• Home
  • Illinois News
  • Illinois Politics
  • US Politics
  • US NEWS
  • America First
  • Opinion
  • World News
  • Second Amendment
Wednesday, October 22, 2025
Illinois Review
  • Login
  • Register
  • Home
  • Illinois News
  • Illinois Politics
  • US Politics
  • US NEWS
  • America First
  • Opinion
  • World News
  • Second Amendment
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Illinois News
  • Illinois Politics
  • US Politics
  • US NEWS
  • America First
  • Opinion
  • World News
  • Second Amendment
No Result
View All Result
Illinois Review
No Result
View All Result
Home Illinois News

Thirty years of change in America’s home school movement

Illinois Review by Illinois Review
September 9, 2016
in Illinois News
Reading Time: 5 mins read
A A
2
27
SHARES
443
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Screen Shot 2016-09-09 at 3.16.51 PM
Dr. James Dobson, Dr. Raymond Moore and Michael Farris, Esq.

You might also like

“PillowGate” Scandal Deepens: New Evidence Ties GOP Leader Norine Hammond Directly to Her Husband’s Taxpayer-Funded Decorating Firm

Dan Proft Caught in a Lie: Radio Host Blames Lawyer for Leak He Never Received – Receipts Expose False Claims and Coordinated Smear

ICE to Pursue Federal Charges After Bolingbrook Police Fail to Arrest Attackers—Officials Now Under Investigation for Stand-Down Order

By Fran Eaton - 

Thirty years ago, without the convenience of Facebook, Twitter or Instagram, an education movement sparked among American families discontented with the nation’s public school system.

Conservative families were some of the first to be inspired to take matters into their own hands while listening to Dr. James Dobson’s Focus on the Family radio broadcasts and reading Dr. Raymond and Dorothy Moore’s Better Late than Early and School Can Wait education philosophy handbooks.

With Dr. Dobson and the Moores’ assurances that their children would grow up to less dependent on peers and less plagued with behavioral problems if they delayed formal lessons until age eight, even up to 10, rather than at three, wide-eyed parents stepped into the unknown.

And as if that scenario wasn’t scary enough, many were met with angry school administrators looking for missing students and their attached state and federal funding for their red-inking budgets.

Dr. Dobson provided rationale for an alternative, the Moores' provided technique to take the first steps, leaving one vital area gaping open – the need for legal counsel.

About that time, a young Constitutional attorney by the name of Michael Farris coordinated with other legal minds to establish the Home School Legal Defense Association. For a mere $100 annual membership fee, families could rest assured that any contact from nasty school authorities or law enforcement would be handled for them – allowing nervous home school teachers peace of mind to focus on finding curriculum, teaching subjects and answering their in-laws’ and neighbors’ incessant queries.

That was the mid-1980s, 30 years ago. Then, Ronald Reagan was in his second term as president, corded dial phones were still commonly in use and neither Amazon nor Google were yet imagined. Dynasty, Dallas and The A-Team filled nighttime lineups on only three TV networks in computer-less homes.

Things are very different for home schooling families in 2016, Mike Farris said in a recent phone interview. They now have little about which to fret.

“Fear with home schooling is almost eradicated now,” he said. “Fear of being criminally prosecuted for home schooling is well under control. Fear of being ostracized by family and friends is much diminished because people now know so many successful home schoolers. Fear of getting started is much, much better than it was in 1982 when we began.”

As home schooling success stories began to bubble out more and more, home schooling families relaxed.

“Now, almost every family that has children knows a family with children that are taught at home,” Farris said. “You no longer need to be quite the adventuresome pioneer to start home schooling as you once needed to be.”

Farris shies away from taking complete credit for making the state’s home schooling legal land mines much more manageable.

“We do believe our work over the years at HSLDA has been blessed, along with the work of state organizations,” he said. “Things are much better for families now.”

Home schoolers have more alternatives to meet their children’s education needs than they did 30 years ago, Farris said.

“When we started, there was only one source for home schooling curriculum. But now there’s an array of choices that are so rich and so vibrant that’s it difficult for parents to choose,” he said.

And there are a pretty sophisticated ways to share parts of home schooling instruction these days, Farris said. Co-ops, private lessons, community colleges, and Internet classes are all available to home-taught students.

A local Ph.D. piqued the two youngest Farris boys’ science interests with science classes taught at a local home school co-op. As a result, one of Farris’ sons is working this year on a Ph.D. in biochemistry at Notre Dame, while the other is studying physics at the University of Virginia.

“There are two scientist kids that rose out of a co-op class,” Farris said. “The vast majority of their classwork was taught by their mom with a little bit by me at home. They took a couple of classes outside our home that was extremely helpful.”

Canton, Illinois, veteran home schooling mom, now grandmother, Karen Campbell agrees with Farris’ assessment of how things have changed over the years.

“When we began home schooling in the mid-80s, we had to rely on our own creativity and support of the handful of families we knew who were also on the journey,” Campbell, now an author and commentator, said. “Now, through technology, parents have access to resources we never imagined.”

The changes over the years have made home schooling all the more attractive and doable, and as the public school system veers away from the traditional Christian worldview, the numbers choosing an alternate route continue to grow. Up to 3 million students are now being taught at home throughout the United States – a consistent approximate 1.7 percent of the student age population.

