Homeschooling: A Clear Choice
There are probably more educational choices available today than ever before, but homeschooling may be the best option for many families wishing to leave the public schools. While school choice is an important issue that has gained momentum in recent years, some private and charter schools promote the same destructive ideology as the public schools, often at a hefty price tag. 
This is not to discourage parents from supporting a better educational experience for their children. Many private schools do just that, but homeschooling offers a variety of study options as well as flexibility for learning opportunities that are not available in brick-and-mortar schools.
Resources abound for guidance and help with homeschooling. The Homeschool Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) is probably the most well-known homeschool support organization with its 35-year history of helping parents instruct their children at home. HSLDA also continues to represent homeschooling families in legal battles against state infringement on the right of parents to oversee the education of their own children.
The HSLDA.org website provides interested parents with a wealth of information, including homeschool laws by state, advice on how and where to begin a homeschool program, and more. But bulwark that HSLDA is, there are a great many resources available to homeschooling families. For many parents, assistance at the local level is most beneficial.
Just Do It!
Pro-family activist and homeschooling mom of 13 years, Jennifer Coulter is just such a valuable resource for parents interested in homeschooling in the St. Louis, Missouri area. With a Master's degree in Education, Coulter counsels would-be homeschoolers and recently hosted a seminar for interested parents. Although she specializes in curriculum and resources for Catholic homeschoolers, she provides a wide range of websites, blogs and suggestions that all parents can use. (See reference list at the end of this article.)
Coulter stresses that a master's degree is not needed to homeschool. "No one else has the same interest in your child that you do as a parent," she says. "The key is to be flexible and give yourself permission to accept that you will make mistakes together and you will also learn together." She adds: "You will have more time with your children and will know what they need to be successful more than anyone else. Your child is your life, so just do it!"
Homeschooling Advantages
Coulter cites as advantages of homeschooling the fact that there is "less stress, no hoops to jump through, no peer pressure, and no teacher indoctrination." This last point becomes abundantly clear if one considers a recent viral video of a public-school teacher castigating her class for over four minutes about white privilege, climate change, former President Donald Trump, and even attacking the students' parents. This teacher has reportedly been fired, but it is a wakeup call that perfectly illustrates Coulter's point about teacher indoctrination.
According to Coulter, one of the major issues keeping kids in the public-school system is sports, so it's important for homeschooling families to check out their state laws in this area. She says such laws need to allow students leaving a public or private school for homeschooling "to be able to play on the homeschool teams immediately and not be forced to observe a ‘waiting period.'" For example, the Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA) rules prohibit students who leave a MSHSAA competing school and join a homeschool team from competing in a MSHSAA event for one full calendar year. "In my experience, Coulter says, "this rule has no benefit for students and needs to be changed."
Homeschool Socialization
Another factor that deters families from homeschooling is the fear that children will be deprived of socialization. But Coulter says that "because of the growing homeschool population, this is not an issue. There are plenty of homeschool co-ops that hold dances, field trips and graduations."
Coulter adds: "When many schools canceled these important milestone gatherings last year, the homeschoolers carried on. And homeschooling also provides for socialization beyond simply being with children the same age every day. Homeschoolers have the opportunity to hang out with their grandparents who share their knowledge, talents and love. Homeschoolers also have more time to travel and experience in real time the places and history they learn about."
Taking the First Step
Coulter acknowledges that homeschooling parents learn over time. A good first step in the process is for parents to investigate their state's homeschool laws. The right curriculum is also critical, but Coulter says "even if kids just read good books, they are learning." She highly recommends Conservapedia's lectures, articles, and courses free for use in an educational setting. Conservapedia was founded by lawyer, teacher, historian, and writer Andrew Schlafly as an alternative to the liberal Wikipedia, and the site offers a wealth of valuable resource material.
Most major metro areas have local homeschool co-ops, and one example in Missouri is the St. Louis Catholic Homeschool Association. Smaller cities and towns often have similar resources as well, and online resources can be accessed anywhere in the country. "A free source that might be a good starting point for anyone jumping into homeschooling is the Christian Easy Peasy All-in-One Homeschool," Coulter suggests. Her other recommendations for online information and assistance are listed below.
Homeschool Laws by State
Easy Peasy All-in-One Homeschool
Seton Catholic Homeschooling Books and More
St. Louis Catholic Homeschool Association
Missouri Baptist Homeschool on Campus Program-High School Dual Enrollment Program
Homeschool Sports Net
Hillsdale College Online Courses
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