By Jennifer Osborn

Colleen Prescott helps her son, Harrison, with spelling and penmanship at their home in Ellsworth. Out of all the Prescott children, Harrison is the "class clown". PHOTO BY denise farwell

Ellsworth has between 20 and 30 homeschoolers registered with the state.

And nationally, the U.S. Department of Education estimated in 1999 that there were 850,000 children being homeschooled.

The reasons for homeschooling are varied.

For Colleen Prescott, the decision to homeschool her four kids was simple:

“These are our golden years with the kids,” she said. “If we have the ability to have them around us, why send them off for eight hours a day?”

Some families homeschool for religious reasons; others homeschool because they are disappointed with public schools.

Regardless of the reasons why, the number of families homeschooling is growing.

The Prescotts of Ellsworth are proponents of public schools, yet for the past three years have been homeschooling their children — Connor, 10, Alison, 8, Harrison, 7 and Katherine, 6 — and reaping the benefits.

Before, “the school system got the good from my kids,” Prescott said.

In fact, if it’s a bad day, Prescott said she has “13 hours to find some redeeming quality in her children before tucking them in bed at night.”

Homeschooling does present challenges.

“One challenge is your kids are around you for eight hours a day,” Prescott said. Nonetheless, the days pass quickly, she said.

“There’s so much opportunity trying to decide what to do,” Prescott said. “You have so many choices.”

Homeschooling families find opportunities to learn everywhere — from the grocery store to the library — even the Statehouse.

Prescott’s 10-year-old son Connor testified before the Legislature a couple years ago when the Department of Education had considered changing the homeschooling application process.

“He has seen the government process,” Prescott said. “He was 8 years old. He got a tour of the Statehouse.”

And Connor introduced himself to Governor John Baldacci.

“That’s what you get,” Prescott said. “There’s not a tangible to it.”

Homeschooling opponents argue that children need the socialization.

Prescott disagrees.

“The only time people are socialized in their age group is the 12 years they’re in school,” said Prescott.

“My children have the ability to carry on a conversation with an adult, as well as play freeze tag with kids,” Prescott said.

“They’re still typical kids,” said Prescott. They’re into Scouts.” Prescott is leader of her son’s scout group.

The family belongs to a Penobscot Valley homeschooling organization that meets every other week.

The children take classes with other homeschoolers on special topics.

Connor is taking a class on bacteria and germs, from farm to table.

The children also take part in activities such as band and athletics through the Ellsworth School system.

“That’s one of the beautiful things about homeschooling,” Prescott said. “When you decide to homeschool, it doesn’t mean that you’re throwing away the public school system.”

Homeschoolers in Maine have a simple process for notifying the school district superintendent and state.

The notice of intent to homeschool is a one-page form, which is submitted to the Department of Education and the local superintendent, said Edwin Kastuk with the state Department of Education.

The state requires evaluation each year through testing or by showing a portfolio. Parents can also choose to have someone who is certified to teach in Maine review a student’s progress.

Answering the questions of people who do not understand homeschooling represents another challenge, Prescott said.

People worry about “socialization,” Prescott said. Others wonder how the homeschooling parents can stand to be around their children so much.

Perhaps one of the most challenging parts of homeschooling is getting through the first year.

“Our biggest fear initially is how are we going to know we’re not missing something,” Prescott said.

To that end, the first year, said the curriculum was “very academically based.”

Prescott uses a curriculum called Abeka, which she followed closely the first year.

Now, however, she describes herself as “unschooling” or less structured, as does Alison Johnson of Birch Harbor.

Johnson and her husband, Eric, are homeschooling two of their three daughters: Ellen, 7, Laura, 5, who are school age. They also have a 3-year-old, Susie.

“They’re going to learn what they need to know when it makes sense for them to know it,” said Johnson.

“Children are by their nature very curious,” said Johnson. Provide children with access to tools and information, encourage curiosity and they will learn, she said.

“Obviously I don’t sit home doing nothing with them,” said Johnson. But “at this age, I feel their free play is what they need to do to learn.”

Johnson said her family began homeschooling unofficially two years ago when Ellen was 5.

Why?

“Because it works for us,” Johnson said. “I really don’t feel especially when they’re this age that they need formal instruction.”

Homeschooling helps Johnson to raise her daughters to be a part of the community, which is important to the Johnsons.

To that end, Johnson leads a story hour each Monday at 4 p.m. at Dorcas Library in Prospect Harbor.

“I usually pick a theme every week,” Johnson said. “So we spend the week as a family getting ready for story hour.”

A recent story hour had a Greek theme, so Johnson and her daughters read mythology, discussed Greek culture and made a Greek meal.

The themes provide “a jumping-off point,” Johnson said. “And they just love it. That has been a real easy way to explore things with them.”

The story hour participants are beginning a pen pal relationship with children in Ghana.

On Wednesdays, Johnson holds gym for homeschoolers at the Gouldsboro Community Center.

Like Prescott, Johnson’s first year was a challenge.

“Since then, I’ve relaxed and I know we can do this,” Johnson said.

“It is sometimes trying to be with your children all the time,” said Johnson. “Generally, I love it. We have a lot of fun together.”

Fun seems to be the universal denominator among homeschooling families.

Prescott spoke of learning to ice fish with her children earlier this winter.

Each Prescott child baked a cake for the Ellsworth Public Library’s baking contest in January. Her son won an award for People’s Choice. Her daughter made a “decadent chocolate cake” complete with ganache — no small feat even for an adult cook.

“If I wasn’t homeschooling, there is no way we could have made four cakes on a Friday night,” Prescott said. “It’s the best decision we ever made.”