by Cheryl Seelhoff o my knowledge, no one now homeschooling has ever at A Homeschooler’s History T tempted to compile a history of the modern homeschooling movement which includes all the varied contri- butions of the intelligent, interesting and – especially — diverse people who have shaped the homeschooling move- ment in this country. a straight-line path from glory to glory. ferences which exist among parents What makes this such a difficult task It is, I’m afraid, a very human story, who have all chosen homeschooling as is the depth, richness and texture of full of struggles, misunderstandings, the best option for their families. the fabric of the homeschooling com- and blunders, replete with human Reading through this history, I real- munity itself, woven and interwoven foibles and weaknesses. Nevertheless, ized how much I didn’t know and how as it is with the dreams and cherished reading through, I have felt so grate- much I would have benefited, way hopes of people who are as different fully proud, of all of us. I have experi- back when I began homeschooling, one from another as night is different enced feelings of warmth and tender- had I been more aware of history. from day, yet who are bound – some- ness towards some of my partners in times unwillngly! — together by their homeschooling history for whom I be- Religion and Education common love and concern for children lieved I would never again have those and their desire to do what is right by feelings. I’ve been overwhelmed and To a large extent, the Christian church them. Those who have homeschooled inspired and sometimes thrilled as I’ve created the foundation of what we for many years have fought together come across the wise and prophetic know as the Western system of edu- to secure and to preserve that right, words of homeschooling pioneers who cation. In order to maintain unity in have loved, protected, and nurtured certainly could not have known the the face of disagreements among one another through difficulties and significance of their words when they church members, and to defend itself challenges, and have, from time to were uttering them. Most of all I have against external threats in the form of time, as human beings will, also hurt been deeply touched as I’ve mulled different religions and philosophies, and betrayed and abandoned one over this very, very human history. Christianity developed what it called another. The sad chapters of our com- Above all it is the history of how much “apologetics,” or an intellectual defense mon history have left their mark— people will give for a dream that they of the faith, along with creeds and holes, gaps, snags and tears in the cherish. It’s impossible not to be in- dogmas which it passed along, via fabric of our community which will spired, thinking about it. education, to the next generations. only be mended in the afterglow of the healing and reconciliation which must So here are the tentative results of my To this end, schools for clergy and eventually come to people who have faltering efforts, for what they are administrative and government offi- worked so hard together to achieve worth. Where I have erred, please cor- cials were established by the Roman common goals. rect me. Where I am missing infor- Catholic Church in Medieval Europe, mation, please, supply it! Where I’ve then later by the Reformers and I have homeschooled my children got it all wrong, let me know. I’ve done Counter-Reformers, because church since 1983. In the years since then, my best. and state were not separate in Europe it has been my privilege, as a until the 1800s. In fact, church offi- homeschooler, editor, and conference One thing I believe it is very fair to say cials were state officials, and church speaker, to work alongside and to is that homeschoolers are not the kind schools were also state schools. know many hundreds of of people to appreciate revisionist his- homeschoolers from every conceivable tory! So please, do help me. I think Three Reformations background and perspective and from it’s time we applied ourselves to mak- all over the country and in foreign ing a record of our common history, Although in the United States, when countries, too. I have kept hundreds in the interest of creating an even bet- we use the word, “Reformation,” we of documents over these years – let- ter future. commonly mean the Protestant Ref- ters, newsletters, brochures, an- Love, ormation led by Luther, Calvin, and nouncements, magazines. Using Cheryl other reformers, in fact there were re- these records, I have done my best to ally three reformations, as follows: begin to weave together our common community cloth. I freely acknowledge n order to understand the its gaps and holes and my poor weav- homeschooling movement in this (1) The Protestant, or Magisterial, ing job – I’ve always had a problem I country, it is necessary to under- Reformation associated with three getting the tension right! — and I hope stand the role religion has played in great teachers or “magisterium”: people will write to me and will help the shaping of Western culture and Martin Luther (1483-1546) in Ger- me to fill in what is missing. civilization and especially in the shap- many, Ulrich Zwingli (1485-1531) ing of United States history. Apart in Switzerland, and John Calvin This is not a smooth, exultant or vic- from an understanding of this context (1509-1564) in Geneva. While torious timeline I am presenting here, it is difficult to make sense of the dif- these men differed in some ways,

Page 32 © Gentle Spirit Magazine -- Volume 6 Number 9 in 1558. The Roman Catholic Counter-Reformers then assumed leadership of the older European uni- of Homeschooling -Part 1 versities which were still Roman Catholic, or they founded new univer- sities in Europe and overseas.

Early American Education

they agreed on infant baptism and known as Unitarians or “liberal” Prot- that the church and state em- estants. This tradition continued in the colo- braced everyone. nial period in the United States with The conflicts between these men – colonists establishing church schools (2) The Roman Catholic, or Counter- Servetus, Calvin and Luther, and Ro- for their children or teaching their own Reformation, which attempted to man Catholics — which were the re- children at home. correct many weaknesses high- sult of the doctrinal differences be- lighted by Protestants and to re- tween them, the differences in how Colonies organized around shared de- gain territories lost to Protestant they read and understood the Bible, nominational beliefs eventually rulers; and what the Bible meant to them, what founded their own colleges to educate they understood to be God’s charac- both clergy and laymen, including (3) The Radical Reformation, which, ter, have been a force which has Harvard University, founded in 1636, in sharp contrast to the Magiste- shaped Western and American history and Yale University, founded in 1701. rial Reformation, desired a radi- since the Reformation and which has cal separation of church and state shaped and continues to shape the Through the late 1700s and early instead of incremental reform. homeschooling movement. In the 1800s, children continued to be either These were the Anabaptists, the homeschooling movement we have taught at home by their parents or they Brethren, the Waldensians, the had, in fact – and we still have — our were taught in church schools. Quakers, and some other groups. Luthers, our Calvins, our Servetuses Wealthy children throughout the colo- Most of the radical reformers em- and our Roman Catholics. We have a nies were sent to tuition schools for phasized “believer’s baptism” and full complement of all of the differences college preparatory courses, trade or did not believe in the baptism of and frailties which stumped these commercial schools existed which also infants. men, frustrated them, and caused required tuition, and finally, for the them to mistreat one another (usually poor, there were tax-funded “charity” Calvin and Luther both emphasized in the name of God!). One important schools which taught the rudiments salvation by grace through faith, but thing we have that they did not have of English, mathematics and moral Calvin included in his teachings an is the perspective of history, an ability education. There were no public emphasis on man’s utter depravity or to learn, understand, and evaluate the schools and there was no compulsory innate wickedness and inability to conflicts which tore them apart by education or mandatory attendance of even desire salvation, God’s sover- looking back, studying, reflecting, at- any kind until much later. eignty over the affairs of men, and the tempting to understand how and why doctrine of election, the notion that they acted as they did. The Unitarians some are predestined by God to sal- vation and heaven while others are Higher Education Unitarianism was first formally intro- doomed to be lost and to go to hell. duced into North America by way of From amongst the third group of radi- Over time, universities, representing Joseph Priestley, a leader in England cal reformers, men arose who ques- a “unity” of education, formed in me- of the group that came to be called Uni- tioned many traditional church teach- dieval Europe. Schools for monks and tarians. He was driven from England ings, including the doctrine of the clergy gained independence by forg- in 1794 by continuing threats to his Trinity (God as three co-equal per- ing agreements with church and state, life, and eventually he settled in sons). Among these was the Spanish then taught students via lecture and Northumberland, Pennsylvania, meet- physician Michael Servetus, who was disputation, in Latin, on campuses ing regularly with others who shared burned at the stake in Protestant where the students lived communally, his views. In time, together with oth- Geneva, with Calvin’s assent, for her- where deans were elected, and where ers who had been in the United States esy because he questioned teachings eventually academic degrees were rec- for half a century or more, Priestley related to the Trinity and infant bap- ognized. helped to form what became the first tism. Before he was martyred, how- Unitarian congregation in the United ever, he had written the book, The In the 1500s in Europe, groups of States. Restitution of Christianity, which other people began to form to demand uni- members of the radical reformation versities which were not controlled by According to a Unitarian historian, carried into Poland and Transylvania the church, and at the same time, the Unitarianism was: and eventually across the channel into Protestant Reformers created their “a movement fundamentally England. In fact, Servetus was the own state universities, Marburg in characterized . . . . by its first of those who later came to be 1527, Königsberg in 1544, and Jena steadfast and increasing de-

