We reached out to RIGHT (Rhode Island Guild of Homeschool Teachers) to find out more about who they are and how they serve the homeschool community here in RI. Their state coordinator, Jen Curry, graciously made time to answer our questions. A big thank you to Jen and everyone at RIGHT!
What is the purpose of RIGHT and who is eligible to join?
RIGHT is an organization of families committed to educational excellence and freedom. The goals of RIGHT are to promote home education for those wishing to teach their children at home and to support efforts that protect parental authority and educational freedom. RIGHT believes every family has the constitutional and moral right to educate their children. RIGHT operates on the basis of Biblical principles by upholding the Judeo-Christian ethic.
What are the costs and benefits of joining?
The Standard Membership is $25. The Military Rate for Active Service is $15. Both are Annual Memberships. We have several events that are exclusive to our membership such as a Father-Daughter Dance, Mother-Son Fun Event, High School Formal Ball, Field Day, Graduation, and more!
Do you have to be religious or of any certain denomination to join RIGHT?
No, you do not; membership is open to all.
What do you think this fall will look like for RIGHT?
Our fall events will be mostly outdoor events that allow for ample social distancing with accommodations in place to follow the state regulations and requirements.
What advice would you give to prospective homeschoolers?
Join a homeschool support group. This will connect you to other homeschoolers and help you navigate RI homeschool laws. I recommend RIGHT and/or ENRICHri. Give yourself grace and start slow. Remember you are homeschooling not “doing school at home”. It is ok to school with an alternate schedule that best fits your family’s needs. School doesn’t have to be Monday through Friday, from 9 am to 3 pm. It’s also ok to ditch curriculum that isn’t working for you or your child. Remember your “why”(why did you want to homeschool) and write it down to reference when you are having a hard school day. Keep in mind that one of the most important things you can teach your child is to have a love for learning; the other is where to go for valuable knowledge. If they love to learn and know where to go for valuable knowledge there isn’t anything they can’t learn!
Anything else you’d like to share with our readers about homeschooling?
Homeschooling is by far the best parenting decision we ever made for our family. We have found that homeschooling is just as much about character building as it is about academics. In our family, we have seven boys ages 6 to 24 and two foster toddlers. In order to “survive the day” our parenting must guide the children to work together, consider the needs of others, and learn the value of hard work. We began homeschooling because I enjoyed teaching our young children and we continue because I value the time we have had to build strong family bonds while teaching valuable life lessons. Homeschooling lends itself to so many learning opportunities that go far beyond the walls of a classroom. We are truly blessed to have been able to experience a variety of life lessons during the last 16 years of our homeschool journey and I look forward to what God has planned for the next 14 years of homeschooling.
