Support Independent Education and Educators

Support Independent Education and Educators

Who are these people?

Parents who send their children to private schools or who homeschool them, private school teachers, anyone who works in private schooling – and with independently schooled students.

How can you support them?

We’ve split our ideas into three categories:

Encouragement

We all grow and strive to do better when we know someone is watching and approving of us. Words can literally change lives. Here are some ways you can encourage someone you know who is committed to independent education:

Take the time to call or write to a relative or friend and tell them how much you admire their commitment to their children’s education.

Do you know (or know of) a private school teacher? Write them a note praising their role in independent education. Likewise, a private school principal or a leader who supports private schooling.

Write to independently schooled children you know and tell them how much you admire their parents’ commitment. You could also write to a class of students to praise their school and teachers.

Write to a newspaper to publicly express your admiration for independent educators.

Use your imagination! Make a list of people you think would be encouraged to hear from you, then set out to let them know in one way or another that you admire their commitment to independence.

Financial

Independent education costs money and however you can help is wonderful – but you should keep in mind that even small ways of helping can make a big difference.

Your help will also reinforce the willingness of families and others to sacrifice for the sake of independent schooling for children. Consider these options, arranged from the obvious big ways to smaller ways that can be just as important.

Pay for or help pay for a child’s private schooling.

Help a homeschooling parent purchase materials.

Use holiday times to contribute to the education of grandchildren or other children.

Adopt a family or a class and set aside funds each year for their use.

Subscribe to useful publications for a family, class, or school (ask them first what they’d most like).

Give gift cards to parents or teachers to purchase materials or even to purchase groceries or a dinner out so their money will be freed up for educational purposes.

Help children with a fundraiser (car wash, bake sale, etc.).

Keep a coin jar in which you collect money for a child’s schooling (you might even invite friends to throw a few quarters in).

Practical

Your practical help can go a long way toward encouraging and aiding those committed to independent education. Here are some ideas to get your imagination rolling.

Offer to share with or teach a child or class something you know. It can be a practical skill, knowledge, or an experience you had. It may be a one-time offer or something that involves an on-going class.

Offer your services as a babysitter for a busy mom or as a gofer at school.

Help a mom or teacher with spring “house cleaning” (classrooms need it, too). This can also include outside work – cutting grass, raking, etc.)

Do you have experience that would benefit teachers and parents in their education roles? Offer a free workshop on the topic.

Ask a teacher or parent if there is some task you can take over that would lift a burden from them. It could be arranging field trips, updating a teacher’s website, grading papers, researching better insurance or mortgage rates, almost anything.

Ask if there is some practical way you can help. You’ll be appreciated!

Thank you for helping - in whatever way you can!

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Education Resources
Last updated October 29, 2007

Home News & Events Is There a Problem? The Case for Separation Our Proclamation Is There a Solution? True Life Stories Education Resources How Can You Help? Stats & Facts Quotations Knowledge Base Glossary Privacy Policy Site Map	Support Independent Education and Educators Who are these people? Parents who send their children to private schools or who homeschool them, private school teachers, anyone who works in private schooling – and with independently schooled students. How can you support them? We’ve split our ideas into three categories: Encouragement Financial Practical Encouragement We all grow and strive to do better when we know someone is watching and approving of us. Words can literally change lives. Here are some ways you can encourage someone you know who is committed to independent education: Take the time to call or write to a relative or friend and tell them how much you admire their commitment to their children’s education. Do you know (or know of) a private school teacher? Write them a note praising their role in independent education. Likewise, a private school principal or a leader who supports private schooling. Write to independently schooled children you know and tell them how much you admire their parents’ commitment. You could also write to a class of students to praise their school and teachers. Write to a newspaper to publicly express your admiration for independent educators. Use your imagination! Make a list of people you think would be encouraged to hear from you, then set out to let them know in one way or another that you admire their commitment to independence. Financial Independent education costs money and however you can help is wonderful – but you should keep in mind that even small ways of helping can make a big difference. Your help will also reinforce the willingness of families and others to sacrifice for the sake of independent schooling for children. Consider these options, arranged from the obvious big ways to smaller ways that can be just as important. Pay for or help pay for a child’s private schooling. Help a homeschooling parent purchase materials. Use holiday times to contribute to the education of grandchildren or other children. Adopt a family or a class and set aside funds each year for their use. Subscribe to useful publications for a family, class, or school (ask them first what they’d most like). Give gift cards to parents or teachers to purchase materials or even to purchase groceries or a dinner out so their money will be freed up for educational purposes. Help children with a fundraiser (car wash, bake sale, etc.). Keep a coin jar in which you collect money for a child’s schooling (you might even invite friends to throw a few quarters in). Practical Your practical help can go a long way toward encouraging and aiding those committed to independent education. Here are some ideas to get your imagination rolling. Offer to share with or teach a child or class something you know. It can be a practical skill, knowledge, or an experience you had. It may be a one-time offer or something that involves an on-going class. Offer your services as a babysitter for a busy mom or as a gofer at school. Help a mom or teacher with spring “house cleaning” (classrooms need it, too). This can also include outside work – cutting grass, raking, etc.) Do you have experience that would benefit teachers and parents in their education roles? Offer a free workshop on the topic. Ask a teacher or parent if there is some task you can take over that would lift a burden from them. It could be arranging field trips, updating a teacher’s website, grading papers, researching better insurance or mortgage rates, almost anything. Ask if there is some practical way you can help. You’ll be appreciated! Thank you for helping - in whatever way you can! Return to Education Resources See also Home Education Options, Ideas, Resources Return to Home Return to Top Education Resources Last updated October 29, 2007	Some of the more well-known signers of our proclamation: Ed Crane President, Cato Institute John Taylor Gatto 1991 New York State Teacher of the Year Fr. John A Hardon SJ RIP The Catholic Catechism Don Hodel Former Secretary of Interior D. James Kennedy Coral Ridge Ministries Rev. Tim LaHaye Left Behind Rabbi Daniel Lapin President, Toward Tradition Tom Monaghan Founder, Domino’s Pizza Ron Paul US Congressman, Texas John K Rosemond Parenting Author, Columnist, Speaker They and 29,000 others have signed Our Proclamation: *"I favor ending government involvement in education."* See others who agree.
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