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Wednesday, 29 December 2004

Don Small
CHECK Treasurer
Burlington, KS

In the bi-centennial year of our great USA, with Don an Electronics Tech in the US Nuclear Navy, we united in marriage.  Only two weeks after we said, “I do,” and knowing no one there, save the love of my life, I (Pam) watched the USS Sunfish deport from the Charleston, SC dock for its ten-day mission.  One day led to the next until its return 93 days later.  Although my desire in life had always been to be a mother, this initiation as a sailor’s wife set into fast motion our efforts to “get in the family way.”    Our three years in Blackfoot, ID, while Don was a prototype instructor, had brought forth another major life change as we both came to know the Savior there.  When we returned to Charleston, in my eighth month of pregnancy with our third child, we were exited about our new lives with Christ, and enrolling Mandy into a Christian school was not a decision that merited any debate in our minds.  It was a wonderful private school!  Prior to marriage, we had decided to join civilian life when our firstborn started school, so late 1982, after thirteen years in the USN and several moves, Don accepted employment in Burlington, KS as an operator for Wolf Creek Nuclear Power Station (now WCNOC), which was still under construction at that time. Since we were so impressed with Mandy’s reading level during her first three months of K5, we were delighted to find a private school here in Burlington where A Beka phonics and reading for the early grades were used.  Mandy received the school’s Christian character award following first semester, but as time passed into another school year, our concern grew that the school’s rules were not being enforced, and Mandy’s “good” but sloppy class work was being met with teacher’s praise.  I was fearful of the lack of discipline in her hours away from home.  When I, unexpectedly, entered the classroom in session one morning and found my daughter standing on top of her desk, disruptive and out of control with no one attending her, the last straw had been drawn.  Her second grade year in a different private school brought serious disappointments as well. 

We desired our children’s education to be an extension of the Biblical values we were teaching at home.  We, also, wanted our children to come to know our country’s rich history and the men and women of great character, godliness, and patriotism - historical heroes whom they could only come to know in truth from books that had not been adulterated. We had exhausted any hope for a good local private school, and our initial efforts to relocate left me wrestling.  Pondering the hours that Don would spend away from home at work and in transit brought me no comfort, and multiple trips over the miles to and from school each day when we now had two toddlers, was unrealistic.  Still we remained determined not to sacrifice our children on the altar of education. 
   
God in His sovereignty had a plan for our family of five, and He had put us between a rock and a hard place to discover it.  I had met one home schooling family shortly after our move to Burlington, and upon questioning what possible notion had brought them to make such a radical decision for their lives, the mother of this large family told me that it was one that had come with great conviction from God.  In my folly, I assured her that God would never convict ME to do such a thing!   When we found ourselves without recourse, and moving to Ottawa seemed to be where God was directing us since it had a Christian school of good report, and we were attending church in that area anyway, lo and behold, the Lord shed light upon our path!  A friend, who had just returned from summer school at Pensacola Christian College (PCC), informed us of their video school to commence the following fall. With a program that I already knew provided excellent academics for lower elementary and a Master teacher coming conveniently into my home, there was no excuse for not using it since the video school would make the transition, sure to follow, easier.  While I was quickly impressed with the balance of love and discipline by the video teacher, satisfied with the Christ centered curriculum, and contented that Mandy was developing “friends” and becoming involved in the prayer requests of others, etc., we waited out the three month period while our home remained listed for sale, allowing time for a confirmation of God’s will and direction.   What was temporary became permanent, until three years later, confident that I could teach a sixth grader and a third grader on my own, I became the primary teacher for Mandy, Lindsey, and eventually Danielle and Elise.  God had set us up! 
   
Both Don and I were first generation Christians, and with our religious preferences already making us “different,” our extended families were skeptical about the sort of weirdo’s our children would become if they were kept apart from their peers each school day.  For some time, we were “strangers” within our own church family for believing that home schooling was Deuteronomy 6 being applied. When we met a second home schooling family - one approaching a court battle for home schooling - I became afraid to answer my phone or door during school hours, and the children were forbidden to speak to anyone about our Small Red School House.  By the grace and goodness of God, we learned that Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) had just gotten off the ground, and what rest and consolation their advocacy brought to us!  Home schooling became more acceptable as its academic success became measurable.  Our own children were bearing the fruit of a good education, and although few of our relatives had come to know our Sovereign Lord, what was once thought to be a cause for their embarrassment, became a part of our family’s bio to be eagerly shared with their friends, acquaintances and neighbors.  During their early years, the girls’ deprivation of television viewing was supplemented by reading classics, nonfiction, and philosophy, which stimulated a great deal of conversation. Learning about composers while classical music was playing in the background was the “norm” in our home.  The purchase of a piano was another event that would make a significant difference in our lives, and six years of piano instruction was mandatory for each of our students.  Eventually, watching war movies and other old movies became an anticipated activity on the weekends with much of their book learning taking on increasing interest.

Nothing short of a conviction from God could have kept me from giving it all up, once a colicky newborn arrived and changed our home school forever.  Elise, our youngest, was “wired” from the beginning, and the responsibilities that occupy any home school mom became taxing, although the other girls were a big help in many of the daily chores.  Elise required constant motion and survived with mere “cat naps” at the physical and mental exhaustion of others - never taking a normal nap or sleeping through the night until she was over a year old.   By God’s grace the girls continued to learn amid the baby’s constant crying and my lack of sleep.  Although Don, from the beginning, was strongly supportive of home schooling and helpful when he wasn’t working or sleeping during the day hours, our youngest of four continued to require a lot of my time, and at grade 7, Don totally took over history and science classes and later on upper math.  Video school became a reprieve and blessing once again, as the older girls entered their high school years.  Today, I am certain that had Elise attended public school, she would have been diagnosed with A.D.D. and dyslexia, but this, too, passed. 
   
