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We never planned to homeschool. Originally from Dallas, I met and
married my wife, Dana, in Denver. During the time we lived there,
we merely looked upon home schooling with interest–from a distance.
Once we were back in Texas and after many restless nights with two
children in public school, the adventure began in 1992 in Wichita
Falls.
We now live in Bowie with our three children, Elizabeth, William,
and Dale. We have experienced many benefits from home schooling
aside from the academics. We now have time for family activities
such as field trips, vacations, and visits to relatives–all during
traditional public school hours. This enables us to see and do
things at less busy times. Dana stays home with very few outside
activities. Teaching three students–two high school-aged and one
junior high-aged–is a full-time responsibility. It has been
exciting and rewarding, and we look forward to more of the same.
We are able to better develop our family relationships and are best
friends with each other. We study things of interest together and
are part of one another's everyday lives. Being from a small town
with no private driving school, the parent-taught driver education
program enabled me not only to teach our daughter to drive but also
to hone my own skills, which were almost beyond repair. Elizabeth
at sixteen plays the piano and enjoys most sports as well as
reading. Our fifteen-year-old William has now started driver
education. He enjoys baseball and plays on a successful team. Dale
just turned twelve and also enjoys baseball. As a family we enjoy
together most outdoor activities.
After returning to Texas and getting plugged in, being active
in Republican politics at the local, state, and national level has
been an important part of my life over the last ten years. Having
been exposed to many other politically active home schoolers and
other conservatives, I have been educated and now understand the
importance of making time to have a voice. The more a person knows
and understands about the system, the more effect he can have on it.
The easiest way to influence the system is to STOP ridiculous bills
from becoming law. HR 6 back in 1994 comes to mind. This disastrous
bill--that would have virtually wiped out home schooling as we know
it--was stopped. But that happened only because people were willing
to drop what they were doing momentarily to make a phone call or
two. One of the reasons we have to work so hard these days is
because of the apathy permeating our society over the last several
years.
When was the last time you did something political? Do you always
vote? How about attending your precinct or county convention? Have
you ever walked a neighborhood for a candidate or worked at a phone
bank? How about hammering signs in the ground during the election
cycle? Do you know enough about your candidates or the issues to
even intelligently discuss them? Not everyone can do all these
things, but ALL of us can do something. Good citizenship is one of
the BIG 5 required subjects in your home school. Part of
good citizenship involves the political processes. Our children
learn best from a hands-on learning experience. Getting involved in
a local campaign would be a great experience for any family. You
will meet some fine folks and learn something along the way. If
your candidate wins, you have just become part of a winning team–and
you did not even have to buy a uniform! By helping a campaign, you
have also just found a quicker way into your candidates’ offices.
Get to know your elected officials. Plan to attend the town hall
meetings they hold in your area. Go to an event when they are in
town, and thank them for votes they have made (You can probably even
find some good votes by a representative who is not always
friendly.). Get to know your representatives, whether friendly or
not so friendly, as they might be able to help us on a vote one day.
There are so many young people entering the world with absolutely no
concept of how the political process works. In the days before an
election, I talk to many people who are asking for whom they should
vote. Do you run your home school the same way, waiting until the
last moment to make decisions and then doing something based on what
someone else tells you to do? You have probably heard what I am
about to say before, but it is worth repeating: "The only thing
necessary for evil to prevail is for good men to do nothing."
(Edmund Burke) Get involved–learn the process–be a part of the
solution.
By the way,
one way to do this, as well as spend quality time with your children
and have a great field trip at the same time, is to plan to attend
one of THSC’s Capitol Days. My children and I have participated in
these in the past, and we had a great time together! At the
Capitol Days, we will have a great line-up of speakers to instruct
and educate. We will also get to meet and lobby our
representatives. The Clay family will see you there!
George W. Clay, IV has served on the THSC board since 1996 and
currently serves as the finance chairman. He has a degree in
Petroleum Land Management from the University of Texas and has
twelve years experience in oil and gas leasing. He presently heads
up a business housing and caring for mentally handicapped adults in
group homes in Wichita Falls. |