© Gentle Spirit Magazine -- Volume 6 Number 9 Page 33 votion to these three leading Liberals were in fact, if not in name, Quotes from the Fathers of principles: first, complete Unitarians, and demanded that the Homeschooling mental freedom in religion Liberals be exposed and denied Chris- rather than bondage to creeds tian fellowship. At this point, in 1825, or confessions; second, the the Unitarians declared themselves to unrestricted use of reason in be a separate group. “The most central religious religion, rather than reliance exercise of any culture is upon external authority or Public Education past tradition; third, generous education … Christian faith is tolerance of differing religious The late 1700s had also been a thus a total concern. Christian views and usages rather than time when Americans, including many schools are a necessity, or else insistence upon uniformity in American leaders, influenced by the we will have anti-Christian doctrine, worship or polity. ideas of men like Newton, Locke, and schools. For Christianity to by- Freedom, reason and toler- Rousseau and the European Enlight- ance: it is these conditions enment, came to believe it was a mark pass education, to neglect above all others that this of good government to discover and Christian schools, is suicidal.” movement has from the be- make use of the talents of gifted citi- ginning increasingly sought to zens. Thomas Jefferson, in particu- —J. Rousas Rushdoony, The Philosophy of the Christian Curriculum, quoted in Samuel Blumenfeld, “The promote.” lar, sought an “aristocracy of virtue Reconstructionist View of Education”, Chalcedon Report, and talents” unrelated to family or February 1996, p.12 (—Jefferson P. Selth, Unitarian Universalist History in Eight wealth — since until this time, only Minutes) www.sksm.edu/home/misc/uuhistory8.html the wealthy could afford the tuition schools — and accomplished via the creation of free public schools which Tensions and Divisions all were free to attend and where their gifts would be duly noticed. Jefferson, From the settling of the colonies, John Adams, and many other Ameri- there were religious tensions, divisions can leaders were rationalists who be- “And if we do not have justice relating to interpretations of the Bible, lieved in an ordered world, a natural in our schools, how will we especially. Even each of the colonies law for the universe, and natural rights have it in our society, and if was homogenous – Puritans with Pu- for man. They also were concerned we don’t what will become of ritans, Separatists with Separatists, that the nation’s electorate be edu- Anglicans with Anglicans, Roman cated and informed. For these rea- us?…we must recognize that Catholics with Roman Catholics – sons, concern with furtherance of edu- we are almost certainly too within some groups there was signifi- cation and educational facilities came stunted and broken in spirit, cant conflict, and especially so in the to the forefront in the late 1700s and too full of fear, greed, envy, Puritan colonies where conservative lands for the support of public educa- self-doubt, self-contempt, and liberal Calvinists struggled against tion were set aside by Congress for that one another, to the point that a good purpose. Conservative church mem- disappointment, and rage to be number were eventually excommuni- bers feared the spread of Jefferson’s able to create for the first time cated and banished. and Adams’ and other leaders’ ideas, a society that is truly human, they feared the growth of Unitarian- just, honest and peaceful, with In 1805 a theological liberal, ism and other forms of liberal Protes- Henry Ware (1764-1845), became Pro- tantism, and they preferred to con- some reasonable prospect of fessor of Divinity at Harvard Univer- tinue with their own church schools survival. To do that, we must sity, assuming leadership of what had and fought against the establishment have the help of a new genera- always been a conservative, Puritan of public education. Their goals for tion of people far more intelli- establishment, an event which was to their children were, first and foremost, gent, more kind, more loving become a watershed. At that point, to teach them to read the scriptures tensions between Evangelicals and and to advance the Christian faith, and respecting of life than Liberals became too great to with- and they believed those goals to be at most of us can ever hope to stand. The Evangelicals left to open odds with the goals of those who were be…” their own seminary at Andover and the pushing for public education. split between liberal and conservative

—John Holt, in a review of To the Rescue: The Lives of Protestants was complete. In 1821 the first public high Children, by George Dennison, New York Review of schools were established in Maine and Books, October 9, 1969. For a while the Boston Liberals in Massachusetts, and shortly there- avoided the Unitarian name, because after laws were passed in Massachu- they regarded Priestley and the Brit- setts requiring each town of more than ish Unitarians as extreme, but in 1815 500 families to support a high school. the orthodox Jedidiah Morse (1761- This law became the pattern for the 1826) reprinted a pamphlet by the creation of public high schools in British Unitarian Thomas Belsham, in many other states in the following which Belsham claimed the Boston years.

