Episcopal Homeschooler: Oxymoron? I Think Not!

There's a dastardly virus floating around my house. I caught it Saturday night, The Butterfly caught it on Sunday. The resulting sleep deprivation has made me a little loopy and, I'm afraid, is leading me into philosophical waters in which I usually do not tread. Dana, at Principled Discovery, posted an article on Defining Homeschooling. After reading it, I started thinking about my definition of homeschooling. I think that is another post for another day. However, what I really started thinking about was what it means to be an Episcopal homeschooler. Am I an Episcopal homeschooler, or am I an Episcopalian who homeschools? Does it really matter? I think maybe it does.

Google Catholic homeschooling and you will get thousands of hits. There are books and programs and articles and stickers and t-shirts...well, you get the picture. Ditto for the Fundamentalist denominations of Christianity. The Jewish homeschoolers have sites and blogs. Muslim homeschoolers have a network. Dog-gone-it, the Pagans even have a site. The Episcopalians have Aussie Kim, Cathy (who left me a comment), and me. Oh, I'm sure there are one or two more out there (please, let there be one or two more out there!), but they're maintaining a mighty low profile. Just for kicks, I Googled Episcopal homeschooling resources. I got a link to a homeschool group that meets in an Episcopal Church. Wah-Hoo.

I think that the reason I feel like an Episcopalian who homeschools instead of an Episcopal homeschooler is that the Episcopal Church has failed to embrace homeschooling. They have failed to understand the need of homeschoolers to have that base of support. Once, The C.F.O. asked our Bishop about homeschoolers in the Episcopal Church.  He got a puzzled look. Cathy said her priest was a former school teacher, and all she got was a blank stare. Aussie Kim told me that her priest was very supportive, but unfortunately, he appears to be in the minority. I just don't think that the Episcopal Church, as a whole, gets into the homeschooling gig.

I'm sure there are political and social reasons why that is so. (Is it just me, or is there a larger than average percentage of public school teachers who are Episcopalian?) Whatever the reason, I am ready for a change. It's time for the homeschooling Episcopalians of the world to stand up and be counted. No more sitting on the back pew. We're going down to the front row. Talk it up. Make waves. Get noticed. Cause trouble. Let your homeschooling voice be heard!

I want a network, darn it.

Comments

[Activities Coordinator]

Hey, Kristi!

Just found you in SPAM between Viagra and Brazilian Bikini Wax. You need to stop hanging out with that crowd!

Thanks for the link!

[Activities Coordinator]

Kristi! The link is dead. Please administer CPR a.s.a.p! :)

Thanks.

[Ann]

Another homeschooler who happens to be Episcopal here:-) I let our kids choose between regular or home education. Actually, we cyberschool through public online schools rather than doing pure homeschooling, so I'm not sure if we're "real" homeschoolers. We live in CO and have four children.

[Activities Coordinator]

Hey there, Ann!

Sorry. You commented during my summer hibernation. I'm no homeschool purest. Anything that keeps 'em from having to choke down cafeteria food works for me! Welcome aboard!

[Sandy Lee]

The link to the yahoo group does not work, and searching the yahoo groups with those keywords yields nothing. Help! Your idea of a network on yahoo is a great one, and many people clearly want to join, but how can we do so?

[Kbpipes.wordpress.com]

Wow I have not read your comments, but totally relate to your blog post. We are Episcopalians and we homeschool 2. We feel like we are all alone. We actually have been shopping around looking at Catholic homeschool groups.

[nicole]

Just tried to find the yahoo group. Is it still up?

[Activities Coordinator]

I don't think it is still up. On the plus side...new Episcopal homeschooling family @ our church!

[RSA]

Home school is home school, anyone can take whatever your religion is.

[Online Tutor Jobs]

Its the first time I read your post so I was happy when you shared this for every reader information like these.

[hilton head homey]

So, I am thinking about homeschooling.... not so happy with the Catholic school currently attending.. miss so much our Episcopal Day School in our old town...would love a community to chat with.. South Carolina

[Mary]

I am an Episcopalian interested in homeschooling an Anglican tradition worldview and faith formation. Here's what I've got, four plus, maybe kids whose personal testimony and witness is going to be as strong as it is heart rending. At some point I fully expect their story may hit national news. They are super bright, articulate, affable and wise. Aged fifteen to four they were pulled out of school between second and fifth grade to "homeschool a trade" but mom soon decided it was too much trouble and simply kept them home. Now for obvious reasons they is no better alternative than homeschool and I hope to take it on. I totally see your point about inreach. My experience is the Episcopal church takes this approach on a lot of issues like family violence, for instance. We will sit a Priest on the board and write a check but is essentially the party line interest. The think the reasons are two fold. The low church crowd digs their reputation as tree hugging dirt worshipers and the high churched have their kids away at Episcopal prep school
and view it as something the Methodists and Evangelicals enage in, not the affluent and urbane. So here we are again. The question I ask is what is stopping a group of the would-be from creating, seeking endorsement of, and marketing, if that's the right word, our own curriculum? I don't know my definites on time of enrollment, but who's to say there isn't a trail to blaze?

[Activities Coordinator]

I think we're blazing it, Mary!!

[Katie]

I found this post for the same reason many others noted: I google'd "Episcopal homeschool," lol. I will be reading all the posts here looking for more info!

[Carol]

I am happy to find this post! We are card carrying Episcopalians and have been homeschooling for four years. When we lived in NC we joined the Catholics for our homeschooling experience (being "Catholic lite" we fit right in) and the Catholics were happy to have us. I do wish we, as Episcopalians, were more united. Now, we live in the CSRA area of GA. Do any of you live anywhere close? We were also Lutherans for a short while (my husband is a church musician), so we feel at home with them as well. Thanks for this blog!

[free paper]

Oh my goodness! an amazing article dude. Thank you However I am experiencing issue with ur rss . Don’t know why Unable to subscribe to it. Is there anyone getting identical rss problem? Anyone who knows kindly respond. Thnkx

[Jill]

I'm one of two homeschooling mamas in my (very large) Episcopalian church. Can't wait to read more. :)

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