BY PRISCILLA GREEAR

Staff Writer

DUNWOODY--Dr. Mary Kay Clark, director of the Seton Home Study School, presented a diploma July 10 to the Catholic program’s first high school graduate in Georgia, Mary Gilbert, at a Mass opening the National Catholic Home Education Convention and Vendor Fair.

The conference, sponsored by the Catholic Home Educators of Georgia, was held July 10-11 at All Saints Church and attracted over 200 home school instructors and others. It featured 21 workshops providing information, practical advice and motivation for developing home education programs. Mass celebrant was Archbishop John F. Donoghue, who was assisted by Deacon Loris Sinanian.

“Being home schooled has allowed me to focus on God, my family, close friends and myself. It has taught me how to budget my time, become self-motivated and an independent thinker. Hopefully in a small way I have helped the youth at St. Andrew’s (Church) by being a Life Teen youth leader. I have also been able to work plus go to school as I am able to do my school work around my own schedule,” said Gilbert, wearing a cap and gown.

The graduate, 19, began home study in kindergarten. She said she has also learned by traveling and, as a parishioner at St. Andrew’s Church in Roswell, has served as a eucharistic minister and worked with the elderly.

She challenged the belief that home school students lack adequate social interaction.

“My mother networked and found may different Christian home school groups which I was involved with. I went to parties, sports events, theater, the prom, graduation with 25 other seniors,” Gilbert said. “I didn’t miss a thing socially. I didn’t have to give up my Christian values or compromise my faith. The best part is I have received a wonderful education.”

Archbishop Donoghue emphasized in his homily the importance of instruction by parents in faith.

Parents should “seek to teach our children in the very best way that we can devise. We may fill their minds with the excellence that flows from our Catholic heritage -- and we may give them the good sense to deal with the evils that surround us in this world...But it is more important, more fundamental, more vital that our children first learn from us the meaning, the actuality, of Christ’s love,” the archbishop said.

He reminded them of Christ’s promise that his followers will be hated but will be saved by enduring persecution through love.

“Dear friends, as our special Mass for home educators continues, let us ask God, and especially in the person of his Holy Spirit, to give us these gifts: strength to remain steadfast before the scorn of the world, a passion for truth and for the church’s teaching and, finally, holiness in the love of Jesus Christ.”

Mary Hasson, the conference keynote speaker, is co-author of “Catholic Education Homeward Bound,” a graduate of Notre Dame Law School and teacher of her five children.

Instructors should persevere in home schooling, she said, because it strengthens families, students excel academically and they gain self-confidence and strong faith through individualized instruction.

“What really makes home schooling work is the love that the parent has for the child and the knowledge they have of their child. The bottom line is that home schooling is about tutoring--that one-on-one contact that makes it more effective. Unlike the classroom teacher, we don’t have to spend an entire month figuring the child out,” she said.

Home school students have much higher self-confidence with less pressure to conform than traditional school students, Hasson said.

“We never thought we’d home school, but after the first year we were sold. We all grew in our faith, a deeper love for each (other), Christ and the church,” she said.

In the workshops participants explored ways to develop and promote home schooling programs.

Deacon Sinanian, spiritual director for the Georgia organization, led the workshop on “The Home Schooling Family and Their Parish.” He said it is important for home school instructors to meet with pastors and other parish staff members to inform them and show them the benefits of home schooling so that “the priests will have a greater respect for what you’re doing.”

The deacon noted that classroom teachers often feel home instructors are rejecting their work and urged parents to form public relations committees to demonstrate the benefits and that programs aren’t competing with schools. “You’re the pioneers,” he said. “All of you have a responsibility. You’re educating your children and you’re educating everyone around you.”

Richard Dittus, whose wife, Kathy, teaches their children, led the session on “The Father’s Role in the Home Schooling Adventure.” Dittus said he acts as the principal and works the second shift in the ongoing education process. It is important for husbands to support their wives by taking children on field trips, to museums and other cultural sites to broaden their education, he said, and instructors must participate in home school support groups to teach effectively.

The Home School Legal Defense Association in Virginia reports a study estimating 1.23 million children nationwide received home instruction in 1996-97. The Catholic Home Educators of Georgia, established in 1993, has six regional chapters serving over 115 families. Those interested may contact Kathy Collart, membership director, at (770) 385-1261.