Page 34 © Gentle Spirit Magazine -- Volume 6 Number 9 Progressive Education ness” of those who pushed for public Quotes from the Fathers of education in colonial America, of their Homeschooling In the late 1800s there was a socialist, feminist agenda, and they movement in Europe towards “pro- spoke of the superiority of “[Dr. Rushdoony] has been gressive education”, that is, education homeschools. And there is no doubt called the father of the which was pragmatic and rationalis- in my mind that children who were tic and which involved the “whole taught in their homes by educated homeschooling movement, and child” and stressed the importance of parents undoubtedly fared quite well, with good reason. Back in the learning by doing, or of learning and including in the earliest years of the late 50s and early 60s when doing being all of a piece. Columbia colonial period. he was documenting the University President John Dewey bankruptcy of government spearheaded the movement towards But what these speakers omitted progressive education in this country, to mention was that higher education education, most Christians believing that via his intelligence, man and even trade schools, before the es- blithely sent their children to could at least partly control his soci- tablishment of public schools, were those Satanic hothouses with ety and build a democratic society limited to children from wealthy fami- little thought of the evils there. more productive of happiness than any lies who could pay tuition, and that previous culture. Dewey emphasized the many who were struggling to sur- Unfortunately, most professing man’s freedom and creativity, facts vive, to eke out a living, to provide food Christians still send them and results, and democratic reform, and shelter for their families, would there. But the percentages are all notions which appealed to Ameri- have had little time to devote to edu- changing…In the 70s, espe- can pragmatism and rationalism, but cation. Their children would have had cially, when churches and which were not Christian or spiritual, to join them in supporting the family earning Dewey the fear and disdain of in many instances with little chance Christian schools came under conservative Christians up to this day. of living lives any differently than those increasing attack by a hostile their parents lived. civil government, [Dr. Conservatives and conspiracy Rushdoony] would travel at theorists believe that the drive for free The speakers also failed to men- public schools was part of a conscious tion that in those years, the debate Chalcedon’s expense, to serve plan spearheaded by Unitarians and raged over whether it was ever proper as an expert witness in land- the “unsaved” to convert the United to teach a woman to read, that women mark and other important States from capitalism to socialism. As were, by and large, chattel, owned by church state cases. Many evidence, they point to the utopian men, not allowed to vote or sign con- times, as a result of [his] communities established by some tracts. It was lawful in many juris- Unitarians, like Robert Owens, and to dictions in these times for husbands knowledgeable testimony, the Unitarian efforts which did finally cul- to beat their wives as long as the imple- Christians, not to mention minate in the establishment of a ment they used was no thicker than religious liberty, would come state-run educational system in Mas- their thumb, i.e., the “Rule of Thumb.” out victors.” sachusetts against the will of the These were also the years of slavery —Andrew Sandlin, “A Comprehensive Faith”, Chalcedon Christian faithful. Some go so far as and of often oppressive work condi- Report, No. 363, July 1996, p. 3. to view Dewey’s promotion of the “look- tions for those who earned their living say” reading method, as opposed to in factories. phonics, as a deliberate attempt on Dewey’s part to actively keep America’s Those who pushed for public edu- young people illiterate and unable to cation undoubtedly viewed it as a par- “Religions that fail to dominate read the Bible, which they believe to tial answer to the disenfranchisement and control education and law be the source of all knowledge. Samuel and oppression and poverty being suf- quickly become fading relics of Blumenfeld, educator, homeschooling fered by women, African Americans, the past, as was the case in speaker, and curriculum writer, and and the poor in a nation otherwise a Christian Reconstructionist, argued bursting with opportunity, just as the United States by 1950. The in 1984, “[T]he goal was to produce those who believed in homeschooling philosophy of John Dewey inferior readers with inferior intelli- and church schools can be assumed provided the non-theistic gence dependent on a socialist edu- to have viewed it as an answer to the common faith of much of the cation elite for guidance, wisdom and issues which troubled them and their world, especially the United control. Dewey knew it…” Samuel fellow man as well. The nation’s Blumenfeld, NEA: Trojan Horse in churches and accompanying church States, and Deweyism was the American Education schools, while they served church humanistic religion of educa- members capably and well, offered tion taught by Dewey and his In researching this article, I lis- little or nothing to those who were not successors.” tened among other things to audio- a member of those churches and could —J. Rousas Rushdoony, Chalcedon Report, No. 405, tapes of a homeschooling seminar not attend them. What was to become April 1999. which was held in 1984 in Washing- of these people? What kind of lives ton state. The reconstructionist could they be expected to make for speakers emphasized the “ungodli- themselves?

© Gentle Spirit Magazine -- Volume 6 Number 9 Page 35 Although Neill’s philosophies did Quotes from the Fathers of The Earliest Unschooler not take root other than with a small Homeschooling I believe that what we call segment of the population, they were “unschooling” has roots in this same stimulating and thought provoking. “More than 10,000 families – progressive movement which origi- He got people thinking in new and cre- no one knows exactly how nated in Europe and which influenced ative and unusual ways about how many – are teaching their John Dewey. Other educators whose children learn, wondering whether children, most of them with the names might be familiar to there might be factors which they had homeschoolers or those interested in never considered. approval of legal authorities. alternative education are Maria To be sure, in all states, com- Montessori and A.S. Neill, who wrote pulsory education laws do say the book Summerhill. How Homeschooling Freedoms Were that children have to go to Won school. But the language of Neill was born in Forfar, Scotland in 1883, the fourth of 13 children and It was not until the turn of the these laws and the ways in the son of the village schoolmaster or 20th century that state-funded public which the courts have inter- ‘Dominie’, a “stern, puritanical man education became mandatory for chil- preted them, allow parents to who ruled his classroom with a rod of dren in the United States. After pub- teach their children. iron. In those days the strap or ‘tawse’ lic education was made mandatory, was commonly used in schools in Scot- children were still taught at home un- land and when at the age of 15 Neill der some circumstances, in wilderness Some families work out ar- was taken on as a pupil teacher by areas where there were no schools, for rangements with their local his father, he was expected to use it instance, and children also continued public schools; some enroll on the other children. to receive instruction in church-spon- their children in private sored schools. In increasing numbers, “At the age of 25, Neill went to church schools began to be pressured schools that approve a home Edinburgh University and took a de- by local authorities to conform to pub- study program; some simply gree in English. Afterwards he became lic school standards, and in the 1920s, register their homes as private a journalist, and later head of a small government officials filed suit against schools. school in Gretna Green. It was there a Roman Catholic school in an attempt that he wrote his first book, A to close it down and force its students Dominie’s Log, and began to form his into public schools. “How does it all work out? ideas about the lives and education of Very well. With few excep- children: In a landmark decision, the tions, homeschooled children United States Supreme Court ruled learn more things and learn “I have converted a hard-work- that “the fundamental theory of lib- ing school into a playground, and I re- erty upon which all governments of them faster and better, have joice. These bairns have had a year of this union repose excludes any gen- more contact with adults and happiness and liberty. They have done eral power of the state to standardize are socially better adjusted what they liked; they have sung their its children by forcing them to accept and more adaptive than most songs while they were working at instruction from public teachers only. graphs, they have eaten their sweets The child is not the creature of the children in schools…” while they read their books, they have state.” hung on my arms as we rambled along 1925 Pierce v. Society of Sisters 268 U.S. —John Holt, “More Parents Saying No to Schools”, 510 (1925) Newsday, April 30, 1982 in search of artistic corners.” www.s-hill.demon.co.uk This ruling was given an expan- Later, Neill wrote: sive construction by the United States Supreme Court in another case, Geor- “I am only just realising the ab- gia v. Blankenship, where the Court “No one can truly say yes to solute freedom of my scheme of Edu- ruled that Pierce v. Society of Sisters stood for the proposition that: something, be it an experience cation. I see that all outside compul- sion is wrong, that inner compulsion or another person’s offer of is the only value. And if Mary or David “… the values of parental direc- love, if he or he cannot truly wants to laze about, lazing about is tion of the religious upbringing and say no. No one can fully and the one thing necessary for their per- education of their children in their early and formative years have a high freely give love if she or he sonalities at the moment. Every mo- ment of a healthy child’s life is a work- place in our society…Thus, a state’s does not have the unques- ing moment. A child has no time to sit interest in universal education, how- tioned right to withhold it.” down and laze. Lazing is abnormal, it ever highly we rank it, is not totally is a recovery, and therefore it is nec- free from a balancing process when it —John Holt, from Escape from Childhood, E.P. Dutton, essary when it exists.” impinges on fundamental rights and 1974. www.s-hill.demon.co.uk interests, such as those specifically protected by the Free Exercise Clause

