Meet the Carrolls
Enriching the Lives of Homeschooler!
by Jill Hardy

Homeschooling in the twenty-first century has quite a bit to
offer. The image of a family sitting at the kitchen table is still at
its center…but the amount of time they spend there might be
much less than it has been in the past.

There’s an abundance of choices available to most homeschoolers now, when it comes to choosing enrichment activities or supplemental education opportunities, and many families are taking full advantage of it. Homeschooling family cooperatives, tutorial services, homeschooling bands and athletic teams…almost anything you can think of that is available to traditionally schooled kids is quickly gaining a homeschooling counterpart.

Some of these offerings are being provided by “outside” forces, as homeschooling becomes less and less of an oddity, and more readily accepted (or at the very least, recognized as something that isn’t going away and is a growing market), but the majority still seem to be formed and run by homeschooling families, themselves. Families such as the Carrolls of Ashland City, Tennessee, were instrumental in starting C.H.E.T., the Center for Homeschool Enrichment and Tutorial (http://www.chettn.org/).

Brian and Vicki Carroll have four children: Cody, 15, Tanner, 12, Calli, 4 ½, and Cooper, 2 ½. Homeschoolers since their oldest was a preschooler, they were approached by their pastor, who wanted to start a ministry to reach out to the homeschooling community in their fellowship, Calvary Bible Church. A few couples joined the Carrolls (and the pastor and his wife), formed a board…and C.H.E.T. was born.

C.H.E.T. differs from a homeschooling co-operative in that most of the teachers are outside hires, chosen specifically for their degrees or skills in the area being taught, although some parents do teach, if they have experience in a subject offered. (A “co-op” generally refers to a group of parents dividing teaching responsibilities, or requiring some form of volunteering from each family involved). There’s also an incredible variety to the classes offered (the list includes Sign Language, Geography, Spanish, Art, Latin, Music Lessons, science and history), not to mention science fairs, music recitals, and Kindergarten graduation.

Looking at the list of activities provided by C.H.E.T., one might wonder…are the families participating trying to give their kids a taste of what they might be missing in a traditional school? Vicki Carroll is quick to put the focus back on the benefits of homeschooling when asked this question. “We love the freedom that homeschooling our children provides,” she says.

“One of the benefits of C.H.E.T. is that it provides a setting to have all of these things, and do them in a way that honors the Lord.” She also answers firmly in the negative when asked if she believes that homeschooling alone (without benefit of a program like C.H.E.T.) isn’t enough; “Absolutely not. That is totally up to the family and their needs. For my family, I like the extras.”

The encouragement to evaluate individual family needs is a good one; not every program is going to be right for every family, at every time. But if you find yourself in a place where something like C.H.E.T. is available, and you’re wondering how to decide whether or not it’s right for you, Vicki advises, “What we are providing is supplemental; think of it as seasoning on a steak. Some might like a little salt, while others like it just the way it is. Is the salt needed? No, but for some it makes the experience more enjoyable.”

“Look for a program that shares your beliefs. Ask yourself these questions; does this program meet my needs? My schedule? My budget? How much time do I want to devote to it, and what is required of me?”

When it comes to requirements, don’t be surprised if you are asked to sign a statement of faith, should you find a homeschooling co-op or enrichment program to join. C.H.E.T. doesn’t require parents to sign one, but it does make it clear that classes use Christian curricula, and prospective teachers are required to fill out a “Worldview Questionnaire”.

What if your search for a program like C.H.E.T. doesn’t yield anything in your city or town?

Well, you might consider joining the ranks of those who start programs for homeschoolers, yourself! Not that it’s a task to be taken lightly; the commitment level for building something like this from the ground up is significant, and Vicki cautions would-be program-starters about the challenge of balancing such an endeavor with continuing to meet your own family’s needs. “In the beginning years of C.H.E.T. it was very time-consuming. I really felt bad at times with how much time I spent on it. During the busy weeks of class scheduling, Brian has threatened to “tweak Chet’s nose”, and it’s become a running joke around the house about my “boyfriend, Chet!”

When asked about the challenges she faces, Vicki is quick to point out that hers are no different from the run-of-the-mill homeschooler; balancing concerns about a high schooler getting ready to face the world with chasing two active preschoolers and coordinating a full schedule of family activities, including therapy sessions for a child with learning challenges, and events with the Cheap Hill Gun Club (www.cheaphillgunclub. com), a Scholastic Clay Target Program trap team that Brian and the older boys formed this past summer.

With a schedule that full, one might be tempted to think that Vicki Carroll must be some kind of superwoman to manage all of this for her own family, homeschool, and run an organization like C.H.E.T. But Vicki is quick to point out the benefits of partnering with likeminded people who are willing to share the load. “As I was studying Exodus one morning, I came to the passage where Jethro gave Moses wise counsel, in Exodus 18:18-23. Moses was not expected to dowhat he did alone, in his strength, and neither am I. I have wonderful people around me that are helping to bear the burden at C.H.E.T. The other board members are a wonderful support, and chip in when there is a need. I also have teachers that are more than willing to step in and help when needed, too.”

Vicki also advises keeping standards high, when starting a co-op or tutorial group, and offers the reminder that you can’t please everyone. But the benefits far outweigh the pitfalls. “I joke with people all the time about how selfish I am, since I get to set the classes (at C.H.E.T.) with my own children in mind. But if C.H.E.T. was not a benefit to my family, I would not be a part of it. It is just a blessing that it can be a help to so many families in their homeschooling journey, as well.”

Whether you’re a homeschooling Lone Ranger or someone who thrives with a group experience, it’s always good to have options, and the homeschooling community is gaining more and more of them as time goes by, thanks to the efforts of families like the Carrolls.

Jill Hardy is a homeschooling mom of five, in addition to working part-time as a freelance copywriter. You can read some of her dayto- day struggles and triumphs on her blog, The Crib Chick. (http://www.cribchick.blogspot.com)