Home Education Magazine

September-October 1998 Issue

Homeschooling Books - Lillian Jones

The Homeschooling Book of Answers, by Linda Dobson

Trapped. I had groggily slid onto the bench of a picnic table under a tree, and taken a sip or two of my morning coffee at the family reunion, when the squinted blue eyes across the table fixed me resolutely, the chin squared with determination. "So - how does the state go about testing him to make sure that you're keeping up with the appropriate standards?" I remember nothing of the ensuing conversation, except that I first took a slow breath, relaxed, set my emotions into neutral, and offered only the briefest answers. After all, this wasn't a parent looking for information - just a concerned distant relative issuing stern admonitions disguised in the form of casual questions. And it was 8 a.m.

After breakfast I took my copy of The Homeschooling Book of Answers over to her RV to lend to her, thinking to myself that it was a rather strange thing to be doing. Something felt awkwardly unfinished, and this was all the effort I cared to put into it. She accepted it graciously, but was clearly uninterested.

That evening I returned from a drive into the country, and she met me with great enthusiasm. "I read the book," she said dreamily, "and it helped me to plan my course of study for this fall!" Bonnie was going back to school in midlife, and The Homeschooling Book of Answers had completely turned her mind around about how to proceed with her education. "It made me realize that what I've been working on is unschooling myself. So what I'm going to do is take classes in things that interest me, instead of the regular blocks of courses prescribed for a degree." She now wanted to talk about real education and the nature of learning and life. By Jove, she got it! We were suddenly speaking the same language - and with no investment of my own time or energy. Never have I experienced such a sudden, dramatic shift in communication.

The Homeschooling Book of Answers is a truly inspired response to today's growing demand for information about homeschooling. Don't judge this book by its cover, or you'll miss a real treasure. There's a picture on the front and back covers of a notepad, with no less than seven pencils, and the subtitle "The 88 Most Important Questions Answered by Homeschooling's Most Respected Voices." Contrary to what the publisher is understandably trying to convey (authors have little control over the titles and covers of their books), the content is not at all cut and dried. It's also clear that Linda Dobson only meant to represent these writers as people whose thoughts she highly values, rather than as the most respected voices... However, I suppose one side effect of this unfortunate cover might be that it could inadvertently catch and rescue some folks who might otherwise end up with a different kind of book that would offer the type of stiff and highly structured content they thought they wanted.

Linda Dobson explains that what she calls "The Bright Idea" came from a summer spent speaking and presenting workshops at homeschooling conferences. She thought it would be wonderful to be able to bring the collective energy and knowledge of "some of the most dedicated, practiced, knowledgeable, and commonsensical voices on homeschooling" to people who can't get to such conferences. Soon she had recruited 39 people to contribute responses to the 88 questions that seem to come up most frequently.

What you'll find in this book is helpful, warm, and thoughtful support, but certainly not an attempt to give expert answers. As a matter of fact, if you're looking for such answers to how it should be done, read this book, and you'll probably soon find yourself comfortably letting go of that need. The fun things about homeschooling is that the most commonly voiced inner personal experiences are startlingly similar, although almost unheard of in the broader educational world. Those experiences are generously shared in The Homeschooling Book of Answers - that is both the heart and the guts of why it works so well.

The key to the unique character of The Homeschooling Book of Answers is in the introduction, where Dobson says: "Looking at homeschooling as an odd educational choice, or even as a valid educational choice, for that matter, places it in a very narrow context. This narrow context is unfortunate because it abruptly ends just where homeschooling begins. Considering homeschooling this way is like looking at someone's finger as it points toward a beautiful sunset." This stunningly phrased essential truth is the heart of the matter, and ironically enough, the hardest thing to convey to people who are just starting to inquire about "homeschooling." Dobson continues, "Homeschooling is a grassroots educational alternative that originates with the seed of parental love and commitment and blossoms into a lush garden of personal empowerment for child and parent." It was surprising to me that Linda had managed to corral for this book so many diverse homeschoolers who clearly and strongly supported that core sentiment, but she has done just that.

As a contributor, I had been a bit leery of all this "diversity" Linda promised. Would it include "school at home" philosophy - the thing many of us have witnessed to be the worst single stumbling block? In the introduction, Dobson says: "Be forewarned. These are voices that frankly express strong opinions. You won't agree with everyone; some may even make you grit your teeth. Hopefully, they'll all help you think - about what we as a society call education and what we do to our children in the name of education. Hopefully, they'll all help you feel - what education can really be and what it's like to experience the promise of educational freedom fulfilled." Gritted teeth? Oh, oh. What kind of crowd was I running with here?

Happily, in spite of the warning, I found the contributors delightful in their personal diversity: Michelle Barone; Chris Cardiff; Cafi Cohen; David and Mickie Colfax; Adam and Linda Dobson; Kirby, Marty, and Sandra Dodd; Susan Evans; John Taylor Gatto; Nancy and Bill Greer; Mary Griffith; Adam Grimm; Helen and Mark Hegener; Shari Henry and TJ Jones; Doris and Michael Hohensee; Katherine Houk; Theresa Hyland; Lindsay Johnson; Megan, Larry, and Susan Kaseman; Rebecca Kochenderfer; Janie Levine Hellyer; Patricia Lines; Mary McCarthy; Pat Montgomery; Dorothy and Raymond Moore; Donna Nichols-White; Nancy Plent; Wendy Priesnitz; Annaquista Pykosz; Donn and Jean Reed; Becky and Randy Rupp; Margaret and Will Shaw; Susannah Sheffer; Deb, Mae, and Sara Shell; Luz Shosie; Ned Vare; and Cindy Wade. A diverse group indeed, but the voices weave together in wonderful harmony around the essential issues, and heart, of homeschooling. No "school at home" advice here - just a wide variety of individuals offering reassuring advice and encouragement in both the practical and philosophical aspects of the homeschooling adventure.

The goal Linda Dobson set out with is accomplished even more effectively than one could have imagined. This is a book I've already begun recommending to everyone looking for information about homeschooling, as well as to friends who also get a lot of calls asking these questions. The Homeschooling Book of Answers will definitely free up more time for us to really enjoy our morning cups of coffee.

© 2000 Lillian Jones

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