stewart

"We looked at schools, tried one for a few weeks, but it just didn’t work for us," said a homeschool mom. "My son had always had a natural curiosity, but in school he seemed to loose it."

The groups of mothers and children playing at an indoor gym don’t look like fanatics or liberals as some might think. They don’t look like people who have chosen not to participate in one of America’s most fundamental institutions - but they are.
The families, who are joined in their commitment to homeschool their children, belong to the Boulder County Home Educators Association (BCHEA). In their mission statement they say, "Our founding principle is to accept and respect diversity. We provide a foundation for friendship and support, and we encourage and inspire each other while maintaining a system for networking and resource sharing."

People homeschool for many reasons. Some have religious beliefs. Some have had bad experiences in schools. Most of the parents I have talked to never planned on homeschool, but when their children reached school age, they realized it wasn’t going to work for them. Others, like Valerie Berg and Ceal Ruffing, knew that alternative education was right for their families.

"I worked in an alternative school where the kids worked at their own pace," said Berg. "The possibilities for education were very exciting."

Both of Berg’s sons, Leif, 16, and Noah, 12, have tried public school, but it didn’t work out. "Leif went for a week, but he decided he’d rather have his life back," she said.

Ruffing’s seven year old son, Gabe, has never attended preschools or public school, although he goes to plenty of classes.
Berg has "school time" in the mornings between 9 and 12. They mainly work on math and writing literacy. Then they go out to classes, scouts and other activities in the afternoon. As Noah says, " I like the freedom to do stuff that we want to do."
Ruffing has a more flexible schedule that works for them. They use some curriculum materials for language arts, math and science, but they also follow Gabe’s interests. They also use current events, such as last months Martin Luther King Day, to read-up on the history of it and attend the march in Denver, providing a real-life experience of civil action.

Different families structure their day differently. Older kids require less parental direction, although they still need to be driven to their various activities. Some families from BCHEA created smaller group learning sessions to give their kids more group time. "I like a balance between one-on-one time with Gabe and giving him exposure to group learning," Ruffing says. "It’s also a great way for parents to get breaks."

While young Gabe likes homeschool because he "has lots of friends to play with", his mom appreciates the socialization. "Kids don’t learn their social skills from one large same-age group," she explains. "Their lives and mine revolve around a much larger sense of community."

Homeschoolers who are registered with their local school district (as one legal option) have to be tested every odd year. They can take the standard aptitude tests or be evaluated in person. Comparative studies indicate that homeschooled children are atleast equivalent, if not ahead of their publicly schooled peers. And they do get into colleges.

"Every parent has worries about their child’s education, " said Berg, "but the longer I homeschool, the more I know what is right for me and my family. I don’t look for societies approval so much."

In Boulder County the choices for education are tremendous. Homeschool is one option. Like many of our decisions about our children, it’s not for everyone. Some kids choose to go to school when they reach middle school age and have more choices. Others go part-time. Some families have one child who is homeschooled and others who are not.

Gabe, Noah, and Leif are thoughtful, well-mannered, intelligent boys. They probably would be no matter where they got their education, but perhaps their close families and choice to homeschool have made a bigger difference than we can know. They all seem comfortable with kids of other ages and show a welcome respect for adults.

The benefits of homeschool may be more than not having to raise your hand to go to the bathroom or get a snack as Noah says. It may be a way for our children, especially our sons who don’t fare well in the traditional education system, to have the opportunity to learn in an environment that honors them.

For Ruffing, homeschool is a career and she is still learning the job. "It takes a lot of effort to do all the things I think we should do," she said, "but it’s worth it. I’m learning a lot about my child and myself. It’s working for us."
Boulder County Home Educators’ Association. Check their website at www.bchea.com

Compestine and Xuan are working on three more books, The Story of Noodles, The Story of Kites, and the Story of Paper, providing their eager readers with a bridge between history and the 21st century, between two continents and between children of all ages. "I saw this as a way of bringing the two cultures closer together," Compestine says. And indeed the delicious story of The Story of Chopsticks makes her audience eager to try grabbing steamed dumplings with their chopsticks, quick or not. Anna Stewart, offers movement and creative arts based classes for pregnant and post-partum women through Mother Hands Services as well as consultations for creating Blessing-Ways. Her book, "New Blessing Ways: A Guide to Creating Meaningful Ceremonies" is in progress.

She can be reached at 303.499.7681 or anna@motherhands.com