Our January-February, 2008 issue will mark the beginning of our 25th year of publishing Home Education Magazine.
A quarter of a century!
A couple of years ago I started writing a history of how we started the magazine, and those posts can still be found in the blog archive, under the category History of Homeschooling. To make them easier to find and read, here are the posts in order:
The posts end just before we started the magazine in 1983, and I’ve received a few inquiries about “what happened next.” One of these days I’ll write the continuation of the story. Meanwhile, I hope these earlier posts will give our readers a little insight on the family adventure that led to today’s premier homeschooling magazine!
Hello, Home Education Magazine. I’ve just found your site today, as I’ve been researching the California ruling. Anyway, I thought I posted a comment earlier, at 2:20 exact as we’re in the same time zone, but now I can’t seem to find it or don’t know if you censored it. Anyway, I’m sending a repeat of my message, as I really want to celebrate with you your 25 year anniversary, your accomplishments and talk about some of our shared history. So, here is the message I thought I sent earlier:
Congratulations on your 25th anniversary, publishing a wonderful service and magazine, Home Education Magazine.
I remember those early days in the 80′s when we were helping home educators in their work, validating the movement, and dealing with critics and obstructionists. We have certainly come a long way, and there’s more to do yet. Thanks for doing your part.
I remember those days when you in Washington, and I in Vancouver Canada, were active and both of us interacted with the two streams and their leaders at that time: John Holt and Dr. Raymond and Dorothy Moore.
In view of the latest issues in California, even though I have been quiescent in recent years, I’ve gotten more active and been posting comments in blogs to cheer on the troops.
Below is a copy of my latest post:
As a grandmother of the early home education movement in North America, naturally I was concerned about the recent court ruling in California which basically criminalized about 200,000 home schooling parents lacking teaching credentials. Hopefully, if it is not overturned by the Supreme Court, Governor Schwarzenegger has promised legislative remedy: “Parents should not be penalized for acting in the best interests of their children’s education.â€
I am very impressed by the extent and depth of feeling and outrage expressed by supporters of home education. But, I am disappointed at the hostility and shallowness of those who are opposed, either out of self-interest (teacher unions) or basic intolerance. (Just Google California home schooling ruling…)
It is because this case even came up in 2008, and because the hostility and threat can be reasserted at any time, that I would like you to read my publication of 1987 which was useful in two ways: 1) to encourage home educators, and 2) to put the education establishment on notice about the legality and imperatives driving this movement. In the article I quote John Holt as saying:
“Today freedom has different enemies. It must be fought for in different ways. It will take very different qualities of mind and heart to save it.â€
Published in a prestigious educator magazine, it carries weight to this day, often quoted.
My history in home education goes back to 1972 when, after being credentialed from a Teachers College, I traveled with my children to Mexico to study under Ivan Illich of deschooling fame.
There I met with John Holt. He knew I had two young children with me, ages 3 and 5, and asked if I would be enrolling them in school soon. I said I might educate them at home.
He thought this was illegal, but I said I found from my readings at Teachers College that the “otherwise†clause in most Education Acts allowed it.
He then commented that at least I would be qualified to do it, having obtained a teaching certificate. Again, I enlightened him with the fact that this was not a requirement.
He then posed the thoughtful but predictable question about socialization, and we chatted about the various community opportunities available and the negative aspects of socialization that parents wanted to avoid.
His parting comment was: “Smart City!â€
Using his mailing list which he had used to encourage education reform, he soon embraced home education and in 1975 started a new publication, “Growing Without Schools.
Meanwhile, Dr. Raymond Moore was spreading the word (The Family Report) amongst his mainly Christian audience and paid frequent visits to Vancouver, especially when we held Home Learning Fairs.
You can download the 5 page article: Home Education: the third option to see concerns of 20 years ago reappearing today……
http://www.theschoolsweneed.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/ubb/showflat/Number/543/Main/543/#Post543