A Father's Vision

November 2003

In my quest to help CHEACT align its strength with encouraging homeschooling in our region, I have observed two key factors that will determine the long-term success of a homeschool. While there are exceptions to every rule, these are few and far between. If you want to continue to homeschool, these two factors need to be in place.

The first is that the primary educator needs support.

We all know the lone mother who does not participate in any co-op, park day or mother's evening support group, but they are rare. This is the same woman who would shoot a bear attacking her sheep, fend off hostile savages intent on burning the homestead and make a four day journey by snowshoe into town (with a delusional-from-fever 12-year old strapped to her back) to see a doctor. All of this while her husband and teenage sons are out on a six-month trapping expedition.

For the rest of us, there are support groups.

The second is that homeschooling must be in the father's vision for the family. I know of no exceptions to this one. This doesn't have to be in place when homeschooling begins, but if this isn't resolved before the middle school years, the family will likely find other educational alternatives. This is a make-or-break factor that needs to be in place for a homeschool to continue. CHEACT is dedicated to the encouragement of homeschooling, so we must be dedicated to the support and encouragement of the homeschooling father.

Toward that end, CHEACT will be hosting a Fathers' Conference this winter. Over the past few years, we have been slowly shifting the focus of our annual Winter Conference toward Homeschooling Dads. With the growing turnout at both Fathers' Breakfasts at our two conferences this year, coupled with the significant rate hike at our winter conference venue that we cannot absorb, we have decided to drop the book fair aspect of the winter conference and focus solely on Dads.

Dads, for our first annual Fathers' Conference, please join us on January 17th, 2004. Our keynote speaker will be Stephen Beck from Curriculum Connection. You can find out more about him and his ministry from his web site: curriculumconnection.net. Stephen has a challenging and encouraging message for homeschooling Dads.

Moms, we need you to help make this happen: Write this event on the family calendar and refrain from any honey-do's on that day. (Submissively placing your foot squarely in the middle of his back and shoving him out of bed that morning will also help).

Details about this event will be published on our web site (cheact.org) over the next few weeks as they unfold.

It is always exciting when a parent agrees to take a leadership role in our homeschool community. I am pleased to announce that Jim Bob Howard has been approved by our Board to be our next Treasurer. He is taking over the steadfast work of Gary Anderson, who has served for over two years in this capacity. Many of you will recognize Jim Bob as our current webmaster. Jim Bob's experience, knowledge and creativity will be key as we look for ways to embrace the Internet to be better stewards of our resources. Welcome!

Finally, kudos to Yvonne Johnson for pulling off one of the most creative homeschooling events of the year! The Lakeline Barnes and Noble was absolutely teeming with homeschoolers during their first ever homeschool-oriented event. This was all Yvonne's idea and effort. Barnes and Noble is calling it their most successful event ever. They are now interested in how they can serve our community with events and resources in an ongoing manner. I was astonished to find a stack of "Reforming Marriage" books by Douglas Wilson on their bookshelves that night.

For one night, at least, we had an opportunity to affect culture and lead in an historically difficult place. Judging by the number of Christian homeschooling books that are still stocked on the shelves, now over a week after the event, I'd say our impact has just begun. Thank you, Yvonne!

TTFN,
Brett

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