Choices in Education: Home Educators Association of Roxboro (HEAR)

January 9, 2017

Choices in Education: Home Educators Association of Roxboro (HEAR)

Brick Making at Poplar Forest - HEAR field trip With approximately 340 homeschooling families in Person County*, homeschooling your children is a viable and common education method in our community.  When choosing to homeschool your children, you are required to register with the North Carolina Department of Non-Public Education.  They have a few requirements for you to meet in order to register as a legal homeschool, and once registered, you are able to educate your children at home. Homeschooling is a flexible education option that allows all families, including working parents and single parents, to educate their children at home even if you have a busy schedule or special circumstances. The choices in curricula are vast and the sky is the limit in regards to the subjects you can offer your children. Often, parents find themselves needing opinions, advice, and social outlets and this is where our support group is helpful. The Home Educators Association of Roxboro (HEAR) has served homeschooling families in Person and surrounding counties since 1988.  As a Christ-led support group, its vision is to support, nurture, and encourage its members.  HEAR is an active  educational support group that will allow you a wealth of options and the opportunity to connect with other homeschooling families.

HEAR Annual Science Fair

Members in the association work together to provide a myriad of opportunities to those in the group. Annually the group hosts a science fair, geography fair, field day, demonstration event, job shadowing, and graduation ceremony. In addition to the annual events, there are frequent field trips which in the past have included visits to:  local community farms, local businesses, college tours, Great Wolf Lodge, N.C. Zoo, Colonial Williamsburg, local museums, and many historical sites such a Duke Homestead, Natural Bridge, and The National D-Day Memorial.  A weekly co-op program is also available to members of the association. Furthermore, HEAR desires to enrich the community, therefore we offer members the opportunity to serve the community through organized charitable projects. HEAR also provides you access to a homeschool network where relationships can be built so you can share the joys and struggles with homeschool veterans, which will provide encouragement on your journey.  Members will be able to connect through events, social media, and our extensive website. The website was thoughtfully built and is diligently maintained to provide guidance on curricula, events, and services provided in the community such as voice and piano teachers, tutors, 4-H clubs, etc.  The HEAR website is the first resource those interested in home education should explore. Homeschooling continues to grow statewide and in our community with Person County actively supporting the option. The community supports students in many ways:  library programs, businesses hosting students annually for the HEAR job shadow program, tours of local businesses including The Courier-Times, tours of the fire and police stations, the opportunity to participate in productions at The Kirby Theater, monthly Palace Pointe Homeschool Fun Day, and so much more.  Person County is a friendly place to educate at home because of the welcome we receive from the community and due to the fact that HEAR calls Person County home.

 Visit www.roxborohomeeducators.org for more information about homeschooling in Person County.

*statistics obtained from NC Department of Non Public Education at: http://ncadmin.nc.gov/about-doa/divisions/division-non-public-education

This week's post was submitted by Ms. Susan Byerly, HEAR leader.