home.boy

As I look back through my childhood and teen life, I find something in my story that is a little more popular (and a little more controversial) today. 

I believe it was the summer before 4th grade when my parents offered me the OPTION of home school.  It sounded cool - staying home, no bus to catch, doing schoolwork on the couch in my undies, no schedule, except recess...you know...that would be the life!   After all this is what most people think of home school right!  Let me introduce what my parents had in mind!

Fambrough Elementary School started at 8am with the pledge to the American Flag, then prayer and finished when everything scheduled was completed…sometimes it was as early at 2pm or I could still be finishing when my public school friends were outside my window playing.  I didn’t have any homework because it was ALL “home”work!   

That being said, every year my parents gave me the OPTION of going to public or staying with home school.  I always chose home school.   This was always something very important to me.  I think a lot of parents chose for their kids in this matter because they do not feel the pubic school is teaching there children what they should be learning.  In some cases I would agree, but for me the reason that I continued to say in home school was the 4 years (K-3^rd) I had already experienced in public school.  These years gave me the ability to make a conscious decision about which I prefered.  The time in public school did however, allow me to establish some great friendships (some of which I have to this day) and it created an environment for me to learn some basic social skills.  Through my involvement in children’s ministries and church youth groups I was able to have great friends.  I was even in soccer and basketball with my friends. Children coming out of home school back then often had no idea of how to interact with others.

4^th grade & 5^th grade were pretty intense for me and my teacher (mom) and principle (dad) at Fambrough Elementary School.  This trend continued through Fambrough Middle School.  We all learned!

Fambrough High School was kinda cool as I did a different curriculum.   It was a more self-paced education.  There wasn’t the 1hr for each subject, etc. It was more like; you have 6 subjects to learn each day, do it!  Some took minimal time others I had to struggle through.  When I completed a section I took the test, and graded it to see what score I had achieved.  This may strike fear in some but this is where I learned to be trustworthy.  On top of that in public school, if you get something wrong on a test, but still pass, when are you ever taught the right answer?

I graduated at the top of my class and was even the valedictorian…haha…you think I’m kidding?

I had my FAMBROUGH HIGH SCHOOL senior ring-

FHS Senior Ring 1994

 

I had a graduation ceremony where I gave the valedictorian speech and was presented with my diploma all while dressed in full cap and gown.

Valedictorian Speech

Principle Dad presenting my FHS Diploma

Tossing of the hat

Post Graduation Party!

My girlfriend (now my wife) was Homecoming Queen!  The only thing I missed in High School was a mascot! (The FHS Homeboys???...nah...)

Everyone was concerned that I would not be able to qualify for college.  My SAT scores said otherwise and I was accepted to Hardin-Simmons University.

Thanks Mom & Dad for always giving me an option and for making my home school experience a great one.

Hope everyone enjoys the pictures. We created quite a memory! 

This is my story and I’m sticking to it.

Home.Boy

-CMF