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Laura Moran (right) gives her daughter Sara a lesson. Laura and her husband Matt Moran are area parents who homeschool their children.
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Homeschooling a growing trend
by Kathleen Stinson

DESERT FOOTHILLS – Cave Creek parents Laura and Matt Moran are part of a growing group who believe homeschooling is a better way of educating their children.

The New York Times reported the number of children educated at home increased by 29 percent to 1.1 million students nationwide from 1999‑2003.

Laura Moran, who maintains a Web site for homeschoolers called Homeschoolvideoblog.com, said in Cave Creek more than 100 families homeschool their children.

"Seven years ago, homeschooling was considered ‘Wow, kind of out there,' and now it's considered normal, another educational option," Steve said.

Laura has homeschooled all of her four children at one time or another. She currently homeschools two third‑graders, her daughter Sara and another third‑grader from outside the family.

The Morans said they switched to homeschooling for a variety of reasons including time efficiency, better education, and dissatisfaction with public schools.

"From our perspective, a lot of schoolroom time is spent just in classroom management. Homeschooling is more efficient," Matt said. "What's covered in a seven‑hour day at a public school can be covered in three hours or less in a home school."

Their older daughter who was homeschooled started taking community college courses at age 14, Laura said.

Matt said he is also concerned about negative peer pressures his children might be exposed to in public schools.

"A lot of middle and high school is negative social pressure. The stronger personalities drive the peer group and I am glad to keep my children away from that," Matt said, adding he is concerned about drugs and sex in public schools.

Laura admits homeschooling takes a lot of her time.

"It's the time that I spend with my kids that makes it so worthwhile for me."

Homeschooling today in the Valley is a far cry from the kitchen table, isolating one child at home, the environment of past years.

"Some homeschool families get together and co‑op classes with other families," Laura said.

Once a week the Moran's children attend gymnastic classes at American Elite Gymnastic in Scottsdale. All the students in the class are homeschoolers. Also, about 60 families bring their children to a Cave Creek park to be coached by Athletes in Training, a company hired by the parents.

"My daughter went to Cactus Shadows Drama Club once a week," Laura said, adding the public schools allow homeschoolers to participate in public school sports and extracurricular clubs.

"Arizona is actually very good for homeschoolers," Matt said, adding the county promotes homeschooling by sending an annual newsletter naming testing sites.

Arizona does not require homeschoolers to take regular standardized tests, but parents generally like their students to be tested to get an idea of where they need help.

Reach the reporter at kathleen@thedesertadvocate.com.

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