For me, it was a wonderful, once-in-a-lifetime experience as I got to meet with these families on an intimate basis, often staying in their homes. I learned about some of their customs and the special gifts that England has to offer, such as scones (yum!), elderflower cordial (more yum!), and marmite (disgusting!). I was able to see the wonderful advantages that homeschooling in the UK offers and the unique challenges that home educators there face.

Because it is full of challenges. In many ways, homeschoolers in the UK are where we were 20 years ago when homeschooling was just beginning to take hold in the States. Home education is often viewed with skepticism in the UK. Sadly, there is often little support even from the church community, because many people are still not fully aware of homeschooling’s benefits or aims, nor are they aware how it tends to build stronger Christians for the future.

Socially, it is often more difficult in the UK than it is in the United States for Christian home educators to interact with one another. Christian support groups are often hard to find, and many of the secular groups have aims that conflict with the beliefs of Christian home educators. With gasoline priced at over $7 a gallon, traveling long distances to support group meetings is a luxury that many families can ill afford. Homeschooling resources are often more difficult to obtain as well. Though there are some excellent UK home education resources available, there is little variety; and many home educators either put together their own programs through library resources or adapt American products for their own use.

Politically, the climate for home education is good now, though there is a great deal of confusion about the role of government in home education. Many home educators fear that the situation may soon change and that their freedoms may be lost as new anti-family government policies come into play.

Yet homeschooling in the UK also has decided advantages. As Deborah Jenkins, our UK coordinator relates: “The best [thing is] the freedom that we have. The vagueness of the law leaves room for us to educate our children as we see fit with relatively little paperwork and red tape to deal with. We also have a wealth of history and literature on our doorstep. We don’t just have to read about the great authors of the past 200 years, we can easily go see what they were writing about, where they wrote it, and … where they spent their lives. When we read about history, we can go visit the castle, see the historic sites, and literally walk in their footsteps. It certainly makes things come to life.”

While I was in the UK, I met many sincere and dedicated homeschooling parents who make great sacrifices on a daily basis in order to provide the best learning environment for their children. These moms and dads are creative, ambitious, and focused. Many are committed to healthy lifestyles, a sense of order, and a desire to see their children live in godly ways. Though I was there to share ideas with them, I came away learning far more than I shared. I also gained the knowledge that though we are separated by geography and culture, these families have a great many things in common with American home educators.

Overall, the trip was a great success. We came away with a better understanding of Christian home education in the UK. We made delightful new friends whom we will treasure for a lifetime. The meetings also seemed beneficial to our new UK friends. As one of them wrote, “Everybody who came to the meetings was thoroughly encouraged and inspired. Hosting the team was fantastic fun. We were thoroughly invigorated and inspired. It was 100% positive for us. Primarily, it was a blessing to meet true brothers and sisters in the Lord. It was great to discuss homeschooling methods and be inspired to try new approaches.”

Though we did not go seeking to change the face of homeschooling in the UK, it seems that change is in the wind. Many Christian home educators were frustrated by the attitudes and actions that the larger secular homeschooling groups displayed toward our visit. It seems that the TOS tour has acted as a catalyst to some who are more determined to provide a stronger voice and more support for Christian home educators. In particular, Bruce Garrison of Searchlight Ministries and Jane Bullivant, author of Dear Lord, I Feel Like a Whale, are emerging as new leaders in the UK Christian homeschool community. I have the highest respect for these two individuals and expect great things from them in the future. In the meantime, I watch with interest as this new chapter of UK homeschooling history unfolds. The Christian homeschool community in the UK is alive and well, and I pray that it will flourish in the days to come.