But while home schooling may be less fearful in the future than it once was, it doesn’t mean it will be easy.

Farris’ tone sobered when he said he expects the next generation of homeschoolers to face an array of intense cultural attacks.

“There are going to be some big fights in the future,” Farris said. “We’re shaping up for a colossal war of values. We will have to defend ourselves and our right to differ.

“Ultimately, those who believe that God created us will not have an easy time of it. There are voices in law journals calling for the abolition of Christian home schooling. There’s no doubt, we will have fights ahead.”

And while the call to arms over the next 30 years of home schooling is likely to come via Facebook pages or 140-character Tweets, there will always be a need for steadfast, principled leadership like Dr. Dobson, Dr. Moore and Mike Farris.

__________

Written by IR Editor and home school veteran Fran Eaton – Tweet her at @FranEaton

Related

Share11Tweet7
Previous Post

Biga: Obama preaches theory of human origin steeped in Cultural Marxism

Next Post

Top IR picks for first week of Sept 2016

Illinois Review

Illinois Review

Founded in 2005, Illinois Review is the leading perspective and source of conservative news, opinion and information in Illinois. Follow Illinois Review on X at @IllinoisReview.

Recommended For You

Norine Hammond’s Campaign in Crisis: McCombie Sends Paid Knockers as Voters Revolt, Refuse to Sign Petitions

by Illinois Review
October 16, 2025
0
Norine Hammond’s Campaign in Crisis: McCombie Sends Paid Knockers as Voters Revolt, Refuse to Sign Petitions

By Illinois ReviewIllinois House Republican Leader Tony McCombie and her closest ally, Deputy House Republican Leader Norine Hammond, are facing an unprecedented revolt from constituents – many of...

Read moreDetails

Pritzker, Johnson Spend $2.5 Billion on Illegal Aliens While Black Infants Die at Alarming Rates

by Illinois Review
October 16, 2025
0
Pritzker, Johnson Spend $2.5 Billion on Illegal Aliens While Black Infants Die at Alarming Rates

By Illinois ReviewAs Illinois Democrats boast about their “compassionate” policies for illegal aliens, the tragic reality is that compassion doesn’t extend to their own citizens – especially to...

Read moreDetails

GOP Leader Norine Hammond Takes $50K from Liberal Groups Backing Transgender Lessons, Mask Mandates, Anti-Trump Agendas

by Illinois Review
October 15, 2025
0
GOP Leader Norine Hammond Takes $50K from Liberal Groups Backing Transgender Lessons, Mask Mandates, Anti-Trump Agendas

By Illinois ReviewIllinois State Representative and Deputy House Republican Leader Norine Hammond (R-Macomb) is drawing sharp criticism from conservatives after campaign finance records revealed she accepted $50,000 from...

Read moreDetails

PillowGate: McCombie and Norine Hammond Face Growing Backlash Over Taxpayer Spending and Political Favoritism

by Illinois Review
October 14, 2025
0
PillowGate: McCombie and Norine Hammond Face Growing Backlash Over Taxpayer Spending and Political Favoritism

By Illinois ReviewA new controversy is stirring within the Illinois Republican Party – one that threatens to undermine its message about fighting corruption and protecting taxpayers. State Rep....

Read moreDetails

Opinion: Harmeet Dhillon Makes History in Illinois Gun Ban Battle

by Illinois Review
October 14, 2025
0
Opinion: Harmeet Dhillon Makes History in Illinois Gun Ban Battle

By Richard Pearson, Executive Director, Illinois State Rifle AssociationIn September, Illinois witnessed a moment that will be remembered for generations. For the first time in history, the United...

Read moreDetails
Next Post

Top IR picks for first week of Sept 2016

Please login to join discussion

Best Dental Group

Related News

IL Freedom Caucus calls on Lurie Children’s Hospital to cease gender services for kids

October 27, 2022

Beckman: Is the Brigham Young University racial slur controversy another hoax?

October 27, 2022

Salvi polling shows closer race

October 27, 2022

Browse by Category

  • America First
  • Education
  • Faith & Family
  • Foreign Policy
  • Health Care
  • Illinois News
  • Illinois Politics
  • Opinion
  • Science
  • Second Amendment
  • TRENDING
  • US NEWS
  • US Politics
  • World News
Illinois Review

llinois Review LLC Editor-in-Chief Mark Vargas General Counsel Scott Kaspar Copyright © 2025 IR Media Corp., all rights reserved.

Navigate Site

  • Checkout
  • Home
  • Home – mobile
  • Login/Register
  • Login/Register
  • My account
  • My Account-
  • My Account- – mobile

Follow Us

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Illinois News
  • Illinois Politics
  • US Politics
  • Health Care
  • US NEWS
  • America First
  • Opinion
  • TRENDING
  • Education
  • Foreign Policy
  • Second Amendment
  • Faith & Family
  • Science
  • World News

llinois Review LLC Editor-in-Chief Mark Vargas General Counsel Scott Kaspar Copyright © 2025 IR Media Corp., all rights reserved.

Are you sure want to unlock this post?
Unlock left : 0
Are you sure want to cancel subscription?