Secular Homeschooling Lonely Business in Central Maine

Homeschooling is becoming more mainstream, but secular homeschooling, particularly secular homeschooling without religion, remains a lonely endeavor in central Maine. We live in an area the locals refer to as the Foothills Region, which seems to be a no-man’s land for organizations and groups.

On the coast we have the Homeschoolers of Maine, a Christian-based homeschool affiliation meant to include all of Maine’s homeschoolers. I’ve been advised by a secular unschooler in Camden who went to their annual convention, that she was disappointed to discover the event to be very much faith-based, so I’ve refrained from attending.

We have a number of area homeschool groups, including a group of unschoolers, according to Yahoo’s Groups, however, I haven’t found any of these to be organized groups who meet physically for events or meetings, though it’s possible I simply missed the memo.

So I find myself very much alone in my secular homeschooling pursuits. This solidarity is made more pronounced by a number of restrictions I find placed upon my inclination to adventure.

Firstly there’s the fact that due to budgetary limitations, we are currently a one-car family. My husband, being the one who works outside the home, naturally has priority over the vehicle, though there is some lee-way here since he works within walking distance from home–and there is access to my in-laws’ spare vehicle on occasion.

Because of the issue of the budget, the same limitations affecting our car-situation, also affect monetary allowances for frivolities. Basically, our budget leaves very little for extra expenditures for gas, or entrance fees at discovery centers and museums. So currently, field trips that are not free are out of our reach.

Then there’s the nature of my kids. My older son, Winter, struggles to cope with his sensory input. He’s come a long way since he was very young, but when he was three or four traveling even short distances was, at times, hellish. The world outside the car was just too much for him. He would just melt, and blow up; if I “went the wrong way” or stopped at a red-light, he would kick the back of my seat, pull my hair, scream, and cry all the rest of the way home–regardless of how much farther it was!

Sometimes busy social-settings can be over-whelming for Winter. This is always a factor I take into consideration when I’m planning field trips. I try to plan to visit a museum or fair on off days, when it’s less crowded. But even then, sometimes he can only tolerate the stimulation of so many exhibits for forty-five minutes to an hour-and-a-half. And that’s something else to keep in mind. If I have to travel two hours to reach our destination, for only and hour’s worth of interaction, or possibly less if he’s having a bad day, I might not be inclined to make the attempt.

My younger son, Summer, has detested riding since he was one-week old. Most babies sleep blissfully when they’re in the car, and Summer did too–for the first week. It was like someone had flipped a switch, and anytime he was restrained in that car seat he would just immediately begin to fuss, then his fussing would give way to crying, then screaming…. All this with my audio-sensitive child in the car (it was torture for Winter, who couldn’t help but loose control, and hell for me!). Summer still loathes being restrained by seat-belts. He’s such an energetic child that even in his sleep he seems to fidget, and traveling any distance is something we still struggle with. At this point, I can comfortably take the kids anywhere within an hour’s travel from home.

Locally I’m aware of at least two groups of homeschoolers, one in Madison, and another in Skowhegan.  I’m sure these people are generally fine people, but both groups meet in church basements.  As a very science-oriented family who believe in and teach evolution (we don’t even observe Christmas anymore), meeting in a church sends a confusing mixed-message to my very young and impressionable boys.  When they learn about the various religions of the world, I would like it to be from an unbiased perspective, and if they decide to affiliate themselves with a church, then that is their decision.

Personally I’ve only met one other secular homeschooler in my area; she’s a lovely lady, very Earthy and kind.  If there are any secular homeschoolers  reading in and around Somerset County, Maine, I invite you to leave a reply, give a shout-out and make yourself known.  Then I’d at least know I’m not alone.