Inspire, Fall 2000

Inspire 17 Alumni Profile: Mark ’82 and Pam Morley O ne of the greatest challenges facing home-schooling parents is finding the right curriculum to suit their individual needs. There is so much to cover with so many curriculum options. Some parents rely on traditional, well-known texts, while other home educators make up or modify their own curricula, relying on personal expertise and library resources. Some parents even turn their efforts and professional knowledge into curriculum that others can use. Such is the case with Mark Morley ’82. Mark recently published Foundations of Economics: Built Upon Scripture, Supported by the Free Market . “In essence, I selected a couple of books, wrote a study guide, and included an annotated bibliography for students to do further study,” Mark shared. “The whole package consists of the two books, a student workbook, and a teacher’s guide.” It is offered through Keys for the Kingdom, a publishing company that Mark’s sister and brother-in-law, Jim and Carla Morley Keys ’77, formed. “The project was spawned out of my own interest in this subject area, plus my desire to put together a tool that I felt could be useful to young students,” Mark explained. The curriculum addresses various topics such as private property, the division of labor, profit, money, inflation, poverty, and the role of government in the marketplace. “It was a challenging and rewarding project,” he continued. “It may or may not be a resounding success, but it was a good experience for me, and if it doesn’t generate much interest from the marketplace, at least I can use it for my own children.” Mark and his wife, Pam, home-school their three children (ranging in age from five to nine) because of their convictions about raising children in the fear and admonition of the Lord. Mark explained, “We believe it is our God-given responsibility as parents to have the primary role in molding, influencing, and developing their values and beliefs. We felt it best not to entrust these vital duties to someone whose value system might be totally antithetical to our own.” Curriculum content was another factor. Mark stated, “We did not want our children to be taught that we evolved from monkeys or that there is no such thing as absolute truth.” Additionally, Mark believes that home schooling helps develop a strong bond with his children, and he maintains that the individualized instruction and attention his children receive “will hopefully enable them to get the most from their schooling experience.” While home schooling is very rewarding, it is also very demanding. Mark admitted, “I am fortunate to have a wife who handles 98 percent of the load. I share a small part of the teaching duties, but even that has to be done in the evening, so it’s sometimes difficult to squeeze everything in.” The economist in him added, “I believe in the maxim that ‘a small risk brings a small reward.’ Perhaps in the case of home schooling, we might say that a small investment brings a small return, but a large investment of time, energy, and attention can perhaps bring a bountiful return in the years to come.” While Pam works as the primary educator of their children, Mark works as a corporate human resources manager. He also teaches graduate courses at Baker University. Although Mark enjoyed writing an economics curriculum, he says there are no other texts planned at this time. Instead, he explained, “Our goal is to attract a major curriculum publisher and develop a partnership.” To learn more about the curriculum, e-mail Mark at markpam1996@juno.com . To those who are evaluating their children’s education, Mark says that each family is unique. Not everyone will be able to home-school. Many will opt for Christian schools, while others will choose the public system. “The bottom line is that we have a limited window of opportunity to have a godly influence on our children during their crucial formative years,” Mark concluded. “It would behoove each of us to carefully consider what option would glorify God and accomplish the greatest good for the children He has entrusted to us.” Large Investments Bring Bountiful Returns