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SPRING 2020
HOMESCHOOL IOWA 5
The
Strength
of
Homeschooling
in the Midst of a
Pandemic
JOE BAILEY, PRESIDENT
C
hurch has been canceled, people are wearing masks,
public school is on pause, the kids are getting cabin
fever, the world has stopped and is trying to figure out
how to start turning again. A lot has changed in the past couple
months. On NewYear’s Eve, who could have predicted that 2020
would bring such panic and change?
Fortunately for us in the homeschool movement, we are in the
best position of any demographic to thrive in the midst of this
pandemic. We already train our children at home. Sure, it might
be inconvenient that our favorite co-op or support group isn’t
meeting in person, but we already know how to keep our kids
busy, happy, growing, and learning at home. Most of us have
already figured out how to live on one income or how to work
from home so that one parent can dedicate large amounts of
time to teaching our children. To most families around us, this
is a new reality that they are trying to grapple with. For us, we
simply get to keep doing what we do well!
And even better, we can show the way for those around us. Ev-
ery family is getting a taste of facilitating their child’s education
at home; unfortunately, not by choice, but, rather, by necessity!
What a way to start! I have been so excited to see my home-
schooling friends help provide answers to questions about how
to parent children when they are with them all day long. Many
are offering tips on low-cost and free education resources. And,
best of all, we can encourage those who have been considering
homeschooling and nowmay be deciding that this is the time to
make the intentional switch to educating their children at home.
As an organization, Homeschool Iowa is excited about the op-
portunities out there. Sure, we are disappointed about needing
to cancel or delay our main events, but this also opens up excit-
ing opportunities for now and in the future. As a volunteer-run,
work-from-home organization, our doors are still wide open to
equip and encourage homeschooling families and promote and
protect homeschool freedoms!
Our website and social media platforms are continuing to
grow and improve. This pause in the action of in-person events
has given us time and energy to focus on building more online
resources. We are still writing and mailing our magazines to
provide encouragement to families across the state. We have
worked with Governor Reynold’s office to help bring clarifica-
tions and waivers for homeschool filing deadlines, in-person
meetings for supervising teachers, and testing requirements
that cannot be met due to school
closures.
I am excited to share that we
have not given up on in-person
events! We have rescheduled our
2020 Homeschool Iowa Gradua-
tion service for August 1st. Instead
of our annual conference, we are
hosting an all-new event called
Homeschool Iowa Connect the
weekend of August 8th. We are
also excitedly awaiting the oppor-
tunity to schedule more Home-
school 101 events across the state
once meeting size restrictions start
to lift. Of course, we realize that
there is risk that even these later
events could be canceled, but we
are hopeful that they won’t! I am incredibly proud of our volun-
teers who have helped pivot to these new and exciting opportu-
nities in the face of this pandemic. “And we know that all things
work together for good to those who love God, to those who are
the called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28, NKJV)
Indeed, there is much to be thankful for, but there is also a lot
to do. Would you join us? Would you please consider taking ad-
ditional steps to support the Iowa homeschool cause? Become
a member today. Membership is the primary way we fund our
ministry. Consider volunteering. We are constantly in need of
help in sustaining and growing our events and services. Most
importantly, please pray for families educating their children at
home and our efforts to support and encourage them. God has
uniquely equipped us as Christian home educators to thrive and
minister in the midst of this Coronavirus pandemic.
Joe and Elizabeth Bailey have been married since 2012 and
have five children. Joe was homeschooled K-12 and was involved
with his local homeschool choir, volunteering for Homeschool
Iowa, 4-H, First Lego League, and running his own lawn care
business. Joe went on to receive his B.S. degree in Mechanical
and Welding Engineering from LeTourneau University. Joe now
works as a weld engineer at Vermeer Corp. is currently serving as
Homeschool Iowa President. Joe & Elizabeth are both passionate
about securing homeschooling freedoms for their own children
and for future generations.
b
... we already
know how to
keep our
kids busy,
happy, growing,
and learning
at home.
b