Michelle Stokes homeschools her children because she wants to lay the foundation for her kids and teach faith on top of regular schoolwork. She said she and her husband would rather have their children learning at home, where they can
Michelle Stokes homeschools her children because she wants to lay the foundation for her kids and teach faith on top of regular schoolwork. She said she and her husband would rather have their children learning at home, where they can get close attention, rather than in a public school where there are more kids vying for less attention.
“We feel it’s God’s calling in our lives in teaching our kids in faith and life that go outside of what they could learn in school,” she said.
She and other parents interested in homeschooling their kids will be attending a Christian Homeschooling Conference at the Calvary Chapel Kauai in Kapa‘a this Sunday from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Christian Homeschool Speaker Kevin Swanson will be the key speaker for the conference.
“He’s a Christian speaker; his talk will be Bible-based and on teaching moral character,” she said. “He’s here for encouragement for anyone who wants to do it. It’s not all that outrageous. It is feasable. There is an alternative (to public schooling).”
He is visiting Hawai‘i as a part of a homeschooling conference on O‘ahu, but is making a special trip for Kaua‘i.
Christian Homeschoolers of Kauai secretary Summer Dillberg said Swanson’s visit helps cut down cost for parents interested in homeschooling their children, but can’t leave the island to attend the O‘ahu conference.
“They have one every year, and it’s really big,” Dillberg said. “A lot of homeschooling vendors come out and you can see and talk to them. And a lot of times it helps to have the husband and wife both attend. And that takes airfare.”
Dillberg contacted Swanson to see if he was willing to fly here to do a talk.
“A lot of people wanted to go, and I said ‘let me ask him if he’ll come here.’ It’s not going to be exactly the same (as the one on O‘ahu), but we’ve at least cut the cost of flying there.”
Dillberg, like Stokes, homeschools her children.
“Character training and teaching them to be respectful is very important to me,” she said. “I like the freedom — if they understand something, we can move on. If they don’t, we can slow down.”
The pre-registered cost is $15 a family and $20 at the door. “Love offerings” will also be accepted. There will also be child care for children 6 years old and younger.
For more information on Swanson, visit his www.kevinswanson.com.
To pre-register or for more information, contact Dillberg at 742-0208.
Lanaly Cabalo, lifestyle writer, may be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 237) or lcabalo@kauaipubco.com.
