By Cathy Jackson
It sounds hard, doesn’t it? Managing and Maintaining are both big words. And they mean work. So is it work? According to Cathy Turner, Chairperson for the Christian Homeschool Alliance of Texas (CHAT), the answer to this question is a big, resounding YES. But it’s a rewarding job, as well.
Cathy Turner and her husband have five children – four of whom have graduated high school from home school. Their youngest child is in his final year of high school. They are in their 11th consecutive year of homeschooling with a total of 14 years logged in!
What exactly is a Homeschool Alliance or Association? We asked Cathy that very question and the answer was really quite simple. A Homeschool Alliance is a group of people who want to homeschool their children and get together and organize themselves accordingly. It can be as simple as 2 families, or as in Cathy’s case, 55 or more families. CHAT has gotten large enough that they now have a Board of Directors and also simple rules of conduct and a dress code. They meet two Fridays per month to offer enrichment classes such as music and art, and also to go on field trips on a regular basis. Because of the number of students they have in their group, many of their field trips have been at a much lower cost because of the group rate.
Anyone can start a Homeschool Alliance. A great place to start would be www.hslda.com. That is the Homeschool Legal Defense Association. Another source that Cathy gave us was www.peah.com where you can find a wealth of educational materials, products and services designed specifically for your homeschool family, your children’s needs and your budget!
Cathy is also happy to answer any questions that someone might have for her. You can email her at chairman@c-h-a-t.org. For information about CHAT, send your email to info@c-h-a-t.org. To send announcements about events, products, or services of interest to the alliance members, you can email them at fyi@c-h-a-t.org or visit their website at www.c-h-a-t.org.
Deciding whether or not to homeschool your child is a big decision. Having a support group, socialization for your children and comraderie with other parents who are experiencing the journey right along with you can make it a big, rewarding decision.
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A+ would read again
Cathy, it was a pleasure speaking with you and Rose. I want to encourage your listeners and readers—if God has led you to start a homeschooling support group, He will supply the strength to do what’s needed and everything you need to do it.