Living Catholicism: A Cry for Help: Homeschool issues for the McFarlanes

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January 21, 2005

A Cry for Help: Homeschool issues for the McFarlanes

This is another round of the tragic situation created by Bud McFarlane (the well-known Catholic author turned practical atheist). Thought I would pass it along in case someone could help:

Dear Homeschooling Supporter,

(Note: If you are the recipient of this message and are not the homeschool contact person, would you please forward it for me?)

I'd like to ask you and your homeschoolers' support group to consider an opportunity to host a nationally respected homeschooling expert, while at the same time supporting a homeschooling mom in a tragic situation.

I am that homeschooling mom. I have four children (4 - 13 years old) and have had to deal with the personal tragedy of having my husband abandon me 17 months ago. He and I had been avid supporters of homeschooling since before we were married. Evidently, around the same time he was deciding to abandon our marriage, he also decided that I shouldn't be able to home school anymore. I am the defendant in a no-fault divorce, and the court-ordered psychologist has recommended against homeschooling for my children over third grade. Basically, because I disagree with the government psychologist, all four of my sons were taken from me so that they could attend institutional school. Our youngest, who just turned four, is now being forced to attend a day care center. They won't even let him and his first grade brother spend the days with me, though I am an unemployed stay-at-home mom.

I now have the opportunity to present my case for continuing to home school my boys by bringing in an expert witness. Dr. Brian Ray of the National Home Education Research Institute (http://www.nheri.org/,) will be testifying on my behalf, as he is accustomed to arguing for the right of children to continue homeschooling in divorce custody battles. I have to pay for his travel expenses from Oregon and two nights lodging and meals, plus his regular fees.

This is where you come in. In cases like mine, Dr. Ray generously offers to help out his clients by accepting a local speaking engagement at which he charges no speaker's fee. A free-will offering is collected to help defray the cost to his client, who, like me, is already swamped in legal fees in the midst of an unwanted divorce. I pray that I can get some help from my fellow homeschoolers to pay for Dr. Ray to defend my children's chance to be home schooled against this government psychologist in court.

Are you in a position to offer him the chance to speak at your church or local hall on Tuesday, February 22? If you know of a place where he could speak and/or if you would be willing to help me publicize Dr. Ray's presentation, I'd deeply appreciate your assistance.

Please e-mail me at baimac@vcmails.com or call me at (440)871-5404 as soon as possible if you are able to take advantage opportunity to host Dr Ray while helping me, or with any questions.

(Feel free to forward this e-mail to any one who you think may be interested. I'd also appreciate it if you could give me contact information for any other home school support groups in the Cleveland area and surrounding counties.)

With sincere thanks,
Bai Macfarlane

Biographical information on Dr. Brian Ray:
Dr. Ray has been critically reviewing research in the area of home education for over a decade. He is the founding editor of Home School Researcher, a quarterly refereed journal dispersing research in home education; has published numerous articles on home education in professional journals (e.g., Peabody Journal of Education), Christianity Today, and The Teaching Home magazine; has been interviewed by numerous radio, print, and television media, including two appearances on the "NBC Today Show" with presidents of the National Education Association; has been a professor of education at the undergraduate and graduate levels; is an outstanding researcher, and takes a logical and friendly approach to home education. His Ph.D. is in science education from Oregon State University. His newest books are Home Educated and Now Adults and Worldwide Guide to Homeschooling. Dr. and Mrs. Ray are homeschooling parents of eight children. See http://www.nheri.org/.