MOULTRIE — With the school year fast approaching, most parents and students are buying school clothes, backpacks and lunch boxes. They are awaiting class schedules, bus routes and supply lists.

But for the families in Colquitt County who choose homeschooling, those things aren’t necessary.

Homeschooling is gaining popularity across the country. An article in the August 2002 issue of Better Homes and Gardens magazine states that 1.7 million American children are schooled at home.

The article further states that the number of homeschooled students “increases by as much as 10 percent a year.”

“When I began homeschooling 16 years ago, there were very few families who taught their children at home,” said Judy Folsom, who formerly served as president of the Colquitt County Home School Association (CCHSA) and currently homeschools four of her eight children.

There are 150 local families who homeschool their children, according to Sydney Hilton, current president of the association.

Floyd Faison of the Colquitt County Board of Education said there are various reasons that parents choose homeschooling.

“Some people choose to teach their children themselves because they are very protective of them,” Faison explained. “Some just have a higher level of confidence in doing the teaching themselves, or have lost confidence in the public schools.”

“I always want to think that they do it for positive reasons,” Faison added.

Hilton chose homeschooling when one of her sons showed signs of problems in school.

“We decided that we’d be better off with more one-on-one time,” explained Hilton, who will soon begin her seventh year of homeschooling.

“I was getting picked on a lot at school,” added Jeremy Hilton, who is currently taking classes at Moultrie Technical College in preparation for the GED exam.

Folsom had similar reasons for homeschooling her children. The second of her sons was hyperactive and began having trouble in school around the fifth grade. She began to homeschool him, and consequently, homeschooled her five younger children. The oldest of her eight children remained in public school.

“I feel that it was what God wanted us to do,” said Folsom.

Tammy Tillman, who homeschools her two children, made her decision based on the environment and teachings of public schools.

“I want to teach them what I what them to know,” she explained.

In addition to homeschooling her owns sons, ages 18 and 16, Hilton tutors another student, A.J. Hancock, who only recently began homeschooling. Georgia law allows anyone with a high school diploma or GED to homeschool their own children, Hilton said; anyone with a four-year college degree can tutor others.

“I got into some trouble at school,” Hancock said. “I couldn’t get enough help, so my mom agreed to let me try this (homeschooling).”

Hilton’s sons, Hancock and Folsom’s son Josh agree that they prefer homeschooling to public school.

“The only reason I’d go to public school is to play sports,” said Josh Folsom, who plans to attend college to study business and music, after completing the homeschool program.

“I kind of miss some of my friends, but that’s it,” added Jeremy Hilton.

Those who choose homeschooling are required to present attendance records to the public school system. The Georgia Department of Education Web site states that homeschoolers must attend class for the “equivalent of 180 days of at least 4.5 hours of instruction per day unless the child is physically unable to comply with this requirement.”

The homeschool program must include subjects such as social studies, math, reading, language arts and science, but parents are free to choose their own curriculum.

Parents agree that there is plenty of curriculum available. Those wishing to homeschool their children can attend seminars and book sales to see what’s available, and also purchase through catalogs and the Internet.

“When I first started (homeschooling), there was hardly anything to chose from,” said Folsom. “Now you can get overwhelmed.”

About half of Colquitt Co





unty’s homeschooling families belong to the CCHSA, which is a support group for families who choose homeschooling. The association offers testing from students in grades 3-12, and has a library of books and curriculum materials for loan.

The group also provides students an opportunity to interact with others in extracurricular activities and field trips. Through the association, the students receive yearbooks and T-shirts, and have school pictures taken.

“It’s not as hard as people think,” said Folsom. “You’ve taught them all their lives; it’s just different material.”

For more information about homeschooling, contact CCHSA at 941-5916.



To contact reporter Jennifer Terry, please call 985-4545 ext. 222