“I made everyone a mailbox, put it on their bedroom doors, and sent them all mail, but no one has the time to send me any mail!” my 10-year-old daughter moaned, “no one has time to play!”

“Play?” My mind fought to come up with a reasonable excuse. “She doesn’t realize Grandpa’s just come through open heart surgery, a number of bills need paid, we’re down to one vehicle, her sister-in-law has gone through a devasting late miscarriage, and look what’s happening in the world…!”

I call it “mind chaos.” Webster defines chaos as, “…a confused mass or jumble of things, a state of utter confusion.”

“But she’s right. Why can’t I play her game for a while? Why is my mind in chaos? How am I ever going to be of the right “mindset” to homeschool this fall? I sent up a prayer. A verse came to mind. “…Let us lay aside every weight… (weight meaning: worry, concern, debt, mass, burden, encumbrance…) and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.” Hebrews 12:1. God then reminded me that I needed to keep the most important thing first for me not to have a chaotic mind.

…Let us lay aside every weight… (weight meaning: worry, concern, debt, mass, burden, encumbrance…) and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us. – Hebrews 12:1

A few days later, I heard a preacher speak on Psalm 27. David says, “One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in his temple.” David’s number one goal was to have sweet communion with God himself. My mind went to the New Testament to Jesus’ words, “Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: but one thing is needful, and Mary hath chosen that good part…” Luke 10:41

As I think over the last 26 years of homeschooling our 11 children, it is difficult for me to believe that only one thing is necessary. However, I have noticed that when I start the day intently reading a few verses, praying ‘real’ prayers (giving God all that churns me on the inside), like: Lord, today we must pick apples and process them. But I’m tired, Lord, would you please give me the desire and strength? And: Lord, I’m concerned about — I see them heading in a direction that is not pleasing to you, would you please intervene? I give you all my stress.” And then I sing a few praise songs, it sets the mood in my heart for the rest of the day, hence, I start my homeschool day trusting in God, fresh and unencumbered.

God reminded me that he is faithful. As I “seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness,” he really has “added all these things unto us.” Despite all my imperfections as a mom, and all the valleys and mountain top experiences we’ve shared as a family, I am enjoying my 5 married children and their spouses, along with our 12 precious grandchildren, and our 6 single young people.

As I thought about these things, I ran to my desk and wrote a note to my daughter about how much I love her and how special she is. I slipped it in her ‘mailbox.’ Later, her face beamed as she approached me.

“I wrote you a poem,” she said.

“A poem?” I thought, “She has never written a poem.” I read it, “To give, to take, to sleep, to wake, I’ll always think of my sweet mom and dad, from Tia.”

May I remember to do the one thing.

Melodie Vervloet

One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in his temple.
– Psalm 27

A Helpful Handbook

When I get a handbook alongside an item, a car for example, it is meant to help me understand and appreciate the thing I’ve invested in. You could say that its intent is to continue to encourage support for the choice the consumer has made. What I don’t find in my handbook is encouragement to make a different choice, undermining my decision. If only the drafted update to the home education handbook seemed to work the same way.

10 years is a long time to wait between updates. The home education community and stakeholders have felt impatient as the old ‘current’ handbook is missing so many vital changes that have taken place after the last few years of advocacy. AHEA contributed to this resource for parents who go to the government website because it has importance. It is a bridge for those who don’t know yet of other places to go for information or previously helped them know who the stakeholders representing their interests are. Parents should be able to find a goodly amount of help here.

This draft that the Department of Education finally shared in July can not exactly be described as ‘helpful.’ The last discussion on it and draft, a year ago and with different staff, left us a bit more hopeful. Now one could say this draft of the handbook is factual but dissuading and even discouraging for those who have already chosen or do want to consider home education, leaving the purpose of it a question. That purpose needs clarification if this version is going to exceed the old.

Critically, the underlying philosophical difference between the bureaucracy and home education families is captured in the second sentence, stating that, “Parents or guardians choosing a home education program for their children assume the primary responsibility for their child’s education.” (italics mine) Actually, parents that choose to home educate retain their responsibility to educate their child, they do not assume it from the government. We believe and have defended this as a God given, not government given, right and an essential pairing with the responsibilities they have.

Parents that choose to home educate retain their responsibility to educate their child, they do not assume it from the government.

It is the elected government’s job to balance and manage the bureaucracy and true respect for the people, all people, including minorities. In the education world home education is the minority. Advocating for that respect at both the bureaucratic and elected level has been important and helpful. This handbook provides another opportunity for the government to show it values and defends the choices in education that Albertans have, specifically those that choose and support home education. There is a lot of work yet to do, but we’ve made progress.

As the Minister of Education, Adriana LaGrange has not only said she respects choice in education, she has demonstrated that respect in multiple ways during the years that she has held this post. She has earned and kept my respect in her dealings with AHEA on home education matters. Yet I must add that I would, and should, expect the same from any person holding that office, as should you. Any official elected by the people of such a diverse province must not be allowed to narrow the field of choices for families. Instead, they should consider it their sacred trust to guard the freedom Albertans treasure and the boon to creativity and individuality that flows from it. This is a strength, not a weakness.

Home education families have to be pretty tough and committed to their choice. They have done this for decades, resisting suggestions that presumptuously wish to imply that they have made an error. They face unique challenges but feel that the benefits tip the scales in favour of this specialized and individual education for their children. It would be nice to see the commitment to choice in education be enthusiastically supported by all parties involved in delivering it.

The Department of Education is to be above these choices, an equal supporter and arbiter that is much like a referee and not on any particular team. There are some really great people in the Department that I’ve had the privilege to meet and work with. I hope and pray that enough fair-mindedness and respect for choice have been encouraged and fostered that we can all consider ourselves on the same page. There will be challenges ahead that will test our mutual commitment to freedom and the beauty of diverse learning contexts, styles and outcomes. I believe that these are strengths and encourage freedom loving families to help protect them all, from the least to the greatest, with respect for the children and families that thrive in each one, just as we have sought freedom and respect.

This handbook provides another opportunity for the government to show it values and defends the choices in education that Albertans have, specifically those that choose and support home education.

My detailed analysis of the draft document will go directly to the Minister and the Department of Education, but here is something for the home education parent to consider. We must each learn to pay attention to the details and to the language. Think about the implications and underlying ideas that have gained traction – it matters. I appreciated when families have shared their thoughts or findings with me so that my efforts to represent you were focused, coordinated and timely – it mattered. 

I thank you for letting me represent you. Let’s pray that the efforts and groundwork of these last years will continue to bear fruit in ways that have been sought but have not yet come to fruition. It really would be wonderful to see things continue to happen for the home education families and community here in Alberta.

“How great is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you,
which you bestow in the sight of men on those who take refuge in you.”Psalm 31:19