Inspire, Fall 2000

14 Fall 2000 There are different sides to every story, and while home schooling is very satisfying, it certainly has its trials. “While some folks can go off to the office to work every day, my office is right here— amongst the laundry, the children’s squabbling, the salesmen’s telephone calls, and the drives into town for piano lessons,” explained Gaye. Through the years Gaye has been learning to cut down on outside activities. “I, too, ‘work full-time,’ but inside the home rather than outside it,” she shared. “I simply cannot be the perfect housewife and a home- school teacher and VBS/church club/support group director at the same time.” Still she believes the blessings are worth the sacrifices. “Yes, it’s hard on me with all the demands, but I can’t imagine doing it any other way,” Gaye remarked. “This is the job God has given me for this time in my life.” Gaye added, “I have my own business cards that proudly say HOME-SCHOOL MOM on them.” Gaye has served as leader of the local Christian Home Schoolers of Mercer County, Pennsylvania for five years. Now that she is a veteran home schooler, Gaye frequently serves as a personal resource in home schooling, fielding many calls from parents considering the home- schooling option. “I enjoy helping people this way, in large part because God has sent many people to encourage me in the past and now it’s my turn,” Gaye noted. Gary chimed in, “Gaye is being rather modest here. She is known as the ‘local expert.’ She provides invaluable assistance, especially for those who are starting out.” Together, Gary and Gaye coordinate the Western Pennsylvania Science and History Fair, now entering its seventh year. That event allows home schoolers the chance to use many skills: research, organization, writing, presentation, and face-to-face discussion with other students and adults. “The project fair usually includes about 70 projects, most from local families, but a few families drive almost 100 miles to attend. The projects are of very high quality. [It] is a very popular event,” explained Gary. “This past year my son Andrew (grade 6) made a working model of a trebuchet (a medieval siege engine/catapult), which he demonstrated to the fair participants. He has seriously studied the medieval age,” said Gaye. “He has made several swords of wood (very specific as to type, authenticity, etc.); he sews his own kilts, and has started hand-sewing a chain-mail vest out of tiny silver spray- painted pieces of poster board that he is attaching to a brown felt vest.” That is the sort of educational enthusiasm that Gaye points to when she says that home schooling helps her children get excited about learning. Prior to becoming a “Home-School Mom,” Gaye worked as a librarian in public schools and public libraries. (After graduating from Cedarville, she earned a master’s degree in library science from Indiana University.) Her sons have been home-schooled since kindergarten age. After graduating from Cedarville with a degree in psychology, Gary received a master’s degree in counseling at Slippery Rock University and a Ph.D. in social psychology at the State University of New York at Buffalo. He now teaches psychology and statistics classes at Grove City College (GCC) and is the director of institutional research at GCC, where he is responsible for gathering, analyzing, interpreting, and reporting educational outcome data. While Gaye is the primary teacher in the Welton family, Gary oversees some of their sons’ education as well, including math. “All three of them have a mathematical bent, so they’re on a wavelength with numbers that I can never hope to achieve. My mind is just not made that way!” said Gaye. The past few years Gary has been the advisor/teacher for a home-school team of math Olympiad students. Math Olympiads is a national contest for grades four through six that poses problem-solving questions to the students. Additionally, Gary teaches a distance learning course for home-schooling high school students in AP psychology. This course draws about 20 students per year and is currently in its fifth year. It is offered under the auspices of PA Home Schoolers. “Gary’s class is conducted primarily through e- mail. He finds most of the students to be highly motivated and enthusiastic about their learning,” explained Gaye. [Those interested can go to www.pahomeschoolers.com and click on the AP Internet Courses link.] Home schooling is a way of life for Gary and Gaye—a lifestyle that they joyfully embrace. As they intimately watch their children mature, they are pleased with the fruits of their labors. Both boys, they maintain, are socially well-adjusted, thriving academically, and growing spiritually. Such progress is encouraging to Gaye, who gave up her professional career to invest her time in her children through the roles of full-time homemaker and educator. Unlike many professionals, a home- school mom intentionally works herself out of a job. Soon the day will come when Gaye will no longer need her “Home- School Mom” business cards. While Gaye loves her current occupation, she dreams of what lies ahead. She admits that she has a wish list of volunteer activities that she hopes to do someday. Those dreams include teaching adults to read through the Literacy Council, doing educational programs as a state park ranger, and recording books for the blind. “Sometimes I’m a little wistful when it seems that all these things are put on hold, but I know the time with my children will pass very, very fast. I praise God for every minute of it.”