Page 36 © Gentle Spirit Magazine -- Volume 6 Number 9 of the First Amendment, and the tra- the law is not followed, then their com- Quotes from the Fathers of ditional interest of parent with respect pulsory law will be held to be uncon- Homeschooling to the religious upbringing of their stitutional. In fact, the Yoder decision children so long as they, in the words resulted in a broadening of religious of Pierce, ‘prepare [them] for additional freedom for the individual where the “To control the future requires obligations.’” 402 U.S. at 213-214 only people affected are those reli- the control of education and of giously objecting to certain laws. the child. Hence, for Chris- In the 1950s, the State of Wis- tians to tolerate statist educa- consin imprisoned several Amish fa- After the Yoder decision, the thers for violating compulsory atten- Christian school movement exploded tion, or to allow their children dance laws by refusing to send their with new schools opening every day. to be trained thereby, means children to public school past eighth The Yoder decision had additional to renounce power in society, grade. ramifications for all people, not just to renounce their children, and those, for example, who make deci- In a landmark decision which sions based on religious conviction. to deny Christ’s lordship over paved the way for homeschooling and As a result of the Court’s decision, the all of life.” for the private religious school move- courts had to balance the State’s in- ment which occurred shortly thereaf- terests against the rights of individu- —J. Rousas Rushdoony, The Philosophy of the Christian Curriculum, quoted in Samuel Blumenfeld, The ter, the U.S. Supreme Court in 1972 als when there was a test. For ex- Reconstructionist View of Education, Chalcedon Report, upheld the rights of these Amish fa- ample, people who choose not to im- No. 367, February 1996, p.12 thers and set forth three elements munize their children enjoyed far which must be established in religious greater protection as a result of this freedom cases of this nature: decision than would have been the case had the State’s compelling inter- 1. The party objecting to State law est been the main consideration as it must hold sincere religious beliefs con- was in the past. … the greatest teaching is best flicting with the laws; done “one on one.” The best 2. The State must be shown to I have always found it intriguing remedial teaching and the best interfere with the religious rights of the that our rights and freedoms as creative teaching have both individual by interfering with that homeschoolers were not won by po- individual’s religiously motivated con- litical activism, nor by running for of- been done this way for centu- duct; fice or the amassing power of what- ries. The lives of John Wesley, 3. If these first two elements ex- ever kind or getting legislation passed Abraham Lincoln, Albert ist, a balancing test is applied to de- through state legislatures. Our rights Einstein, Agatha Christie, termine if the State’s interest is so com- and freedoms were won by the cour- pelling as to outweigh the individual’s age of parents who were willing to take Douglas MacArthur, Pearl religious rights. responsibility for their own children, Buck, Hans Christian even when to do so meant they must Andersen, artists Andrew In the Yoder case the courts suffer. They were willing to go to jail, Wyeth and his son, Jamie, are found that the first two elements did to go through years and years of liti- examples of home-educated exist, and that the State’s interest was gation, to work within the existing not compelling and did not outweigh framework of laws to pursue their youngster who were given the the individual’s right to the free exer- rights as parents to raise their chil- freedom to explore. They were cise of religion. Amish children could dren as they saw fit. not restrained in classrooms leave school after eighth grade and which to many are cages. society was not harmed by this action. The Fathers of Homeschooling, The State of Wisconsin’s compulsory Plural They were given the freedom attendance regulation was declared in- of the little lambs… that they valid because the State could not show During the 1940s, 50s, and 60s, were. Their mothers and a compelling interest or demonstrate there were several men and women fathers lovingly shepherded that their goal could not be achieved who were interested in the education them, warmly responded to in a less restrictive way. of children and who were dedicating their lives to studying, thinking, re- them, and provided sound Prior to Yoder, courts had con- searching the subject. Some of these parental examples.” sistently ruled against individuals; people were Christians, and some were now they were compelled to balance not. Some had been influenced by the —Raymond and Dorothy Moore, Home Style Teaching, A the State’s rights as against the Progressive Education movement of Handbook for Parents and Teachers, Word Books, Waco, TX, 1984, p. 36 individual’s rights, with the burden of the early 1900s, and some had not. proof upon the state to demonstrate What they all shared in common was that society is harmed if its compul- a love of and concern for children and sory laws are not followed. If after families. applying the Yoder criteria and the balancing test, the state cannot dem- onstrate that society will be harmed if

© Gentle Spirit Magazine -- Volume 6 Number 9 Page 37 Quotes from the Fathers of One of these men was John Holt, In any event, in 1968, Dr. Homeschooling a Massachusetts fifth grade teacher, Lindstrom established Christian Lib- who in 1964 wrote a book which be- erty Academy in the basement of the “The great issues of the came a national best seller, How Chil- church he was pastoring. During this years ahead is the developing dren Fail, described as “the original same year, in response to the capture best seller about how even the ‘bright- of the U.S. Navy ship Pueblo by the battle between Christianity est’ kids in the “best” schools are made North Koreans, Lindstrom established and humanism. It is a war stupid by their fear of humiliation, by the “Remember the Pueblo,” commit- unto death. Christianity is a school’s separation from life, and by tee and recruited homeschooling fami- world and life view and faith, the assumption kids will only learn lies from among those who joined with what they are taught.” (GWS Catalog) him in distributing materials and or- and it an only exist as such. It Three years later, Holt wrote How Chil- ganizing rallies until the crew of the either is the word of God for dren Learn, followed by many other Pueblo was released. Throughout the every area or none.” books, to include Escape from Child- 70s, when some of these families be- hood, Freedom and Beyond, and Teach gan to face truancy and neglect —J. Rousas Rushdoony, The Philosophy of the Christian Curriculum, quoted in Samuel Blumenfeld, “The Your Own. Holt was an unpretentious charges for homeschooling, Lindstrom Reconstructionist View of Education”, Chalcedon Report, and humble man, a keen observer of traveled the country and testified in February 1996, p.12 children, and a great writer, and he their defense as an expert witness. made many appearances on national Quentin Johnston, television. He traversed the country www.chalcedon.edu/report/98mar/ Johnston_Christian_Schooling.html speaking and wrote articles for na- “What is lovely about chil- tional magazines and newspapers on In yet another state, there were dren is that they can make the subject of school reform, the edu- two more Christians who had, them- cation of children, and homeschooling. such a production, such a big selves, homeschooled, who had stud- On occasion he was called upon to tes- ied homeschooling and education, deal, about everything, or tify on behalf of a homeschooling fam- conducted extensive research, and nothing…I never want to be ily facing trouble with local authori- made homeschooling their life’s work. where I cannot see [them]. All ties or before state legislative bodies. Devout Seventh Day Adventists, Dr. Raymond Moore and his wife, Dorothy that energy and foolishness, At about this same time, in the all that curiosity, questions, Moore, who holds a Master’s Degree early 1960s, another man, operating and is a reading expert, had begun talk, all those fierce passions, out of a very different belief system and homeschooling their own children in inconsolable sorrows, immod- set of goals and ideals, but with simi- 1944 and had begun their own work erate joys, seem to many a lar dedication and commitment, wrote of working with homeschooling fami- two very different books. The man was nuisance to be endured, if not lies, speaking and writing nationally Dr. Rousas J. Rushdoony, and the about homeschooling issues, and tes- a disease to be cured. To me books were The Messianic Character of tifying for homeschooling families in they are a national asset, a American Education (Presbyterian and court as expert witnesses and to leg- treasure beyond price, more Reformed Publishing, 1961), and In- islative bodies and private organiza- tellectual Schizophrenia, published in tions. necessary to our health and 1963. Perhaps Dr. Rushdoony be- our very survival than any oil came motivated to write these books The First Homeschool Publication or uranium or name what you as he followed the New York case which will… resulted in prayer being banned in In 1977, the first newsletter schools by the U. S. Supreme Court aimed specifically at homeschooling in 1962 (Engel v. Vitale). Dr. “Little children love the families and those interested in Rushdoony was and is a staunch Cal- homeschooling was begun by John world. That is why they are vinist and a Reconstructionist who was Holt’s organization, Growing Without so good at learning about it. vehemently opposed to Christian chil- Schooling. Growing Without Schooling For it is love, not tricks and dren attending public schools and who was described as an “exchange be- believes true education is not possible tween people who have taken or would techniques of thought, that lies apart from a biblical foundation. at the heart of all true learning. like to take their kids out of school. What to do instead; shared ideas and Can we bring ourselves to let It wouldn’t be a stretch to imagine experiences; legal information; a direc- children grow through that that across the country in Illinois, an- tory of ‘unschoolers’; many other help- love?” other Calvinist and Reconstructionist, ful ideas and resources. “ Dr. Paul Lindstrom, might have been reading and pondering Dr. The Growing Without Schooling —Susannah Sheffer in a review of How Children Learn Rushdoony’s books. Maybe he also catalog offered an amazing assortment by John Holt, published in Growing Without Schooling read some of the books and articles of books and resources through “John and heard some of the television Holt’s Book and Music Store” includ- broadcasts relating to school reform ing children’s inexpensive cellos and and home schooling from John Holt’s violins, books for children and adults, perspective. puzzles, toys, t-shirts, art supplies,

