This article is shared by a West Virginia family who began homeschooling in the early 80’s – a year before Exemption K was first used.
When God put on our hearts to homeschool in 1982, we were very reluctant and very fearful! We wanted to obey God, but the word “homeschooling” was as unknown as the word “cell phone” back then! There was no homeschooling curriculum, no support groups, nor even any legal assistance. It was a no-man’s land and anyone daring to tread there was very much on his own!
Desperately needing support, I asked God to lead me to one other homeschooling family. God sent me not one, but two homeschooling families within five miles of our house! Together, we drew strength and encouragement from each other to handle the fears and stresses, including the concerns and doubts of our own families, the glares from everyone when out at the stores, the “is that legal?” query from the sales clerk and the frequent harassment from the public school authorities!
Today, things have so drastically improved for homeschoolers that my story may seem unbelievable, but I lived it, and I wouldn’t want any homeschooling family to have to go back and deal with the fear and stress that we did! Thank God for CHEWV, HSLDA and so many others who have taken a stand and fought for the rights of parents to homeschool their children!
Scott and Cathy Michael are from Morgan County in the Eastern Panhandle and began homeschooling their two daughters in 1983. Both girls graduated homeschooling. Scott and Cathy’s two eldest grandsons are presently being homeschooled.
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