 Faces of Homeschooling profiles
 Joe:
Former middle school teacher Judi
Thomas of Marietta, Georgia,
started HERITAGE Homeschoolers, a support group for minorities, after finding other
organizations included few, if any, black families.
 She has been homeschooling her daughter Juliet (age 9) and her
daughter Jacqueline (age 4). Judi in many ways is like any homeschooling mom but with some
unique perspectives. As a former middle school teacher she has an intimate inside
knowledge of how the "system" works. As an African-American homeschooler, she
has developed a support group for this community of homeschoolers, adding to the diversity
of the homeschooling movement. She was recently featured in a Time Magazine article, and I
thought it might be fun to chat with Judi a bit and have her tell us more about herself,
her family and her support group.
 Joe:
Hi Judi, thanks for stopping by.
You are a former middle school teacher and have embraced homeschooling and, in particular,
you chose to focus on the African-American community. In your mission statement it says,
"It is our desire to create a ministry to the African-American community to model and
present home educational philosophies among us from the relaxed, unschooled approach to
methods that are very traditional and structured as suited to each individual
family." What differences and challenges do you feel are unique to the African
American community and how does your organization (HERITAGE - Home Educators Rightly
Integrated Together Administering Godly Education) fulfill that?
  Judi:
The main thing that Heritage Homeschool Support Group provides to
African-American Homeschoolers over predominately white support groups is an opportunity
for our children to "see themselves" and form relationships with other African
American homeschooled students like themselves. The African American culture is unique in
many ways. Our time together is special because of the way we relate to and understand
each other. Let me say that many of us are active and involved members in predominately
white support/co-op groups.
Joe:
  You have the
unique perspective as a former middle school teacher who now has embraced homeschooling. William Bennett, former U.S. Secretary of
Education, when speaking on the problems of public schools, "I've believed that one
of the main enemies of education in this country is the public education system itself --
not public schools per se, but the public-school system." What lessons do you take
with you from your experience and how does it help you help your family and others in
learning how to deal with the system? What's wrong with the system?
Judi:
I don't believe the problem is the system. I believe the problem is our society
as a whole. The deterioration of morals, the deterioration of the family as well as a lack
of discipline in our homes and schools are the problem. I also feel that parents are too
busy to give their children what they really need and that is TIME. This is one of the
reasons that homeschooling is so successful because of the time that is spent and invested
in our children.
Joe:
In your mission statement, you describe an unschooling
philosophy which says, " It is our desire to create a ministry to the
African-American community to model and present home educational philosophies among us
from the relaxed, unschooled approach to methods that are very traditional and structured
as suited to each individual family."  Suzannah Harris describes unschooling by
saying, "Unschoolers put their children, not teachers, in the driver's seat, drawing
from Holt's conviction that children learn best by interacting with their world in a
normal natural way...." Many critics of unschoolers say that unschoolers have
curricula that may leave holes in a child's education. How does your group help people
create a balanced learning experience while following a child's natural talents?
Judi:
Currently we do not have any unschoolers in our group.
However, we are open to all regardless of educational philosophy.
Joe:
Another emphasis of your group is to "provide people with opportunities to
develop meaningful friendships that bring glory to God as we explore our Christian and
cultural heritage...." Why do you feel that Christian doctrine is important to
homeschoolers?
Judi:
Why do I feel that Christian
doctrine is so important to homeschoolers?? As Christian homeschoolers, our
beliefs are the foundation of our homeschooling. We believe that God has called us to
homeschool and we depend on God daily to help and guide us as we homeschool. Passing on a
Godly heritage to our children through through the educational process and daily living is
the most important thing we do.
 Christian
Focus Support Group
Joe:
What books do you think would be helpful for parents to buy to help them
structure a good homeschooling program?
Judi:
Here are several books that I recommend:
Joe:
Thank you Judi for taking some time to share your thoughts with us. If people
would like to know more about your group or homeschooling in Georgia, here's where they
can go.
Georgia
Homeschooling
Faces of Homeschooling profiles
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