I was notified that our Christian homeschool co-op is being kicked out of the church building that we’ve been using to meet in. Did we do anything wrong? No. The new church leadership just doesn’t “feel” passionate about supporting homeschooling.
First, a quick explanation on what a co-op is. A co-op is a group of homeschooling parents who come together, typically once a week, to provide classes for the students. These classes are usually taught by the homeschooling parents and often are focused on courses that are difficult to teach in a home setting. Often science is taught, even the higher sciences, so more lab options can be utilized. Often gym, public speaking, foreign language, and fine arts are taught as well. In most groups of homeschool parents, there is a wide array of knowledge and expertise that can be pulled upon for the mutual benefit of the entire group.
My particular co-op group has over one hundred kids. We have done all sorts of group classes to supplement home learning as well as provide the often mentioned “socialization.” These co-ops introduce kids to classroom-style learning. They learn to raise their hands and walk in lines (things society expects kids to know but there is no reason to teach at home). More importantly, we teach Biblical doctrine/apologetics and we protect our children from being exposed to the myriad of liberal agenda items taught in public and private schools today. Our children form lifelong friendships with kids whose families have the same values.
A homeschool co-op can be a microcosm of the sort of world we want our kids to live in. A place where character matters and friends are those who encourage you to make good decisions. Where our kids aren’t weird if they don’t have phones, don’t play video games, or don’t know the latest trends. Where adults and the Bible are respected. A place where “wokeness” doesn’t exist.
How could a church not feel passionate about supporting homeschooling?
Is it a lack of knowledge about how hard homeschooling is? Is it a lack of knowledge about how important homeschooling is? Is it a lack of knowledge about how essential a co-op can be to a homeschooling family?
As Conservatives, I think we often want to help sustain and promote conservative values but we don’t know how. I am telling you, right now, that homeschooling is the front lines of Conservatism.
We are actively protecting a remnant of the next generation from the liberal agenda. We are constant targets of changing regulations, cultural misunderstandings, and unintended hindrances. We are a small minority, who is understaffed and has limited resources.
How can you help?
So many ways.
A lady from my church who was a reading tutor in public schools for thirty years, now tutors homeschool students with reading issues. I have known of tradesmen, music teachers and professors teaching in co-ops or running homeschool choirs or other interest groups, even when they didn’t have any children or grandchildren involved.
There is a growing need for homeschool sports clubs, especially for junior high and high school kids. They need coaches but they also need someone to set up and run a sports club. Many families end up reluctantly putting their kids into public or private schools as they get older so their kids can experience sports or learn some of the more technical subjects. If you can teach any job skills, there are homeschoolers you could teach in a classroom or apprentice situation.
Or, in my situation, if you have a facility that you could allow a group to meet in, that could help too. Also, if you have any ties to a public or private school, you could help make it more homeschool friendly by making policies that encourage homeschoolers to take a class or two or join sports teams at the school.
Finally, there is a financial component to homeschooling. Most homeschoolers are one-income families living in a two-income world. If you own a business, you could seek out a homeschool mom to work for you. She may have some specific needs regarding hours or flexibility so if your business could allow for that, it would be a blessing to someone. Homeschool curriculum is expensive; you could seek out a homeschooling family with a financial need and purchase some of their curriculum for them. Or adopt a local co-op and help them with photocopying or other expenses.
If you would like to help support on the front lines, contact your local homeschool group and they can help connect you with a homeschooler who would appreciate your knowledge and resources.
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An option for locating, is you might consider seeing if any fraternal organizations (Elks, Eagles, Masons, Knights of Columbus, etc) in your area have their buildings unused at a regularly scheduled time and might be willing to work with you on an arrangement–I know that for many years my grandfather’s Masonic lodge would rent out part of their hall for wedding receptions and similar to help with facilities costs, and around here the Elks let the political parties use their building for Party Caucus events. As an aside, networking with them might help make some useful connections with folks who might also be willing to share knowledge–especially in your case, back when I was growing up among them many such organizations were largely composed of service veterans who would see helping a fallen brother’s widow as a matter of fraternal duty.