Page 38 © Gentle Spirit Magazine -- Volume 6 Number 9 and resources related to living simply, confronted and sometimes prosecuted gardening, nomadic furniture build- by government officials, either because Quotes from the Fathers of ing, whole foods cookbooks, the officials didn’t know the laws, Homeschooling unschooling, “small is beautiful” eco- didn’t like the laws, wanted to test the nomic theory, environmental issues, laws, or because the laws were am- …schools assume that and special documents written by biguous. children are not interested in John Holt, including a “Constitutional Basis of Home Schooling,” which con- Also, some homeschooling par- learning and are not much tained legal arguments, sample model ents themselves tested the laws, re- good at it, that they will not proposals for parents to use with fusing to obey them on the basis that learn unless made to, that they school districts, court decisions in they were an infringement on their cannot learn unless shown homeschooling cases and transcripts constitutional rights; in other words, how, and that the way to make of John Holt’s testimony before state these parents practiced civil disobedi- legislative bodies considering chang- ence. But it is also true that them learn is to divide up the ing homeschooling laws. homeschoolers, slowly but surely, were prescribed material into a finding it possible to homeschool free sequence of tiny tasks to be The following year, in 1978, the of government harassment, even when mastered one at a time, each Home Based Education Program laws were intimidating. Quite often (Clonlara School) in Michigan started all it took was a letter or a phone call with its appropriate morsel with three students under the direc- to an official, a copy of the applicable and shock. And when this tion of Dr. Pat Montgomery. This early laws and an explanation, and espe- method doesn’t work, the umbrella school was unique in that it cially, a willingness to communicate schools assume there is some- provided services, materials, practical with and to educate school and gov- thing wrong with the chil- help and counsel to those known as ernment officials. When school and “unschoolers,” a term coined by John government officials understood what dren—something they must try Holt and meaning families who do not parents were trying to accomplish and to diagnose and treat… practice a rigid school-at-home ap- how they were going about it, their proach with traditional classroom concerns came to an end and they The easily observable fact hours and curriculum, but in which sometimes went away feeling more children are helped by their parents comfortable with homeschooling than is that children are passion- to explore their worlds when and as they had been before. ately eager to make as much they are ready, without pressure or sense as they can of the world coercion. In 1982, Growing Without School- around them, are extremely ing magazine published a letter from good at it, and do it as scien- By 1982, homeschooling was le- a family who had sought and received, gal in 40 states. It was either permit- on its own, approval to homeschool tists do, by creating knowledge ted outright by favorable legislation, from Boston school officials. This was out of experience. Children permitted when homeschools incorpo- the first instance known to GWS in observe, wonder, find, or rated as private schools, permitted in which a family was able, on its own, make and then test the an- the event of religious or conscientious to deal successfully with a big city reasons, or permitted as a result of bureaucracy. swers to the questions they court cases which homeschooling ask themselves… families had successfully won. In the Again in this same year, 1982, remaining 10 states it was legal if it following the passage of When they are compelled, was overseen by a certified teacher, homeschooling legislation in Louisiana instead, to act like laboratory full- or part-time. Only in Puerto Rico and Arizona, and after having been did homeschooling remain illegal. contacted by homeschoolers in a rats learning tricks, a few of (Charles Marston, New Hampshire midwestern state who had talked with them, clever answer-repeaters, State Department of Education, 1980, a legislator interested in introducing teacher-readers, and test- Patricia Lines, Education Commission a homeschool bill, John Holt wrote guessers, produce a feeble but of the States, 1982, The Hewitt Re- and published a Preliminary Draft of search Foundation, 1975, 1982, as Proposed Home Schooling Legislation plausible imitation of learning. shown in Raymond Moore, Home Spun in Growing Without Schooling. Intro- Most do even that badly and Schools, Hewitt Research, Michigan ducing the Preliminary Draft, Holt many, including some very 1982, pp. 141-143) Many wrote: bright kids, simply refuse to homeschoolers of this time believed, try. The results are familiar to and still believe, that parents should “Until now, home schoolers have stand on their constitutional right to not pursued a very active policy in the all of us. homeschool their children and that state legislatures, and with good rea- —John Holt, “School’s Out: Why Teachers Fail”, The state laws which regulate son; if the education laws as they Progressive, April, 1984, p. 32 homeschooling are ultimately not a stand, however unsatisfactory, make good thing. It is true that despite fa- home schooling possible, why tinker vorable legislation, regulations or court with them? …Instead, we have con- cases, homeschooling parents were tented ourselves with trying, on the

