More families try homeschooling
By TONI MCDONALD Guest writer

Photo by Toni McDonald BETHANY MORTON can study wherever it's comfortable, but her mom will hold her to tougher standards than a traditional school teacher.

According to homeschooling mom Marcia Cook, the local homeschooling population is increasing. The lifestyle is more accepted today than in years past, but homeschoolers still meet with opposition, as seen by recent rulings in California (which clamped down on homeschooling by parents without teaching credentials).

Having homeschooled for 18 years, Cook is a veteran. She has two daughters who now attend college, and a 12-year-old still at home.

Asked why she and her husband, Keith, chose homeschooling, she states, "I guess probably the main thing is wanting to be able to raise our children and build character into them."

They feel the girls wouldn't have gotten that from public or private school. "It takes one-onone time to do that," she said.

Fellow homeschooler and former public and private school teacher, Laura Morton agrees.

"It's not necessarily because I thought I could do a more fantastic job on the basic subjects. But my overall thing has never been the emphasis on the subject material," Morton said.

Like many homeschoolers, Morton and Cook place importance on character training and bringing their children up in a Godly home. Both moms cite lack of peer pressure as a major benefit. Morton adds that strong values and putting God first are the most important rewards.

Certainly, there are some disadvantages, too. Cook notes that in her pursuit to make sure every possible thing is covered, she is often tougher on her daughters than a normal teacher would have been. She admitted that it is often harder to stay in a disciplined routine when you don't have to be at the school bus stop at a certain time.

Parents interested in homeschooling want to know how difficult the job is going to be. It is "just about the hardest thing you'll ever do, but there is nothing more rewarding," Cook says.

Both moms agree that there is are resources available now that weren't there several years ago. There are homeschool groups like H.E.R.O.(Home Educators Resource Organization) in Jasper, as well as co-ops, library books, and everything available online. And like riding a bike, the more you do it, the easier it gets.

All homeschooled kids and parents know that the first question they are asked is, "But what about socialization?"

Each family chooses to address the issue differently. Some families participate in outside endeavors. The Cook girls participate in soccer, art classes, music, 4-H, church activities and more. Morton has an even simpler approach. "We haven't made it an issue," she states.

Homeschoolers have the advantage of participating in a large variety of activities due to the flexible time schedule they observe. In fact, while most traditionally schooled students have time for only one instrument, Morton's 17-year-old daughter, Bethany, is currently learning to play violin and the guitar. She also works part-time at a local business.

The majority of homeschool graduates will tell you they feel like being educated at home has been a positive experience. Bethany says that she will most likely homeschool her own kids someday. Cook's 19-year-old daughter, Carrie, agrees.

Homeschooling moms and dads also tout freedom of curriculum choice as a prime advantage of home education. Tailoring studies to the individual needs of each student, as well as the teaching style of the parent, is both an advantage and a challenge. A multitude of choices in curriculum makes it easy to choose which programs are best for each child. However, having so many options sometimes makes it difficult to choose.

While California and other states have had recent battles, local homeschoolers agree that Texas is an excellent state in which to homeschool. The state of Texas treats home schools as private schools and does not require them to use any specific curriculum nor submit to any type of state testing.

Parents are free to determine which curriculum they use, how to schedule their day and year, as well as set their own high school graduation requirements. According to www.thsc.org, Texas requires five basic subjects be taught in "a bona fide, not a sham, manner." Those subjects are: reading, spelling, grammar, mathematics, and good citizenship.

There are families who would consider home schooling, but stop short of confidence in educating their high school children. Morton and Cook both point to the internet, online classes, satellite classes, tutors, and video or DVDs for those subjects parents feel less than adequate to teach; assistance is available for the determined parent.

Often, people wonder how homeschooling prepares children for college and beyond. Homeschoolers can apply to some of the best colleges, and, according to www.hslda.com, many colleges eagerly accept homeschoolers because of the reputation they have for being hard workers, independent and driven students.

According to www.freerepublic.com, employers find homeschoolers are dependable, honest, and diligent employees. When speaking about future careers, Cook pointed out that she was glad her children have also realized that "motherhood is a valuable vocation."

Bethany Morton isn't certain about her future yet. She is patiently working on finishing high school without the burden of what comes next. Carrie Cook, already in college, has aspirations of working with an investigative agency fighting human trafficking in third world countries.

The students in these homes provide insight into the world of homeschooling.

"It allowed me to be creative and taught me to think outside the box," Carrie Cook said. "What I missed from not going to public school are things I wouldn't want to acquire anyway."

What advice do these moms and students have for people considering homeschooling?

"The student and the teacher are the only ones who can limit what you are able to achieve through homeschooling," Carrie Cook said. "It's not a place of isolation unless that's what you make it to be."

Her mother says that talking to veteran homeschoolers is always helpful, but that newcomers should keep in mind that home education is an individual endeavor, and each family's motivation is different.

It is also a good idea to research online, at the local library, and both moms suggest getting catalogs to check into curriculum. Attending homeschool conventions is also recommended, since they usually have workshops as well as curriculum expos. Morton's parting words for potential homeschoolers is simple: "Don't let fear keep you from doing it."

For more information, check these websites: www.rainbowresource.com; for information specific to Texas, www.thsc.com (Texas Home School Coalition); www.hslda.com for the Home School Legal Defense Association.