For several years we encouraged others to home school and often directed beginners to A Beka Books because I was familiar with it, could assist them, and could loan them books to save them financially.  A Beka provided teacher friendly guides, structure, and a solid curriculum for people to get their feet wet with until they could determine what was just right for them.  Although there is so much to choose from now, we would still choose the beautiful and informational A Beka books for a great deal of instruction, and I credit them for our daughter’s excellent reading, writing, and study skills. Although many would agree that A Beka grammar is too repetitive, our children have benefited well from it.  As our oldest three have seen so many college kids struggle in these areas, they have, time and again, iterated their thanksgiving for what they learned at home and for the great tool that their Handbook of Grammar & Composition has continued to be to them.  In addition to English Arts, I cannot imagine a better Spanish teacher or Spanish curriculum than that provided through A Beka video school.  It is intense, but it is fun and very well put together.   We do not recommend their math beyond grade school, however, and that, with the teacher’s guide, works best.

BEYOND THE CLASSROOM 

Since they were quite young, our four daughters have spent many hours assisting in door-to-door literature drops or walking parades for good conservative political candidates.   Later, they served as Pages at the KS State Capital several times, and some of them have been ambassadors for Day Under the Dome.  The girls’ musical abilities have also opened up doors of opportunity for them, not only in various ministries, but also at political events such as a Presidential fund-raiser, and Gala Dinners for the KRA.  They have also contributed to the growth of our KFL pro-life chapter which we helped start in 1983. 
   
Our oldest daughter, now 27, received degrees in voice and piano from Pensacola Christian College and has been very happily married for 2 ½ years to her husband, Cory Loriot, a fine son-in-law and a computer programmer in the Pensacola, FL area where Mandy is serving her local church as pianist. 

Our second daughter, Lindsey, now 24, sensed God’s calling in her life at an early age.  Through her youth years, she faithfully served Him in Back Yard Bible Clubs, Shade Tree Bible Clubs, VBS programs, children’s church, Awana, bus ministry, teaching piano lessons and etc.  She attended Falls Baptist College of Ministry in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, where she received her BD in Biblical Studies with a minor in education.  She is presently teaching there in Falls Academy, and using her organizational skills in the office as well.   As Resident Advisor for the college girls, she enjoys the privileges and responsibilities that come with the territory.  Although there are no present prospects, her goal is to be fully equipped to make her future husband the perfect helpmeet for full time service for the Lord.

Following her attendance to one of the Leadership Institute’s (LI) weekend schools with Don, Danielle, now 22, was privileged to serve LI as an intern for three months, just as George W. Bush was coming into his first presidential term.  The commemorative flashlights she brought home to each of us after helping decorate the Lincoln Memorial for his Opening Inaugural Ceremony will always be special.  Although she does not presently have a strong desire to pursue politics, several doors have opened for her along this line and she recognizes these opportunities as God’s preparation for something that she has yet to discover.  Such opportunities include her acceptance into Patrick Henry College, her privilege to intern with KS Attorney General Phill Kline during the summer following his election, Dennis Pyle’s request for her to manage his campaign for KS Senate this past summer and (although it cost her a semester of college), her privilege to have been a part of his victory in November.  Following this past election, a professional campaign consultant requested Danielle’s help in his SC office this winter. She will be returning to PHC for the spring semester, and she hopes to join their impressive debate team. (See www.phc.edu.)  Even in her absence this semester, she has continued editing the compositions of some fellow classmates.  While it takes a great deal of time away from her own studies when attending classes, her mission to help them learn how to improve their writing skills, rather than merely correcting their papers for them, will bring its own reward.

Elise, soon 18, has one more year in home school.  Her greatest interest is singing opera.  She entered her second vocal competition this past November, taking third place in the National Association of Teachers of Singers (NATS) held here in KS.  She loves babysitting some adorable little boys and she is Daddy’s right hand man with outdoor jobs.
   
Don no longer works in the control room as a Senior Licensed Operator, but he enjoys his job and regular day hours as an Senior Operations Specialist for WCNOC. Our days are occupied with family, faith, education, and politics.  Don helped start the Kansas Republican Assembly (KRA) and he spends a lot of hours helping build a conservative database, getting people involved in grassroots politics, and helping KRA chapters get started across the state. (See www.ks-ra.org.)    He also assists the HSLDA as a Capitol Action Program (CAP) coordinator within the 2nd Congressional District.  Over the years, we have had the privilege of helping new home school support groups get off the ground, including C.H.E.C.K.  He assisted in writing its original mission statement, and I was its first secretary.  Don presently serves C.H.E.C.K. as treasurer.  With its “check board” and support group leaders who have been knowledgeable, committed, and steadfast in their strong Biblical convictions, they have provided a stable think tank and this organization has blossomed and prospered while home schooling has continued to grow, yet change, within our state. 

Although our service within a local church setting has been a big part of our lives, the Lord began showing us that we needed to be salt as much as we needed to be light to a world lost in sin, and home schooling was, no doubt, the tool that He used in our lives to get us out of the saltshaker and into the world.    Whether it be the fight for parental rights or the building up of grassroots support for the election of strong conservative government leadership that will support righteousness and our country’s Constitution - the preservation of Biblical values in society’s institutions has been a personal calling for my husband.  Leading our family in political involvement, writing letters to the editor, and getting out and talking to people about issues that affect them, has been God’s way of using a family like us to stimulate people’s thinking as well as providing opportunities to communicate to the world its need for Christ.
 
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