Homeschooler of 798: When you are forced to Homeschool
by Heather Doe
I am a homeschooler of 798. My life changed drastically in 2019 when, with the passing of LD798, Maine became one of only six states in our nation to remove religious and philosophical exemptions and enforce government-mandated vaccination requirements for children to access taxpayer-funded “public” education.
My Background
I am the single, sole parent and sole provider for my children. I work full time. When LD798 passed, I became a multiple-grade homeschooler. My children were removed from fourth and fifth grades. They were denied access to education in the state. This was ironic considering the state was founded by my 15th great grandparents who came here on the Mayflower. They were fleeing religious persecution and seeking freedom.
I have some impressive accomplishments under my belt; I have traveled the world, succeeded at a career, and boldly ventured into Motherhood on my own. I’m strong. But being the victim of a short-sighted and overreaching government that removed my parental rights to make personal medical decisions, and that segregated my children from equitable access to education, shook me to my core. I was shocked and there was anger. My heart was broken, and I was terrified.
Homeschooler of 798 – Making the decision
My children exited the public school system on the day of the vote on March 3, 2019. They would start to enforce the law in the fall of 2020. However, I made the decision to remove them from the system that deemed them unworthy, before they were forcibly thrown out. I felt helpless. But removing them on my terms gave me a small sense of empowerment. I wanted them to have that dignity. I didn’t have a plan and I doubted myself. Would I be able to give my children what they needed? Unfortunately, I had no choice. I gathered all my strength and courage, determined to figure it all out, because, even if Maine didn’t believe in them, I sure did.
The Surprising Changes as a Homeschooler of 798
What happened in those first few weeks was a surprise. In fact, it was life changing. I saw my children decompress, unwind, and soar without the formal lesson plans. They no longer had to rush or be on schedules dictated by others.
They slept and played, and reconnected with each other, and with me. Along with rest, my kids had time to be curious and joyful, to linger on things that were of interest to them. They read books and roamed in nature. This gave them time to learn about trees, leaves, animals, and the world around them. The kids spent time with their extended family, talking about history, cooking, and playing cards with their grandparents. They found new passions and joys, and they found themselves. It was truly remarkable.
All of a sudden, I had my children back. And they had a parent who was present, tuned into their needs. They had someone to experience every moment with them, me. Instead of a family that was constantly spread out the majority of our waking hours. No longer were we a part of a rushed and crowded, rigid system, they began to move at their own pace. They were no longer overlooked by stressed, underpaid, and overloaded teachers. Teachers who were burdened with quotas and reporting criteria while also serving as nurses, social workers, and police officers in overcrowded classrooms with mandated curriculum and testing. No longer were they bullied by suffering children whose needs weren’t being met at home or at school.
Creating & Finding like-minded Community
I am the sole parent for my children, but I’m not doing it alone. Now we needed that village. I asked trusted people for help. I’m grateful to have a job that allows me to work from home. My children are thriving, being influenced by trusted people who know and care for them rather than by strangers who were arbitrarily assigned to them each school year. I no longer question whether I am qualified to educate my children, because I’ve seen the public-school classrooms and I’ve also seen the world.
Four years later, and I’m a homeschooler who knows the truth; that when my children were banned from government-run schools, they were in fact liberated from a broken, corrupt system that was no longer serving their needs.
I’m a homeschooler of 798, and, while I’m still advocating for equal access to education for all children, I will never send my children back to the government-run public school system. LD798 gave me the opportunity to see the truth, and I am grateful to be liberated.