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| The Ruth children study and do their homework around the table at home. Pictured, from back left, and going clockwise are: nine-year-old John, 11-year-old Josie, 14-year-old Flavi, 15-year-old Frannie, 12-year-old Robbie, and six-year-old Philomena. Four-year-old Thomas is not pictured. (Contributed photo/Lucy Ruth) |
MADISON — Almost 7,500 students attend Catholic schools in the Diocese of Madison. That leads to a rough estimate of almost 100 students per school.
When you compare that number to the more than 300 students in more than 85 families who participate in the Holy Family Homeschoolers (HFH) program in the diocese, one can see it is a viable and growing option for families.
Why homeschool?
According to HFH families, the two biggest reasons they chose to homeschool are faith and academics. Teaching children at home gives parents a chance to teach the faith in a manner which is not watered down and is in keeping with the Magisterium.
HFH families also say homeschoolers, on average, score significantly higher on SAT tests than students in public schools and in religiously affiliated private schools. Colleges also recruit home schoolers at a high rate over any other group of incoming freshmen.
Homeschooling offers flexibility. Students may follow the standard school year, or be educated year-round, taking breaks for vacations or liturgical seasons. Homeschoolers can also take family time when a new baby arrives or a grandparent is ill, all while teaching the children the value of family. Time missed can be made up during the summer months or at other times.
The families say there are also opportunities not available to traditionally schooled students, offering homeschoolers a depth and breadth of education unavailable elsewhere. Students have worked for senators at the Capitol, interned at Relevant Radio, attended religious rallies, established their own businesses, engaged in mission work, and taken college courses — all during school hours.
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| Holy Family Homeschoolers (HFH) is open to Catholic families who are actively homeschooling, as well as to Catholic families who are considering homeschooling and would like to learn more about the homeschooling lifestyle. For more information on HFH, visit www.homeschool-life.com/wi/hfh or email holyfamilyhomeschoolers@gmail.com |
Making the decision
There is a range of reasons why parents ultimately make the decision to homeschool their kids.
Laura Kloess and her husband Michael, members of St. Michael the Archangel Parish at St. Ignatius Church in Mt. Horeb, have seven children, ranging from ages three to 17.
“As students ourselves we both had positive experiences in public and parochial schools,” said Laura Kloess. “However we felt drawn to the potential for great family learning and domestic church that homeschooling could provide.”
Andrea Gray and her husband Ryan, who live in Evansville and are members of Cathedral Parish in Madison, are parents of six, with number seven on the way this month.
“I decided to try homeschooling when my oldest was three years old,” said Andrea Gray. “At that time I wanted to send him to Montessori School, but found the tuition payments daunting. I would have never considered homeschooling, but I happened to meet some homeschooled teens and was impressed by their manners and easy way of interacting with younger kids and adults.”
Jill Yanke and her husband Dave, members of St. Patrick Parish in Cottage Grove, are parents of nine, ranging from one to 18. Their oldest son just graduated from high school and is in college now.
“When our oldest was going into kindergarten, we were concerned that he already knew much of what would be taught,” said Jill Yanke. “Since he was a quiet child, we decided to keep him home to school him knowing that we could continue to challenge him. After that, it was a year-by-year decision for a few years, but he’s been homeschooled ever since — as have all our kids.”
Jody Conry and her husband Mike, members of St. John the Baptist Parish in Waunakee, are parents of six. Four of their children are either college graduates or are in college. Two others are still being homeschooled.
“I think we were initially drawn toward homeschooling for the following reasons: a more affordable option for Catholic education; a more personalized, flexible, and efficient education; increased family unity and academic excellence,” said Jody Conry. “We didn’t feel that conventional schooling was bad — God just broadened our vision as to wh:)at was possible and what would be a better choice for our family.”
Concerns and challenges
Like any family or educational endeavor, there are challenges in homeschooling.
“There were a few high school courses that I was concerned about teaching. So we found other ways of the kids experiencing those classes,” said Jill Yanke. “For example, my kids use a tutor for their language since my background is Spanish and they are taking Latin.”
“My biggest concern was that I would be able to pull it off,” said Andrea Gray. “Some of the many challenges include how to schedule the day, how to keep your house clean when you have kids underfoot all day, what math book to choose, how to school with a new baby or a toddler, how to teach reading, especially with a struggling learner, and how to get your child to sit down and do the assignments without dropping their pencil 800 times or poking their brother.”
Laura Kloess says her family meets any challenges head-on and with God’s help.
