Christian Home Educators of KY Blog: Articles

Has Homeschooling Changed in the Last
30 + Years

By: Debbie Woolett

We started homeschooling in the early 80’s.  We knew this was what the Lord wanted for our
family.   How would we get started?  Where would we get school books?  What was the Law?  Was it even legal?  What about Socialization? 

We knew two families that were homeschooling, so that is where we started.  Both families were
full time evangelist.  Their local school board had allowed them to  travel with their children using the secular curriculum publisher they recommended. They had no solid information to help us on our quest.

Today we would contact a local Support Group or Home School State Organization such as Christian Home Educators of Kentucky (CHEK), or a Nationally known Organization which would supply us with more than enough information, but in the 1980’s most states had no official local support group
or state organization.  Even our national organizations were not well known.  Most families did not own a computer.  Social Networking was not an option.  Cell phones did not exist.  Home School conferences were very few.  Most states did not provide a Home School Conference.

Ok, so where did we get our books?  We contacted 2-3 Christian School Curriculum providers (there were not many to choose from at that time) requesting curriculum information, only to be refused, because we were not considered “Bonafide Schools”, therefore were not allowed to purchase their products.  None the less homeschooling kept growing and before long Christian Curriculum Providers realized it would be to their benefit, as well as ours, to include Homeschoolers in their clientele. Today
there are so many curriculum vendors from which to choose it can be overwhelming!  Soon we were at home with our precious children doing school using curriculum now made available to home schools as well as the Christian/Private schools.    

Yes, it is true that our children would run to their bedroom to hide if someone drove in the driveway or knocked on the door until they knew it was safe for them to come out.  Today we see home school families in town doing their shopping together during school hours with little concern of what others may think or do.

With all this said let us get back to the question at hand.  “Has Homeschooling changed in the
last 30 + years?”  The answer is YES and NO. 

HOMESCHOOLING

 

     Then                                                 Now

Very little Curriculum available                                 Abundance of Curriculum available

Most states had no Official State Organization          At least 1 state Organization in each state

Most states had no Local Support Groups               Multiple Local Support Groups

Little known of National Organizations                     Many National Organizations available

Most homes had no computers                                Most homes own a computer

Most states no Home School Conference                Home School Conferences available to all

Social Networking did not exist                               Social Networking available to all

Cell Phones did not exist                                         Cell Phones owned by most

Homeschooling not socially accepted                       Homeschooling Publicly accepted

Yes, it has changed in that so much curriculum is available it can be difficult to decide which one would be best for your Home school.   Most everyone  owns or has access to  “Cell Phones”, “Computers”, “Social Networking”, “Home School Conferences”, “Local Home School Support Groups & Co-ops”, " Home Education Organizations” on the State and National level.  No longer do most home school parents fear having their children outside  or even in town during school hours.  Home Schooling for the most part has become publicly accepted.

There is one very important thing
that has not changed in the last 30 + years.

Parents home school their children because they love them and want to provide the best education possible while avoiding the many distractions found in institutionalized education.  Parents still make sacrifices to provide the best possible atmosphere in which their children can excel in academics and participate in proper socialization. 

            How about those of you that have completed your home school years?  Would your family do it all over again?  Our family’s answer to that question is a resounding, YES!  It was worth every moment we invested in our children.