Parents Learn at Home-Schooling Convention

“I’m able to give my children a more biblical education,” said Sandra Finley, a home-school parent of four from Dale City. “Home schooling brings us together and allows us to have a stronger family.”

HEAV offers a litany of reasons for why parents home-school their children. Some want to transmit family values, morals and beliefs; others are concerned about academics and safety issues at school; others hope to enhance family relationships and guide social relationships.

“I decided to home-school even before having children,” said Paige Timer, who home-schools her three children. “It was a combination of personal and spiritual beliefs. The Bible says that it is your job to teach your children. It is our responsibility, not the responsibility of the state.”

This year, parents of preschoolers could come to the convention and attend a series of free seminars to find out if home schooling was right for them.

That’s what attracted Monica Raba, who has two children approaching school age. A resident of Caroline County, Raba is concerned with the quality of education her children will receive.

“They just built a new school, but the staff-to-student ratio is still too great,” she said.

Raba said she wants the best for her children and has received a lot of support from her church on the issue of home schooling. Her finances also play a factor in her upcoming decision on whether to home-school. Compared with private schooling, home schooling is cheaper.

“Everything is going up except for salaries,” Raba said.

For those who have already been home-schooling or are looking for books to use, the convention held a used curriculum sale in which home-schoolers could drop off their old curriculum books and buy new ones at a much lower price.

“There were 46,000 items checked in this year. That makes this used curriculum sale the largest ever,” said Jill Vander Pol, who regularly attends the convention.

That was evident in the line to buy the books, which stretched the entire length of the exhibit hall.

Vander Pol enjoys attending the seminars to get new teaching ideas as well as to listen to the speakers.

Rick and Marilyn Boyer were both speakers at the convention this year. The couple home-schooled their 14 children even during a time when doing so was illegal.

Living in a small town in Virginia, the couple faced ridicule and even court interference during their efforts to home-school. However, Marilyn Boyer was able to reach an agreement with her church in order to obtain a classroom to teach her children, which was an acceptable substitute until home schooling was made legal in Virginia.

“They felt that based on biblical principle, parents are directly responsible for their children’s upbringing,” said Nate Boyer, son of Rick and Marilyn Boyer.

Nate Boyer is now 32 years old and intends to home-school his own children.

“Home schooling is so flexible. So many people think that home schooling places limitations on you, but it’s actually the opposite,” he said. “A parent can tailor an education specifically to their child.”

However, Nate Boyer also stressed that home schooling is not for everyone.

“I wouldn’t advise anyone to home-school who isn’t willing and able to do so,” he said.

Rick and Marilyn Boyer are the authors of several books on home schooling and attend conventions all over the United States as well as other countries. They also have a Web site, www.thelearningparent.com, and monthly newsletters about home schooling.

The convention concluded with a home-school graduation ceremony. The ceremony presented by HEAV honored 193 home-school students who had completed their high school education. The graduates were from all around Virginia, and a few were from other states.

As home-schoolers, the students kept active schedules, as many did volunteer work, participated in dual-enrollment in college classes and worked part-time.

“I have a successful business doing landscaping and horse training,” said Phillip Drinkwater, a home-school graduate from Gloucester.

“I volunteered 200 hours with the Florida Master Gardeners and was a junior interpreter in the gardens of Colonial Williamsburg. I have been on several mission trips, which have included building homes and giving Gospel drama presentations.”

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For more information about home schooling, visit the Home Educators Association of Virginia: www.heav.org.

HEAV offers a free magazine, e-mail newsletters, a manual and other resources and support for home-school parents and students.

The group’s office at 2248-G Dabney Road is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays. Staff members and volunteers can answer questions on a number of home-schooling subjects.

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Nicole Fisher is a journalism student at Virginia Commonwealth University.