Homeschooling group makes time for student socialization

Traditionally, socialization has been a point of controversy for parents who homeschool their children, said Misty Arthur, a member of the Southeast Missouri Homeschoolers Association.

"When people homeschool, people are harassing them constantly about socialization," she said.

When Arthur, Misti Laws and three other women formed the organizing board for the association, they started planning classes to provide more education in subjects like art, physical education and music.

Laws said she would have been content to start with just the five families. Arthur said she initially expected 30 to 40 children. Each Friday, more than 115 students flood into Mount Auburn Christian Church for the classes, which started Sept. 4. Some families come from as far away as Farmington, Marble Hill and Southern Illinois, she said.

"We didn't know we'd blow up like this," Arthur said.

Aside from creating more social opportunities, she said, sharing resources is another advantage of combining art, foreign language and music classes. The association has a Girl Scout troop and is starting a Boy Scout troop. The group also started nursery and preschool classes because of the higher-than-expected demand.

By sharing resources, parents are also combining areas of expertise.

"We've been blessed with parents with talent and skill," she said. Many parents, she said, are certified teachers.

Cindy Jackson, a homeschooling parent and former music teacher, is directing a musical for the group. Students will perform "Bows of Holly" in December.

The group holds class from 9 a.m. to noon. During the final hour, students study music. Jackson said the students are progressing quickly.

"I have kids that have already memorized the whole CD," she said.

Arthur said the organization will offer twice as many classes next semester, including sculpture, twirling and Spanish. Members of the community have also been generous to the group, she said. Employees from Southeast Missouri Hospital came in to teach students about germs. Members of the Red Cross will also teach a class about emergency preparedness. Ellen Hahs, the curator of education at the Crisp Museum at Southeast Missouri State University, helps with art lectures.

Laws, who homeschools her four children, teaches the art class with Hahs. She said she wanted to start doing more art with her children, so she researched art-related activities for the group.

"Some of the things we can do are a little more out of the box," she said.

Parents will rotate teaching responsibilities each semester, she said.

Vicky Dowdy, who homeschools her two children, said the different classes will help round out their education.

The association provides a learning opportunity for the parents also. She said they are learning from each other and expanding knowledge of teaching techniques.

abusch@semissourian.com

388-3627

Pertinent address:

930 N. Mount Auburn Road, Cape Girardeau, MO