Home-Schooling Is Learning Experience For Parents, Kids
The view from John and Laura Griffin’s school is unbeatable.
But it’s not Lake Coeur d’Alene that keeps the Griffin kids in their seats. It’s the teacher.
“I like my teacher. I just say ‘Mom,’ and she’s there,” says John.
The idea of teaching her children at home terrified Caroline Griffin. She was educated enough to realize she didn’t know everything.
But she was dissatisfied with the public schools, and private school tuition was too expensive.
“I don’t know if it will work out,” she says, while John, 12, and Laura, 9, decipher math problems at the dining room table.
Family happiness made home-schooling an easier decision. Caroline and her husband own a chain of service stations in California. They frequently leave their North Idaho sanctuary for points south. But they were tired of splitting the family so one parent could stay with the kids during school.
Since September, travels have been part of the Griffins’ education plan. One trip took them through Montana, Yellowstone National Park and the Grand Canyon. Another took them to Puerto Rico.
They study on the way - geography, language, science, other cultures.
Caroline studied various home-school programs until she found an accredited plan she liked. After 20 lessons in any subject, John and Laura take a test, which Caroline mails away to the program’s headquarter for grading.
“It’s like following a recipe in a cookbook,” she says.
Laura misses her friends from school but wants Caroline as her teacher. John wants to learn at home until high school, which his friends say he shouldn’t miss.
“It’s very time-consuming, but it fits into our lives right now,” Caroline says, scooting her chair up to John for the next lesson. “I don’t know what we’ll do next year. We’ll see how this works out.”
Stellar Performer
Years of toe exercises paid off for Coeur d’Alene ballerina Brooke Klinger. The National Foundation for the Advancement in the Arts recently handed a $100 check to the Gonzaga Prep senior.
Brooke was one of 23 dancers chosen from 7,100 applicants for honorable mention awards. Chad and Mona Klinger teach at North Idaho College and you’d never hear them boast about their talented daughter. Never.
Big Loss
Coeur d’Alene’s Big Brothers and Big Sisters is about to close its doors - at least until April when United Way money comes.
In the past, Spokane’s Big Brothers helped Coeur d’Alene through lean times. That relationship ended Dec. 31 and Coeur d’Alene wasn’t ready to go it alone. Now the Coeur d’Alene agency needs $18,000 to pay its bills. It also needs board members with the time and expertise to balance budgets and plan ahead. Any takers?
Big Brothers has 35 lonely Kootenai County kids matched with adult pals. Forty more kids are waiting. Without money, everything will grind to a halt.
If you can help, call 667-0975.
Best Buys
Replacing Don Haney’s liver isn’t cheap. Donations have helped, but he needs $150,000 just to guarantee him a spot on the donor list. The Garwood Saloon will throw a bash for Don from noon to midnight Sunday, with a dance, raffle and auction.
Go dance for Don. Or take your auction donations to Alvin’s Pawn in Rathdrum, the saloon or Central Pre-Mix.
How did you or someone you know raise the staggering amount of money needed for major medical costs? Share your success stories with Cynthia Taggart, “Close to Home,” 608 Northwest Blvd., Suite 200, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, 83814; fax to 765-7149; or call 765-7128. Don doesn’t have time to waste.