Interview on WRIR Radio
John Richmond, host of Richmond Education Today at WRIR Radio, Richmond VA, interviewed me on his show the morning of August 11, 2005. The host was kind enough to provide a list of possible questions ahead of time. John, being a thoughtful and interesting young man, did not simply ask the same old questions about homeschooling, so I was glad to have time to consider my replies. His questions and my responses are below. While the text does not present a transcript of the program, these are the kinds of questions and answers we covered.
John: We have with us today Shay Seaborne, president of The Organization of Virginia Homeschoolers, who has homeschooled her two daughters in Virginia for 10 years. Shay, what does The Organization of Virginia Homeschoolers do?
Shay: Our most important action is monitoring legislation during the Virginia General Assembly, where our team scrutinizes scores of bills that might purposely or unintentionally affect homeschooling. We also provide an extensive Web site, with over 250 pages of articles, resources, state law, the popular "Guide to Homeschooling in Virginia, and more. In addition, we publish a high-quality bimonthly newsletter, with news, views, events and other information that appeals to the diverse homeschool community.
John: How does your typical homeschooling day go? Is this representative of how other homeschoolers teach their kids?
Shay: There are as many kinds of homeschooling as there are families engaged in it, but generally, the styles fall into categories such as unit studies, classical, literature based, and eclectic--the most popular--in which families create their own program of study, by putting together a variety of resources.
In my family, our life has a pattern, but no two days are alike. This is because we use a method called unschooling, where the children's interests are the driving force. My kids' long-term interests have been history and drama, and those are the core of their educational explorations, and everything else falls into place around that. I'm happy with this arrangement, because I also receive the benefit of attending plenty of great theatrical productions.
John: How do you teach your kids to interact with non-family members, peers, other people?
Shay: Homeschooling allows parents to closely observe and guide children toward positive socialization. I model good behavior, observe how the children interact with others and offer ideas on ways to interact more effectively. I believe that good interpersonal skills are crucial, and so have stressed effective communications, such as using "I messages" and setting healthy boundaries. At 15 and 12, my daughters have internalized a great deal of this, and are adept at using these tools when interacting with a wide variety of people.
John: What do you do when you're getting ready to teach a subject that you don't have expertise in?
Shay: If something my children want to learn is beyond my grasp or interest, or their ability to investigate on their own, I can find someone more knowledgeable in the community: a friend, a professional, a serious hobbyist, a tutor, or an instructor. But, generally, I learn just ahead of or along with the kids, and utilize a variety of resources, such as the Internet, the local library, friends, and fellow homeschoolers.
John: What are the various reasons that you and parents of your acquaintance have decided to homeschool?
Shay: Each family homeschools for multiple reasons, which might include academics, meeting special needs, accommodating a parent's unusual work schedule, nurturing a child's interest or talent, avoiding negative socialization, addressing health issues, or making family the central socializing agent.
I initially chose to homeschool well before I had children, and out of reaction to my unhappy high school experience. I wanted to save my kids that misery. But once I had children, my reasons for homeschooling multiplied. I really enjoyed spending time with my girls, watching them learn, and learning with them, and I saw no reason to give up that precious time just because they turned 5.
Now there are numerous reasons I homeschool, including providing a custom education tailored to each child's needs, and allowing my children to learn about what interests them. Homeschooling also helps to immunize my children against the impact of Madison Avenue. Our focus on consumer awareness has helped my kids become experts at identifying the underlying messages in advertising. Also, having the luxury of much time together, we have the ability to create what Steven Covey calls "a beautiful family culture."
John: Do homeschooling parents have any stake in the success or failure of the public school system?
Shay: I believe that everyone in our society has a stake in the success or failure of the public school system, whether or not we have children enrolled. The majority of children attend public school, and these kids will grow up and hold government and corporate offices. They'll be the ones providing care for us in the nursing home, and raising up future generations. The success or failure of the public schools affects us all.
John: How easy is it to work with public school systems in Virginia to homeschool one's children? Is it easier or harder than in other states?
Shay: Virginia's Home Instruction statute is generally considered reasonable; it's not overly burdensome. But each local school division sets its tone toward homeschoolers. Most are neutral. Some are remarkably welcoming, and others are downright hostile. However, as homeschoolers in my county, Prince William--a historically hostile division--have discovered, we can work to build a better relationship with the local school system, and that can benefit both parties, as well as the wider community.
John: Does it require a lot of money to homeschool children? Do you sacrifice anything in order to teach your children at home?
Shay: Homeschooling can fit virtually any budget. It doesn't have to cost much. Some families do spend thousands of dollars on prepackaged curricula, but that isn't necessary. A library card and Internet access can open the door to an astounding wealth of free educational resources. Web sites like PBS TeacherSource provide excellent and extensive educational material. In addition, there are numerous sites offering free worksheets, unit studies, and much more. My largest consistent homeschool expense is the gas I use to take my kids on great hands-on field trips and real-life learning experiences.
I cringe when I hear the term "sacrifice" linked to homeschooling, and I feel sorry for anyone who feels it is a sacrifice to homeschool their children. Maybe some people really are sacrificing something, but I believe it's really a lifestyle choice, and as with any lifestyle, there are things you can get, and things you naturally don't get. Yes, homeschool families usually forego the second income that would let us keep up with the Joneses, but we receive so much intangible wealth in return.
John: If homeschooling is a movement, where do you see it going in the short term and the long term?
Shay: Perhaps homeschooling started out as a movement, back when it was initiated by school reformers like John Holt and Ivan Illich back in the '60's, but the community has changed a lot since then. The term "movement" implies we are organized to pursue a common agenda--but the diverse homeschoolers of today often have little in common with one another other, aside from the commitment to provide this educational option for our children. Of course, that commonality is also a terrific bridge for relating to each other in different areas. Many of us have learned that, as diverse as we are, we can get along and support each other in our homeschool journeys.
I expect that the lifestyle commitment required to homeschool will keep numbers low. Unless there is some huge shift in society, the number of homeschoolers will not likely exceed 10% of the population.
I'd like to see an end to the stereotype that has persisted for 20 years; the image that we homeschoolers are hiding our children from the world, and recreating the structure of school, but in isolation.
What I hope is that other educators will look closely at homeschooling, at what makes it work, and why, and that they will do what they can to adopt some of its elements for use in the schools. For instance, brain research shows that human beings learn best through hands-on activities and one-to-one interaction. Homeschooling allows a great deal of both, every day, and so should schools, to the best of their ability.John: Can you teach anything at home (or whatever environment you're in) that can't be taught at school? Is there an example for the converse as well, something that schools can teach that cannot be taught in a homeschooling environment?
Shay: Of course, every possible learning environment has its strengths and weaknesses. No one educational path can provide everything. Even if it could, no one person could learn everything! There isn't anything I can think of that can't be learned outside of school. Access to technical equipment might be a challenge in some cases, but homeschoolers are famously resourceful, and willing to create whatever it is our children need: French club, math class, science fairs, sports teams, theatre troupes, and so on. We often model the innovative and cooperative spirit--and maybe that's something that can't be easily taught in school.
The biggest difference I see between school and homeschool is that, in an institutional system--school--the student is generally expected to adapt to the one-size curriculum. Outside of school, the curriculum can be adapted to suit each student. Public schools can provide an adequate education, and often a very good education, but homeschooling offers a custom education, and that's what I want for my children.