Thanks to Merre Shepard for participating in our interview about homeschooling.
Merre’s homeschooled kids and husband.
Public school, private school, or homeschool! How do you know what’s best for your child(ren)? And for you?
Merre Shepard knew the answer to that question very early for her personal situation – even before she had children of her own! While attending college, she and her fiancé (now her husband) knew that one day they wanted children. And they also knew that one day they wanted to homeschool them.
Merre decided to obtain her degree in elementary education in preparation for that undertaking. “There was a lot of talk at that time about having to be a certified teacher for homeschooling and we weren’t sure – so I decided to plan ahead,” Merre explains.
Merre now homeschools her four children who are in 2nd, 4th, 8th, and 12th grade. Like all homeschoolers, she did not make this decision lightly.
“Homeschooling is not for everyone, but neither are public and private schools. It’s a very personal choice and people should not be judged on the choice they make. My husband and I chose homeschooling for a couple of reasons. First, we want to be able to challenge our children at their level at any point in time. This helps us keep them focused and challenged, and avoids boredom which my husband and I both experienced as students. If my son needs more help in math, we focus on math. If it’s spelling, that’s where we focus. We can guide them as they grow,” she explains.
“And we also have spiritual reasons for wanting to mentor, teach, and guide our children through their learning years at home. Teaching our children at home allows us to instill our personal values in their educational process throughout their growth years.”
Why Homeschool?
Merre emphasizes that people choose homeschooling for different reasons.
According to the Organization of Virginia Homeschoolers website, many homeschoolers “would still choose homeschooling no matter what changes are made in the school system.” They strongly believe that the educational process for their children is best delivered in the home environment. But others might move to public schools if the school systems made changes to their liking.
Speaking with Merre and other homeschoolers made it clear that most all of those who homeschool enjoy the flexibility, creativity, and exploration that come with homeschooling. Merre says it suits her lifestyle well, especially since she and her husband have moved numerous times in the past – “We just move the schoolroom with us!”
What About Socialization?
As Merre says, homeschooling is not for every parent or child. But once the decision is made, there are many ways to socialize with other kids and activities.
“You set your own schedule so you actually have to be careful not to over-socialize,” Merre laughs.
“It takes some diligence but it can be balanced. Our children are involved in lots of social activities and events. They participate in co-op classes for homeschooled kids, participate in field trips, enjoy speech and debate with other students, and are involved in LifeSmarts, travel soccer with the Richmond Kickers, homeschool Varsity soccer through Spirit athletics, cotillion, and the National Beta Honor Society. This gives them a great balance of academics, socialization, and a well-rounded experience.”
Who Can Homeschool?
In Virginia, parents do not need permission to homeschool. But they must notify the local superintendent of their school district of their intentions. They must also meet certain criteria and children must successfully complete standardized year-end tests to proceed to the next grade level. Homeschooling parents must provide a general curriculum and evidence of progress of the child’s academic progress each year.
There are more than 32,000 homeschoolers in Virginia today, compared with about 9,600 in 1994. That’s almost as many students as the Norfolk Public Schools according to a recent article in Progress Index.
With so many parents opting to homeschool, it’s easy to engage with others and share teaching responsibilities. For example, one of Merre’s children joined a group of students taught by another mom who has her doctorate. She taught the small group of students Biology and Chemistry in her kitchen. They learned much in this casual, small-group environment and now her daughter is interested in possibly becoming a nurse or other healthcare professional. They’re heading to the University of Virginia this weekend to learn more about their programs.
From UVA, they’ll head to NC for a summer camp focused on science experiments and public speaking. Merre’s son and daughter will participate in CSI, Mock Trial, Psychology and Physics Camps at Landry Academy.
It’s Not Easy
Merre emphasizes that homeschooling is not easy.
And sometimes it is way too hard!
Once her daughter reached the level of learning that led into Calculus, she decided it was time for her to enroll in a Pre-Calculus class at J. Sergeant Reynolds Community College. She has taken Calculus and Spanish for community college credits.
“Homeschooling is about listening and understanding the different seasons of your life. It’s about knowing the best approach to teach your children in an environment where they will learn and pursue their passions at the same time so that they enjoy learning. Every year we have to step back and take a look at each child and what they need. My husband and I assess their strengths and weaknesses as we plan each year’s curriculum,” Merre says.
Merre and her husband made the decision for one of her sons to attend public school for a year of elementary school. “It was the right time for him to do this and he did well. We were pleased with the education he received. The next year, we moved him back home for school and it has worked out well. It’s just all about changing with a child’s needs, like changing with the seasons.”
Making a Decision and Getting Help
Merre points out that “there are a plethora of resources for homeschoolers” including great online resources and group events.
The upcoming homeschool convention in Richmond, VA is an excellent resource too. Parents can attend a session to understand more about homeschooling if they’re not sure whether or not it’s right for them. It is a free session held Thursday June 6, 2013. In addition, there are dozens of vendors to meet, and resources to browse and review at the event.
“The most exciting thing about homeschooling to me is that we have the freedom to decide what’s best for our family. Whether it’s public, private, or homeschool, we are fortunate to have this freedom.”
Merre also emphasized that it’s important not to judge others about their decision.
“It’s like me driving a Chevrolet, while someone else drives a Honda or a Ford. Neither of us is wrong – it’s what suits our personal situation best. There’s no good or bad way to help our children learn. It’s about helping them learn the best way possible for the individual child and the family’s situation.”
More Information
Source: http://heav.org/convention
The 2013 Virginia Homeschool Convention, “Home Education: A Bountiful Harvest”, is scheduled for June 6-8, 2013 at the Greater Richmond Convention Center. Special guests are Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar. Click here for details.
We’d love to hear what our readers think about homeschooling vs. public and private schools. Leave us a comment below.
