Eventually though, she and her husband were hauled into court when the authorities realized that none of their daughters were enrolled in the local public school. Even faced with the prospect of legal action against them, the separation of their family and the forced attendance of their daughters in public school, this mother and her husband persisted in fighting fervently for their right to teach their children at home. When I asked her what happened then, she mentioned they simply continued to teach their children at home. While she did not delve into specifics, I knew that she and her husband stood on firm ground and despite all encumbrances and in whatever way, they did not lose the battle. They continued to homeschool.
Now all five of her daughters homeschool their own children and she even has one homeschooled great-grandchild. She was proud to say that four of her daughters are successful artists and another is an avid animal lover who takes her own animals around area schools to teach elementary students about animals and conservation. Having the opportunity to personally speak with an African-American homeschooling pioneer did much to enlighten me on how fortunate I am to be a homeschooler in this day.
Shortly thereafter, I met another woman who actually lived only one city over from me. She had recently moved from Washington, D.C. to North Carolina and as a single mother was looking for local homeschoolers with whom to form a co-op. She had found a decent alternative school for her oldest child to attend, but still she had her sights firmly set on homeschooling as she felt it was the most ideal education that any child could receive. As this mother settled into her new surroundings we steadily lost touch and were not in contact for several months. I thought about her often wondering if she had given up on homeschooling altogether and one day out of the clear blue she called. I was extremely happy to hear from her after so long and she was equally thrilled to tell me that she had moved into a living cooperative where not only she and her children lived, but where also she worked. This mother, although raising her children alone, sought and found a creative way to homeschool her children despite the obvious obstacles. Whenever I talk to single parents who ask me if homeschooling is possible for them, I tell them her story.