© Gentle Spirit Magazine -- Volume 6 Number 9 Page 39 whole fairly successfully, to prevent about “secular humanism” in contrast Quotes from the Fathers of the legislatures from passing laws that to the author’s definition of Christian- Homeschooling would make home schooling difficult ity, along with specific plans for orga- or impossible… best of all would be nizing parents’ groups to combat hu- laws that state specifically and unam- manism in the schools, instructions “Children are reared and biguously that parents may, without as to how to deal with school boards, educated in state schools undue restrictions or interference, how to write good press releases, how stripped of Biblical Faith and teach their own children. Until fairly to get Christians on school boards, and morality. They are taught that recently I would have said that there how to get involved in politics in the values are not eternal but self- was so little chance of getting such interest of eliminating secular human- laws passed that it was hardly worth- ism from the classroom. The National chosen, valid only for them- while making the effort. Now I am not Association of Christian Educators selves. This is the mental so sure.” described itself as “A national organi- framework of the psychopath, GWS Issue #30 zation of Christian educators in the a total irresponsibility to God public schools – stands for excellence 1983 in academics; Judeo-Christian morals and to man. He is the logical and values in public schools; removal product of our schools and In 1983, Dr. Pat Montgomery of of secular humanism to be replaced culture and his numbers will Clonlara reported success in helping with Character Education curricu- only increase unless au- homeschooling families in her program lum.” (Robert Simonds, As the Twig is tonomy, self-law, is replaced when they were confronted by govern- Bent, NACE, CA 1983, p.11) ment officials: by theonomy, God’s law. Also in 1983, an attorney in Unless we have theonomy, “In the current school year, 37 Washington, Michael Farris, together men and nations will alike be home school families were contacted with California Attorney Mike Smith, governed by self-law, au- by local school officials. Two were whom he had met at a homeschooling threatened with a court suit…Each of conference, began an organization tonomy.” the 38 consulted with HBEP and let called Home School Legal Defense As- —J. Rousas Rushdoony, “Psychopaths”, Chalcedon Report, No. 392, March 1998. us handle the contacts. None of the sociation out of his home in Olym- families had to consult a lawyer; none pia. Prior to Mr. Smith’s involvement “At the same time I was was taken to court…” with HSLDA, Smith had already been GWS Issue #39 representing California homeschooling seeing more and more evi- families, mostly by “writing letters and dence that most adults actively The Battle Over “Secular Human- making phone calls.” distrust and dislike most ism” www.hslda.org/hslda/history/timeline.html children, even their own, and According to Mr. Farris, his first quite often especially their A number of organizations sprang up in the early 80s which were dedi- actual case was a case he filed against own. They also feel that the cated to “communicating a Christian the Superintendant of Public Instruc- most important thing children worldview in the classroom.” The Mel tion in Washington on behalf of six have to learn is how to work, Gablers of Texas, in particular, be- homeschooling families which he con- sidered to be a constitutional challenge that is, when their time comes, gan evaluating public school textbooks and publishing reports as to which of Washington state law, a test case. to be able, and willing, to hold textbooks, in their opinion, were in- Meanwhile, a coalition of down full-time painful jobs of fluenced by “secular humanism” or homeschooling families in Washington their own. The best way to get contained information which they be- had been working with legislators for lieved “violated biblical principles”. some time on favorable homeschooling them ready to do this is to legislation, which passed while Mr. make school as much like a The Gablers urged parents to band together and to confront schoolboards Farris’s case was still pending. Mr. full-time painful job as pos- over objectionable textbooks and to Farris also represented parents in sible. As long as such parents work to see them removed from the Eastern Washington in their efforts to are in the majority, and in classroom and from school libraries. have the book, The Learning Tree, re- moved from the classroom. every social class they are, the Another organization founded in schools, even if they wanted 1983 was the National Association of According to the HSLDA timeline for to, and however much they Christian Educators, led by Dr. Rob- 1983: might want to, will not be able ert L. Simonds, which published two “May 18 — Washington: Because they books which were widely circulated in were being denied the right to educate to move very far in the direc- their children, home schoolers, led by tions I and many others have conservative Christian circles: Com- municating a Christian World View in HSLDA, challenged the constitution- for years been urging them to the Classroom—A Manual, and As the ality of the Washington statute when go.” Twig is Bent—A Parents Manual, both they filed the Caproni case. This con- —John Holt, Teach Your Own, (New York: authored by Dr. Simonds. These tributed to the passage of a new home Dell, 1981). books presented the author’s beliefs school law…” www.hslda.org/hslda/history/timeline.html)

Page 40 © Gentle Spirit Magazine -- Volume 6 Number 9 In 1983, Teaching Home Maga- In 1983, Gregg Harris began his zine – The Christian Magazine for Home Christian Life Workshops ministry and Quotes from the Fathers of Educators, began publishing, and re- presented national seminars to Homeschooling ported the Caproni case as follows: homeschooling families on the subject of homeschooling. Prior to beginning “This summer, the Homeschool CLW, Harris had worked with Dr. The best learning community I Legal Defense Association’s … major Raymond and Dorothy Moore. have ever known, in which legal activity in Washington has been most people were growing the Caproni v. Brouillett case in In 1983, Home Education Magazine Olympia…The Caproni case is un- began to be published by Mark and most rapidly in competence, usual, because families — not the state Helen Hegener, homeschooling par- skill and judgment, was not — brought the suit…The Caproni fami- ents of five children. Helen Hegener meant to be a learning commu- lies and the HSLDA hope that the court had, herself, been homeschooled, and nity at all. It was a U.S. sub- will declare the present state laws un- HEM was and is an inclusive publica- constitutional and ask the legislature tion, with people of many faiths on its marine – the USS Barbero – in to rewrite the law so it protects the staff, including conservative Chris- World War II. We were not in constitutional rights of tians, and with a diverse readership that sub to “learn about sub- homeschoolers.”(2) which includes, again, people from marines” but to help fight the every conceivable background and war. We never thought about These excerpts highlight the dif- faith community. fering philosophies among learning. We were too busy homeschoolers. In Washington, as in 1984 running that complicated ship other states, there were some and trying to find and sink homeschoolers who preferred not to In 1984, the Advanced Training enemy ships and trying to have homeschooling legislation en- Institute of America was founded by acted but who wanted to stand on their Bill Gothard. HSLDA attorney Jim keep them from finding and constitutional rights, while other Carden was instrumental in introduc- sinking us to have time to homeschoolers, often homeschoolers ing the concept of home schooling to worry about learning. who had run afoul of the local school Bill Gothard and was among the 100 district, as I did, were anxious to see families who piloted the ATIA program. “Our present great concern favorable legislation enacted so that In this same year, Attorney Jordan the harassment would come to an end. Lorance joined the staff of HSLDA in about learning, and all the Virginia. According to an article pub- time, talk and money we According to Mr. Farris, at the lished in a 1984 issue of Teaching spend on it, seems to me to be end of 1983, HSLDA had approxi- Home Magazine, Lorance and Farris a sign – one of many – that mately 200 member families which met in 1982 “at a retreat for legisla- heard of HSLDA by way of tors held by Bill Gothard in the upper something is very wrong with homeschooling conferences in Dallas, Peninsula of Michigan.” (Ron Hainline, modern society – all modern Sacramento, and Portland. States “Meet the HSLDA’s Washington, D.C., societies. If most people had Farris: Staff,” Teaching Home Magazine, work to do that they liked, that 1984.) “I frankly thought that the orga- used and rewarded much of nization was going to take off. I thought Bill Gothard had begun a na- their intelligence, skill and HSLDA would get to be an organiza- tional conservative Christian ministry judgment, work whose pur- tion of about 10,000 people the first in the 60s in which he traveled the poses they understood and year, year and a half, because I country presenting his “Institute in shared and respected, and if thought all the home schoolers would Basic Youth Conflicts” seminar to join. Instead, we had slow growth Christians in major cities during a tur- they felt that what they rather than rapid growth. The reality bulent time when many parents were thought, believed, wanted, was that if the organization had grown worried about their teenage children. said and did made or might as rapidly as I thought it was going to Not much is known to the general pub- make a real difference, we grow, I would never have left Wash- lic about this program, because ington state. Because it failed to grow Gothard’s materials have largely been would not be talking so much rapidly, we moved to Virginia so that I available only to those who attend his about learning. We would all could work with Concerned Women for conferences. He does not allow tap- be busy doing interesting America and have a paying job. But I ing or videotaping of his seminars, things that mattered.” am absolutely confident that that was which occur over a week’s time, sev- a way for us to get direction. I am con- eral hours each evening, and all day —John Holt, “Imagining the Future—The Learning fident that’s where we’re supposed to Saturday, and in general, he does not Society”, Christian Science Monitor, April 8, 1974 be and that would not have happened agree to interviews. Mr. Gothard was if we’d had the initial rapid growth that able to spread the word about I anticipated.” homeschooling and his new program (HSLDA www.hslda.org/hslda/history/good-bad- to families who had attended his con- inspiring.html) ferences, a considerable number of