“When we focus on God’s will for our family and answer the question ‘are we doing what He wants?’ the challenges seem small and insignificant,” she said. “In the end any school situation has a variety of challenges and parents who are focused on the will of God for their family and on building the domestic Church will rise to meet those challenges.”
Teaching with flexibility
Children in homeschool families have experiences not normally seen with kids in different age groups.
Lucy Ruth and her husband Rob, members of Cathedral Parish in Madison, have seven children, ages four to 16.
For the Ruths, it’s about tailoring their children’s education to what each child needs.
When it comes to the pace of learning, her children aren’t waiting for others and “others aren’t waiting for you,” Lucy Ruth said.
The Ruth children are also free to study and get their work done at any time during the day, as long as it gets done, and it does.
Living in a rural area, just outside Oregon, the Ruth family gets an opportunity for many hands-on learning experiences.
Fifteen-year-old Franny has been raising her own pigs, while nine-year-old John is raising tumbling pigeons. All the children are very active in 4H activities and have entries in the Dane County Fair.
Lucy Ruth says these experiences helped her children to explore “on their own” and “go out in nature.”
Keeping children ‘on pace’
There are many ways parents know their children are “on pace” with students in traditional school settings.
“Some of these may include oral recitation of materials, written essays, retelling or narration, projects, as well as more formal tests,” said Laura Kloess. “One of the benefits of homeschooling is being able to use a wide variety of assessment techniques to evaluate the child’s learning.”
“Standardized tests aren’t required in Wisconsin but I do them,” said Andrea Gray. “It makes the in-laws happy and it is interesting to see how they compare, and what their strengths and weaknesses are. I think test taking is a good skill to practice. But really the tests don’t tell me anything I don’t already know from working with them everyday.”
Lucy Ruth also keeps track of her children’s progress by using standardized tests and also comparing family lessons to those of the Oregon School District at the beginning of the school year.
As far as making sure her children were ready for college, Jody Conry added, “Using a solid, classical, college-prep curriculum was the best preparation. I wasn’t really worried about their transition to college, because I knew that through homeschooling they had learned to take ownership of their own education and had learned ‘how to learn.’
Interaction with others
The homeschool students also get interaction with other homeschool students in HFH.
“Our boys play on a homeschool basketball team; they have attended homeschool prom,” said Jill Yanke. “In addition, we have picture day where individual and group pictures are taken of the members of our homeschool group.
We also started a band within our homeschool group. We have parties for different events like All Saints Day or Valentine’s Day.”
There are also enrichment activities, which include choir, science lab, gym class, drama, and logic.
Focus on faith
While some families have religion as part of their lessons, homeschooling gives parents the opportunity to make faith lessons a part of their children’s whole life.
Lucy Ruth says her family lives its “whole life around their faith,” and while they do have a religion textbook, learning about the Church comes as part of their faith life, and not just reserved for a school-type setting.
Families say they are blessed to have the support of Fr. Rick Heilman, who also serves as pastor at St. Mary Parish in Pine Bluff and St. Michael the Archangel Parish in Mt. Horeb and Perry. He offers monthly homeschool Masses, regular Confessions, and more.
Advice for prospective parents
For families thinking about homeschooling, the parents offered some advice.
“I would say if you are considering homeschooling, give it a try,” said Andrea Gray. “There are so many resources and options out there. Homeschooling has been such a blessing to our family; I can’t help but recommend it. And if it doesn’t work out, you can always put them in school.”
“There are great curriculum and resources both Catholic and secular being produced for parents who want to commit to homeschooling that can make the planning, grading, and actual teaching fit into virtually any learning environment you want to create, said Laura Kloess.
“It’s definitely easiest to start homeschooling from the beginning, but even if your kids have been in conventional schooling for awhile, you can make the switch if homeschooling is what God is calling you to do,” said Jody Conry.
“Do your research so you can make an informed choice, pray about it, and if it is the right choice for your family, when you finally do say, ‘yes,’ you will feel a great sense of peace.”
Jill Yanke encourages prospective parents to connect with other homeschooling parents so they have support.
What the kids have to say
Some of the students have some thoughts for their peers and interested parents, as well.
“You are in a much more relaxed environment, which contrary to popular belief, does not cause you to do your school slower — just more comfortably,” said 14-year-old Julia Kloess.
“It isn’t boring like going to school. My favorite subject is geometry, I get to make cool patterns,” said 11-year-old Avery Gray.