State homeschooling groups are often the first people met on the road to home education. Today on Home School Heartbeat, Mike Smith talks about how state groups help those who are new to home education.
Mike Smith:
Training through symposiums, conferences, and conventions is a vital part of a state homeschooling organization's role.
"Introduction to homeschooling" seminars, like the ones many homeschooling groups hold, instill the vision of homeschooling in parents new to home education. They go straight to the heart of homeschooling, which includes the individualized, parent-directed programs, freedom from government control, and Christ-centeredness.
Kevin Swanson of Christian Home Educators of Colorado (CHEC) believes that "helping new homeschoolers get started is the heart and soul of CHEC's ministry." CHEC sends out over 2,000 introductory packets to interested parents annually. Additionally, the CHEC office receives five to ten calls per day from people who want help in getting started.
CHEC's major emphasis, however, is on encouraging prospective homeschoolers to attend one of their introductory seminars. Kevin says, "These seminars meet people at an important time in their homeschooling journey . . . that's at the beginning. The probability of somebody sticking with homeschooling will rely, to a great extent, upon the equipping they received at the beginning."
Have you been homeschooling for several years now? Contact your state organization to find opportunities to help those who are new to home education. And until next time, I'm Mike Smith.