© Gentle Spirit Magazine -- Volume 6 Number 9 Page 41 people. By 1992, according to his to choose the education of their chil- “Divide and conquer is what you seminar brochure, 2,300,000 people dren. If the threats or harassment do to the enemy, not to your own! had attended the course in “Basic could be dealt with before problems These are our brothers and sisters in Youth Conflicts.” became serious, most confrontations home schooling…And some of them could be avoided. .. Now, however, the are much more Christlike, and radi- 1985 Home School Legal Defense Associa- cally conservative in their dealings tion (HSLDA) has formulated a plan of with others than some of us Chris- Raymond and Dorothy Moore insurance protection for home schools tians…” began publishing the Parent Educator and assembled a network of qualified Vol. 4, No. 2, The Parent Educator and Family Report and Family Report and continued their attorneys to intercede for families in work on behalf of homeschooling fami- case of threats and handle the case if Reviewing a dissertation written by lies by providing curriculum and coun- it becomes necessary…the Moores are Mike Shepherd entitled, “The Home seling and advocating on their behalf grateful for the relief this has brought Schooling Movement: An Emerging in courts, legislative bodies, and on to their work loads.” Conflict in American Education,” Brian radio and television. From “Legal Matters,” Vol. 4, No. 2, The Parent Educator Ray, now of HSLDA-affiliated NHERI and Family Report (National Home Education Research Dr. Raymond Moore met with Institute) wrote: U.S. Secretary of Education William Nevertheless, judging from other Bennett this year in the Secretary’s information which began to appear in “In Chapter 2, the author engages Washington, D.C. headquarters at Dr. newsletters, storm clouds were on the in theorizing about why and how home Bennett’s request to discuss horizon and all was not completely education has recently experienced a homeschooling well. From the cover article of the resurgence. During the ‘60s and ‘70s, (Parent Educator and Family Report, May/June 1985) March/April 1986 issue of The Parent the New Left desired more individual Educator and Family Report: Mary Pride published The Way Home. freedom and delved deeply into experi- menting with alternative schools… It “Here at Hewitt, our personal tes- 1986 was natural for alternative schools to timony regardless of church affiliation accommodate home schooling as one is that we believe deeply in the grace In these years, there was great more alternative approach to and righteousness by faith in our Lord cooperation among homeschoolers, education…While many alternative Jesus Christ. But with great caution, and homeschooling leaders from all school people and secular deep thought and love we re-empha- backgrounds joined together to homeschoolers seek greater freedom size that our calling is to all people present conferences to homeschoolers for students, “…many of the overtly regardless of race, color, creed or na- and families interested in religious parents who instruct their tional origin. And it is our fondest wish homeschooling . They supported one own children do not relish the child’s that state organizations function in another, advertised for one another, freedom to explore ideas on his own. this manner. Indeed, we believe that made important announcements on Rather, they are more interested in those who are not tolerant of others’ one another’s behalf. They formed indoctrinating their sons and daugh- beliefs, who set up guidelines to ex- support groups across denominational ters in truths already known, namely, clude them or who work for freedom lines and worked willingly together. the truths of the Bible…” only for those who are religious not —From The Home Schooling Movement: An Emerging Con- only drive them from Christ but be- flict in American Education, cited by Brian Ray, “Research Consider the following conference Report: A Study of the Homeschooling Movement,” The come warped and rigid in their own announcement, which long-time Teaching Home, Oct./Nov. 1986, p. 24 bigotry and turn away Christ from homeschoolers will agree would be their own lives. The Savior did not and unusual to see today: “Hewitt Re- Another significant event of 1986 does not operate in that way… search Foundation [the Moores’ orga- was the announcement, which ap- nization at the time] announced the peared in national newspapers and “Why should we emphasize sepa- Princeton, New Jersey leadership con- magazines all over the United States, ratism and division when there is cur- ference at the Hyatt Hotel. National that the first of David and Micki rently a genuine effort on the part of and state leaders attending included Colfax’s four sons had aced the Col- non-Christian home educators to work the Moores, John Eidsmoe, Michael lege Boards and gone on to attend with Christians and vice versa? …We Farris, Donna Richoux, of Holt Asso- Harvard after having been unschooled in no way suggest that home school- ciations (Growing Without Schooling), all of his life and growing up on the ing families refrain from association and Phyllis Shlafly.” family’s homestead, for many of his with others of like values—in support (Vol. 4, No. 1, The Parent Educator and growing up years living without elec- groups or at any level. But we must Family Report, “Bulletin”) tricity or running water. Two more of not encourage our state groups to be the Colfaxes sons, one a birth son, one exclusive any more than we would re- In this same issue: adopted, similarly went on to ace the strict the state house or the Congress. college boards and enter Ivy League To suggest that we try to divide “In the early years of the home schools. The Colfaxes wrote of their homeschoolers state wide is to make education movement Raymond and experiences in two books popular with it diffficult to get good parent-protec- Dorothy Moore, though not lawyers, homeschoolers, Homeschooling for tion laws in our state legislatures and spent a large share of their time inter- Excellence and Trouble in Paradise and good decisions in our courts… ceding with school officials in behalf began speaking at homeschooling con- of hundreds of parents and their right ferences to enraptured audiences

