Home School Heartbeat Radio Program

Mike Smith:
When Hurricane Katrina swept across the southern United States in late August 2005, homeschoolers throughout the Gulf Coast region were forced to evacuate their homes, leaving vehicles, jobs, curriculum, and computers behind. They thought they would return in a few days to pick up their lives where they left off, but it was a week before many were able to drive back. When they arrived, they found mud, mold, warped furniture, and flooded rooms.

In the midst of deciding how to rebuild their lives, these families faced a difficult question: Could they continue homeschooling despite temporary housing, destroyed curriculum, and disrupted finances? Even before the hurricane, parents had made financial sacrifices to homeschool their own children. Could they absorb the additional costs of the emergency without putting their children in public school?

The impact of Hurricane Katrina highlighted an everyday reality for the homeschool community: Although homeschooling is rarely easy for anyone, some families experience exceptional, difficult circumstances that test their ability to continue teaching their own children. Whether these families are dealing with the death of a spouse, the education of a special needs child, or a devastating house fire, their desire to continue homeschooling may be eclipsed by the pressing needs of their situation.

The Home School Foundation’s mission is to help these families overcome immediate financial obstacles through one-time grants.

And until next time, I’m Mike Smith.