homeschoolers

By Tami Lange Mosser
January 28, 2014
417

Hannah Stoller never gets a snow day and shes fine with that. The 12 year old is one of the four children of Marty and Wendy Stoller, who decided several years ago that homeschooling was the way to go. Marty Stoller said he initially was against the idea of homeschooling when his wife suggested it. Himself a product of the public school system, Marty Stoller said he was unaware how things had changed. He was concerned about the push for evolution and the tolerance of alternative lifestyles. So the Stollers met with a couple who were involved with Wayne County Christian Home Educators. Liking what they heard, the Stollers made the decision to home school and now do so with Hannah, 12; Heidi, 10; Orin, 8; and Katie, 4. The school day at the Stollers' home in Orrville starts at 8 a.m., with time allotted for independent learning and learning together. Usually by lunch theyre done Wendy Stoller said, or if theyre not, they finish up right after, in the early afternoon. The afternoon is set aside for chores, music practice and hobbies. I get to go at my own pace, Hannah Stoller said. When she was having problems with fractions, I would stay on that as long as I wanted. And I only have one teacher for all of my subjects. Betty Steiner has completed homeschooling three of her four children, who she said were the ones to approach her with the idea. I felt like the Lord called me to do it at that time, she said. Her youngest, Jonathan, is in high school at home, though he does participate in basketball at Kingsway Christian School. Steiner said her son does a lot of the schoolwork on his own, helped by DVDs. She helps when necessary, but most of it is reading on his own. Thats not to say the life of a homeschooled child is a lonely one. Hannah Stoller said she likes co-ops, a variety of classes that taught one afternoon per week by other homeschooling parents. For me, Hannah Stoller said, it gives me a taste of what school would be like if I was in school. And there are activities, like field trips, that also are offered. For Laura Steiner, homeschooling her three daughters often is an exercise in flexibility. At first she said, she thought about sending Shannon, 11; Kendra, 9; and Ashley, 8; to a private school. Her husband suggested homeschooling, which she initially dismissed. Then, she said, I prayed about it and thought about it some more. For a while, the schedule at home was pretty regular, Laura Steiner said. Then, in December, an infant was placed with her family through Children Services. Now, she said, We work as hard as we can, as fast as we can, while incorporating the school schedule around naps and feedings. Part of homeschooling is being flexible, she said, and the girls are learning how to take care of a baby. Theyre also learning to live and work on the family farm, which their mother said presents plenty of opportunities for both learning and exercise. My kids, Laura Steiner said, are outdoor kids. Theyre not sit-on-the-couch type of girls. They also are girls who enjoy each others company. One of the best things about being at home for school, Kendra Steiner said, is we dont have to be split up in different classes. Sister Ashley agreed, adding, and we get to be with Mom all day. Betty Steiner said she has heard other homeschooling mothers said they sometimes feel overwhelmed, though I thoroughly enjoy it. It does require some extra effort, according to Laura Steiner, who said theres being home and having to be the organizer of the household and then theres schooling on top of it. Still, she wouldnt change a thing, including what she is teaching. Religious education is part of every school day, part of every subject. The Bible is like the ultimate textbook, she said. Its the ultimate guidebook for every subject. But, Laura Steiner said, she knows not everyone believes as her family does. To that end, she also teaches her children about other religious and what people of other religions believe. The Stollers and both of the Steiners realize their children will live in a world with people of different viewpoints and different worldviews. But its not as though they will go all at once, Marty Stoller said, adding, When they do go out in the world, with Gods grace, they can handle that. None of the families have any regrets about their decision to homeschool. Decisions about curriculum and schedules can always be changed, they agree, and their interactions with their public school district have all been very cordial. Other members of the WCCHE provide support and mentoring as needed and there are ample opportunities for their child to socialize and spent time with their peers. And were shaping a worldview, Marty Stoller said, integrating our faith with every topic. For more information on the Wayne county Christian Home Educators, visit http://wcche.weebly.com/ or email wcche.info@gmail.com.

homeschoolers

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