Wednesday, November 07, 2012 By Noah Dexter
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When Michele Hutchison’s son began kindergarten, it did not go as expected. The stress of being in school at a young age caused negative side effects on her young son as the year progressed. Hutchison remembers, “He was not adjusting, began to shut down and was frequently sick.” That was when Hutchison, one of the founding members of Valley Home Schoolers , and her family made the decision to homeschool.
Homeschooling did not become legal in Wisconsin until late in 1983, and many of the early members of VHS had begun homeschooling before that. Hutchison said, through email correspondence, “When I first started homeschooling, it was not legal in Wisconsin.”
Families made the decision to homeschool for a variety of reasons. Some, like Hutchison, decided to homeschool their kids when they became dissatisfied with the experiences and difficulties their kids had in the public school system. “After much prayer and research and more prayer, we believed we had nicely rounded children and they didn't fit in those square desks.”
Others, like Nan Brinsko, a founding member and early leader in VHS, began homeschooling because they were unhappy with the education that the public school system provided. “I decided to homeschool because my children weren't getting the education that I knew they deserved or the biblical training I wished for them to have.” Brinsko said through email correspondence.
The decision to homeschool was not made without some uncertainty however. “Losing my children was my biggest fear. “ Hutchison said. Social Services was a looming threat for all homeschoolers. Brinsko said, “I remember looking out the window to see if the state rep was coming to visit and do a surprise inspection.”
Homeschooling was difficult, but families still persevered. Hutchison named her homeschool Jabbok Christian Academy, so that she could honestly tell the truant officer that her kids went to a private school. “Jabbok is the place (in the Bible) where Jacob wrestled with the angel. It seemed fitting in light of our struggles with the school district.”
Many homeschoolers kept meticulous records of their children’s studies, so they had proof of the work they were doing, and some didn’t let their kids outside during school hours.
“We had to prove to the district, to the State, to the Nation that we, parents, were responsible enough and knowledgeable enough to teach our children.” Hutchison said.
Not long after homeschooling became legal in Wisconsin, several families decided to organize a group to provide support to homeschool families in the area. One of the biggest decisions that VHS faced early on was whether or not to be a Christian group.
Brinsko remembers, “There was a mom that challenged us early on and wanted us to pray before our meetings in a different room because it offended her!”
Although the early members struggled over the choice to be Christian, they eventually decided that a Christian group was best. Hutchison said that God removed most of the other roadblocks. “The walls just tumbled down; the chains fell away. I suppose the biggest hurdle was getting families to participate.”
Because homeschooling was newly legalized, some families were still afraid of the government. They were uncertain of what would happen if fifty school age children were seen meeting at a park in the middle of a school day, or what they would experience if they attempted field trips. Despite all of this, they still persevered. Hutchison says, “Why? My primary goal in life is to obey my God. He said Homeschool... I did.”
Relatively little was known about homeschooling when VHS was formed, so many people were suspicious of homeschoolers, and the early members of VHS often had to deal with prejudice. “I think most people thought we weren't normal.” said Hutchison.
Patty Ulrich, who helped in the early founding of VHS, said via email correspondence, “People would question, ‘Do you know what you are doing?’ ‘How is your child going to graduate, Get a job, Go to college?’”
In the face of occasional resistance from others, VHS provided a place of support for members. In VHS homeschoolers, found an environment where they could be encouraged and understood. “I was a part (of VHS) because I needed fellowship and support in good times and bad. So few homeschooled at the time, I was like an island. I needed people who had the same or similar issues. I needed to encourage others to be encouraged myself.” Hutchison says.
Not only did VHS provide a climate of support and encouragement, it also gave homeschoolers opportunities that they had never had before. In the first few years of VHS, members organized the VHS Olympic Games, an Art and Science fair, a newsletter, and a Book fair, as well as various field trips and classes. VHS also allowed homeschooled kids to meet each other and, as Ulrich says, “They formed friendships that lasted for years. No longer were they the ‘only’ kids homeschooled!”
The VHS that exists today is only here because people like Michele Hutchison, Patty Ulrich, Nan Brinsko, and others were willing and determined enough to step out in faith and form a homeschool group in a time when homeschooling was not easy or even socially acceptable. Despite the hardships and challenges she and the others sometimes faced, Hutchison does not regret her choice, “Would I do it all over again? In a heartbeat … In a heartbeat.”