Zion Homeschooling – A New Trend in LDS Gospel-based Home Education?

In 1992, we moved our family from Las Vegas, Nevada. I had taught pre-school the previous year but felt a strong pull to homeschool our own children. Manti was the place where we decided to raise our family. We liked the small-town atmosphere and slower pace.

Shortly after we arrived, I began setting up our classroom in our attic. Two of my best friends also lived in Manti. They also wanted to homeschool but were intimidated by doing it themselves. They both asked if I could bring their children in with mine. I had never homeschooled either – except for Joy School when my oldest was in preschool. But since I had taught pre-school, that qualified me as the logical one of the three of us to step out and teach.

They helped me find old desks for each of the children – nine in all. None of us had any curriculum money so we began hitting all the Deseret Industry stores within a 100-mile radius, to see what books we could find. What we couldn’t come up with, I created.

 

From that point on, I taught, and they provided supplies. They eventually took on the role of their own children’s teacher, but as we all took the leap into the homeschool realm, we fearlessly supported each other.   

As I watch homeschool feeds in recent days and weeks, I am seeing families exiting public school as if they were fleeing a burning building. Although the reasons are as varied as the families themselves, it’s plain that an ever-increasing number of families feel their children need something different.

For many families, one parent is home and the other is working to support the family. But what about the two-parent working family that cannot be home with their children, or the single mom who is supporting a family on her own? Help may be on the way!

Hillary Clinton once said, “It takes a village to raise a child.” Although it is probably the only thing she ever said that I somewhat agree with, she was partially right. I’m assuming her idea was to remove children from the family and let the prevailing political agenda raise our children. Unfortunately, they have been successful to a large degree. But having like-minded family and friends surrounding your child, shoulder to shoulder with you, can be a great thing. It does take a village to raise a child. But you choose the people in your village.

The ward I grew up in – the Las Vegas Francisco Park ward – was that kind of community. It was my village. As a young child, I knew that I had only one “Mom,” but I had an entire ward of “mothers.” Primary met on weekdays and these moms worked like a well-oiled machine. Every week they managed cupcake sales for Primary Children’s hospital and Primary activities, planned elaborate Christmas pageants where every age level was represented, and made sure that every child was loved and had a ride to Tuesday afternoon Primary. Being with these women meant LOVE. I look at many of them today on Facebook, who are now great-grandmothers. They STILL cheer me on in my successes and comfort me in my losses – like the passing of my own mother. We bonded with them! And if you were to ask any of the women or men from my generation who were children in that wonderful ward, they would say the same thing!

I had an entire ward of “mothers.” Primary met on weekdays and these moms worked like a well-oiled machine. Every week they managed cupcake sales for Primary Children’s Hospital and Primary activities, planned elaborate Christmas pageants where every age level was represented, and made sure that every child was loved and had a ride to Tuesday afternoon Primary. Being with these women meant LOVE.

So, what is the trend? Many families are returning to this community of caring. In a world where interdependence had become passe’, many families are banding together to fill in gaps they feel they can’t fill on their own.  Of course family “co-ops” have been around for decades, but many families are excluded due to their LDS faith. Still, the upward trend is encouraging. I see three different types of communities that are gaining popularity.

The Faith-based Co-op Model: LDS families are coming together in larger numbers to form their own co-op groups to create learning experiences, activities, and fellowships that will bless everyone involved.

Circle the Wagons Model: Families are dividing the teaching week so that  parents host a subject in their home one or two days a week. Children move from house to house, enjoying the perspective of teachers who share their faith. A retired grandpa may be teaching chemistry to a group. A mother may teach Art or Spanish. Don’t rule out enlisting grandparents. If your children’s grandparents are against your choice, being involved in your learning community may be the element that changes their heart about your homeschooling path.

The Zion Model: This could also be called “The Mother Hen” model. If you raise chickens, you know that a mother hen doesn’t care whose chick is under her wing; she’ll take care of it anyway. This is the model we used when we first started. For various reasons, a family may not have the option to be available to educate at home. You may be able to open your home to another child or two. “What? Teach someone else’s children?” You are likely doing it on Sunday. The family may or may not be able to pay for your time. Is that something you can do?

And the Lord called his people ZION, because they were of one heart and one mind, and dwelt in righteousness; and there was no poor among them.                                               Moses 7:18

Can you open your heart and home to someone else’s children? When we embrace each other and move toward Zion, we are not only raising the spiritual level of others’ children, we are raising the level in our whole community!  You have the opportunity to strengthen your child’s peers – maybe even future spouse. The potential is eternal!

We have been called to gather Zion. As a homeschool parent, you have a unique opportunity to do that in a powerful way. Prayerfully consider what your part might be.

NOTE: There is a new Facebook group that can help families organize together. Join and see what possibilities there are for you to give and receive.

Zion Homeschool Facebook Page