Page 42 © Gentle Spirit Magazine -- Volume 6 Number 9 thrilled to have confirmed that what tions that he was putting “research longer confront us on these conclu- they had long suspected was true: ahead of the Bible,” Dr. Moore re- sions. Our new book on burnout, due homeschooling could provide the best sponded: in October, addresses this.” possible education for one’s children. (July/August 1988 Family Report, p. 5.) “Any who have read our books John Holt died of cancer, to the carefully or listened closely know that By 1987, according to Attorney sorrow of thousands of homeschoolers we link science and the Bible. …Yet Mike Smith, when he joined Mr. Farris who dearly loved him. Leadership of we hope to help all people see the im- in Virginia, HSLDA had 3,600 mem- Growing Without Schooling was as- portance of home education, whether bers, 30-40 percent of them from his sumed by Pat Farenga and others, who or not they have Biblical evidence and home state, California. continue Holt’s work today. many of them have become Christians (HSLDA www.hslda.org/hslda/history/good-bad- through a better understanding of the inspiring.html) 1987 family relationships. 1988 During this time, a controversy “Modern research clearly vindi- developed between curriculum suppli- cates the Scriptures…We got our ideas The release of Dr. Moore’s new ers who advocated for early structured from the Bible, first and from our ex- book, Home School Burnout, caused a teaching – for children as young as 3 perience, second. We tested it against furor amongst some homeschooling years old – and the Moores, who had history, research and common sense leaders during this year, and there was long advocated for delaying structured and it comes out shining…we have to a spate of essays and editorials in teaching until a child was eight years be careful that we don’t misuse the homeschooling publications refuting of age or older. Some homeschoolers Bible as many do while ignoring re- Moore’s assertions that homeschoolers began describing or referring to the search…” can and do burn out, especially when Moores’ better-late-than-early educa- they use rigid curriculum and a tional philosophy as “unbiblical” and One major curriculum supplier, school-at-home approach. Dr. Moore “humanistic.” criticizing the Moores’ and others’ re- also, for the first time, published his search, said, “We find no substantia- thoughts about the emerging exclu- Responding to these criticisms, in tion for the theory that early reading siveness in some conservative Chris- the May/June 1987, Family Report, or structured education causes myo- tian homeschooling circles and his Raymond Moore said: pia or any other physical or psycho- concern that this might be damaging logical problems, such as “burnout”, to the movement as a whole. “Unfortunately, many frustration, delinquency or misbehav- homeschoolers have not studied the ior. These problems are often a result The Teaching Home announced research and still worse, there are of the methods used to teach young National Home School Convention ’88, some Christians who seem to believe children, or the lack of proper child including a National Leadership Con- that if someone they call a humanist training, not the age at which they ference, which was held in Portland says something, it must be wrong. were taught,” Oregon during this year. Keynote Many researchers who have found Speakers were Jonathon Lindvall, truth in education are not Christians. Dr. Moore responded: Gregg Harris, and Michael Farris. Also Yet that does not deny the validity of speaking were Dr. Ruth Beechick, Vir- their findings…Neither do all ‘human- “First, we believe that early child- ginia Baker, Cathy Duffy, Richard ists’ agree. One of the current pro- hood education is Biblically correct, Wheeler, Richard Fugate, Harold grams in this country, promoted by a but not as defined by this firm. Sec- Wengert, Phil Myers, Ray E. Ballman, ‘humanist’ is one in which mothers are ond, we are astonished at the state- Susan Beatty, James Rose. This may encouraged to use flash cards with ment respecting myopia and other have been the first national conven- math facts and words to teach their child problems. The Bible is dear to tion featuring conservative Christian babies as early as 18 months!… us and utterly scientific; it in no way speakers only. counters sound research. In our opin- “Readiness for academics does ion these precious people, no matter In general, movement in the di- not depend on brilliance, but rather how sincere, are either uninformed or rection of a divided homeschooling has to do with the integrated physi- have turned away from research which movement increased during this time, cal, mental, emotional and social ma- is so conclusive that there is not a with some homeschooling leaders urg- turity of the child…” single replicable study to oppose it. We ing that support groups require mem- have been trying to help these folk but bers or leaders of homeschooling sup- The controversy over now realize that their program is dan- port groups to sign statements of faith. homeschooling styles continued to cre- gerous and a sure road to burnout and Christian homeschoolers were themselves ate dissension between those who ad- family and child problems. They deeply divided; some wanted exclusively vocated for delayed formal teaching or would try to make a tadpole hop be- Christian support groups and others did unschooling, (the Moores and John fore his legs were grown. Or make a not. The feelings of those who supported Holt), and those who advocated for rose bloom by peeling down the pet- exclusivity are summed up in this quote: early structured teaching, including als, thus bruising and hurting its many conservative Christian natural bloom. Read the research in “Maintaining a Christian support homeschoolers, leaders, and curricu- our books School Can Wait and Better group requires maintaining leader- lum suppliers. In response to allega- Late Than Early. Child specialists no ship. To many of us it is one of the

© Gentle Spirit Magazine -- Volume 6 Number 9 Page 43 most important issues. A group open 1990 to unbelievers and the resultant open leadership is the alternate choice. The National Center for Home Education, NCHE, was created by “A brief and concise statement of HSLDA’s Board of Directors in 1990 purpose and statement of faith is a way as a ministry to state leaders. Its to insure the perpetuation of a Chris- interests included legislative actions tian group. If this can be agreed upon relative to home schooling, educational by the charter members, it will point issues in general and parenting con- the way for future decisions and pro- cerns from a conservative Christian vide peace of mind when those values fundamentalist viewpoint. are questioned. A second consider- www.hslda.org/hslda/history/timeline.html ation is requesting that the leadership or those taking responsibilities agree Responding to an interviewer’s or subscribe to these statements. question about the homeschooling Lastly, make these tenets known to the laws at this time as follows: members. Let them know where the When did you begin to sense that foundation of the group lies and by the fear [if repercussions from doing so allow any of them who can- homeschooling] was alleviated? Was it not abide by them to excuse them- a gradual process or was there a defi- selves.” nite break point?

—Dick and Dorothy Karman, “Making It Work – Good Chris Klicka, HSLDA attorney, re- Advice from a Veteran Support Group Leader, April/May 1988, The Teaching Home, p. 35 sponded:

1989 “Well, from ’85 on, we saw a pretty steady gain in the legislatures. Mary Pride began publishing her Up until 1990, three to four states per newsletter, HELP for Growing Families. year were changing their laws. By 1990, people were feeling pretty con- I began publishing Gentle Spirit fident. There were only a very few Magazine. states that were giving us problems as far as the very right to exist. I’d say The movement in the direction of about 1990 it shifted. Now the issue greater control and regulation within is how far can they regulate us, rather exclusive homeschool support groups than do we have the right to exist. Then continued to increase, as demon- the DeJonge case probably put to rest strated by the following quote: the last really bitter attack on home schooling in any state. And we’ve had “Children’s dress and conduct so many victories in the courts and on support group field trips should be legislatures, it’s phenomenal. The fear similar to that at a “church function.” has gone away and confidence has set Children or parents who are disrup- in.” tive, or who degrade the Christian wit- ness of the field trip or activity may be In this same year, the National asked to leave by the organizer.” Center for Home Education began op- – Dick and Dorothy Karman, “Field Trip Guidelines”, The eration, and NCHE’s first Regional Teaching Home, Feb/Mar 1989, p. 13 Support Group Leaders’ Symposium was held in Syracuse, New York.▼

(Part 2 will appear in next month’s Gentle Spirit.)

“”Here at Hewitt, our personal testimony regardless of church affiliation is that we believe deeply in the grace and righteous- ness by faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. But with great caution, deep thought and love we re-emphasize that our calling is to all people regardless of race, color, creed or national origin...” --Dr. Raymond Moore

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