Over the years our family learned at home, many terms floated across the homeschool communities describing different homeschooling styles. For many parents, one phrase – “Christian homeschooler” – turned into “Christian who also homeschools” because of the assumed connotations within our community. We can all breathe a sigh of relief that thorny subject is not my focus today, except to point out our varied interests.

The intent today is on “homeschooling writers” or “writers who homeschool”, or all of the above. An enjoyable pastime for me is observing various homeschooling writers’ engagement with the public in columns, books and articles. On one of my first days as editor and since we seem to have a slow homeschooling news day, I aim to list a compilation of homeschoolers with public opinions.

I am fully aware the phrase – “homeschoolers with opinions” – is redundant, but there are always rumors floating on the ‘socialization’ muck accusing us of the little lady abiding our husband’s wishes of barefoot, pregnant and in a denim jumper. As many in the media and the education research department might assert this backwoods image, the notion should be swept right out our back door.

These authors’ writing interests I’m showcasing are not necessarily revolving around homeschooling. but there does seem to be a link with lifelong learning. Farming/good food and love of the land, science/branches of education, family/that is a major reason we homeschool and of course politics/’homeschool politics are local’ turned into specialties of these different homeschoolers’ trade. I think they’ve served their communities well with thorough knowledge of the subject at hand. So let’s get started.

Author Laurie Couture  has an article in the current November – December Home Education Magazine – Keeping The Parent-Teen Connection Strong Through Unschooling. Laurie was also interviewed in the provocative documentary – War on Kids. She’s the one in the movie trailer noting school students are often told to “sit down in that chair and keep your mouth shut”.

Indiana’s News and Tribune Columnist Debbie Harbeson puts her point of view out there for inspection every Thursday. Covering various current events in her articles, Debbie also does not like educational coercion while liking the idea of educational anarchy.

Mississippi homeschooler Natalie Winningham also writes a column in the Clarion-Ledger. Natalie offers her take on family, education trends and homeschooling.

Fran Eaton homeschooled her children and they are continuing the tradition with their own children. Fran writes a column for the south Chicago suburbs – Southtown Star. Her start as a defender of Illinois homeschooling rights sparked a political affairs passion. Fran also edits The Illinois Review and actively participates in Illinois politics.

Another Illinoisan, Deborah Niemann-Boehle, homeschooled while working as a reporter. Then they made a huge lifestyle change and a started up a new homestead. Deborah added to that busy life with her writings about their experience and now has a popular farm blog and two books – Homegrown and Handmade and EcoThrifty.

New Yorker and multi-generation farmer Shannon Hayes has four books to tout, including the start of a new turn of phrase with this title – Radical Homemakers. She has written numerous articles in publications such as the New York Times and you can read her Radical Homemaking thoughts in Yes magazine’s blog.

Home Education Magazine championed many writers along the way, including Kathy Ceceri and Laura Grace Weldon. Kathy is now the senior editor for Geek Mom in Wired magazine and has written several activity books for many homeschoolers’ favorite projects – Hands On Learning. Both these ladies are smart, savvy and let those who are not enlightened never forget – social,  offering fun resources in the realm of geekmomdom. Laura also produced a book- Free Range Learning, with a HEM column by the same name.

We can’t forget Parent at the Helm’s Linda Dobson! Her books are on my shelf and her Good Housekeeping article way back put homeschooling in the news in a good way.

As I review this off the top of my head list, I recognize these are all of the female gender. I know there are more, and there are certainly men in this group of writers that homeschool (or homeschoolers that write). Pat Farenga, David Albert, and Snow Falling on Cedars award winning author David Guterson immediately come to mind. But it’s a bit fun to highlight the power mamas in this piece. Hats off to them and many others. I will be reading and learning from their pieces and you will surely see their influence here in Home Education Magazine’s News & Commentary.

If you have other writers to add, please feel welcome to note them in comments.

Homeschoolers in Illinois are facing challenges to their situation as described in this Sun-Times article by Fran Eaton, titled Homeschooling Parents Not Eager for States Help:

Homeschoolers can be called a lot of things because they’re so independent and self-sufficient, and that seems counter-intuitive in today’s world. But they’re not as paranoid as some public school officials would make them out to be. The truancy officer acknowledged he would assume guilt before proving innocence. He would not have a problem searching private homes to prove the schools within were up to state standards.

The Senate committee exchange became more revealing when Reynolds told the committee he would look around those registered homes for computers with educational software, books and other indications teaching was going on.

And then he would “help” them.

Illinois blogger Susan Ryan is following the situation closely at her blog Corn and Oil:

Illinois homeschoolers don’t want any legislation that will infringe on their rights.  Any negotiations are concerning if they ever end in compromise.  4,000 Illinois homeschoolers in the Capitol showed the resolve about that issue.

Susan also noted the formation of a political action committee for Illinois homeschoolers:

One good thing to come of this ongoing fiasco is the creation of the IL Homeschool PAC.  We needed that yesterday.

From the Southtown Star, an edition of the Chicago Sun-Times, an article by Fran Eaton titled Homeschooling taught lessons for both children and parents:

Any day now, we’ll all be hearing those familiar sounds of school buses and young voices shouting out as the kids head back to school. That first day marks a fresh beginning in a child’s life.

I’ll never forget our daughter’s first day of kindergarten more than 20 years ago. Determined to be independent and on her own, the little blond 5-year-old went out the door with lunchbox in hand. I stood and watched as she walked down the sidewalk. Within minutes, she entered the front door of her school – back home, right where she started.

“I’m ready for school,” she said. And she was.

Homeschooling was our family’s choice. During the 1980s, a revival of home education hit the United States, and we, along with tens of thousands of other young couples, were swept into the tidal wave.

Continue reading Fran Eaton’s article at the link above.