Wednesday, March 7, 2001

Starting a new tradition

By MONROE ROARK
mroark@TheCitizenNews.com

Danny Davis of Peachtree City is in his first year of college, at a school with a total enrollment of about 90. But that's eighty-something more than what his last two years of high school had.

His college of choice, Patrick Henry College in Virginia, is also in its first year. It was established especially for home-schooled students, which is what Danny was in the 11th and 12th grades.

Having lived in Peachtree City nearly all his life, the 19-year-old spent five years at Landmark Christian School, where he was in the running for valedictorian of his class (1999) before he and his parents made a joint decision for him to finish his high school years in their home rather than a traditional classroom.

Both he and his father stressed that this move was not motivated by any problems with Danny or his school, but rather an intense focus on what they felt God would have family do with regard to his education.

A number of friends in the area, including some they worshipped with at Harp's Crossing Baptist Church, already had experience with home schooling, so this was not a venture they launched without considerable feedback from others in the know.

Lee Davis, Danny's father, said that his son had asked him to consider home schooling before, but after his sophomore year they felt the time was right.

"We assess our children's education every year based on curriculum, peer group, teachers and administration and we try to see God's direction," said Lee Davis. "With each of our three children, every year the decision could be different."

Because of his age and the fact that his study habits were already well developed, Danny needed little direct supervision those last two years in high school, but he got assistance from both parents Lee, a pilot for Delta Air Lines, and Lucie, a stay-at-home mom.

A letter from the Home School Legal Defense Association during Danny's junior year informed the Davis family that Patrick Henry College was in the planning stages. The idea stayed on the back burner for a while, but when Danny graduated and took a year's sabbatical from academics to consider his future, it looked more and more appealing.

Right now he is majoring in government, one of only two degree program currently offered (a classical/liberal arts degree is the other). His exact career course after graduation is not certain, but Danny says it will involve politics.

Ironically, with students coming to PHC after years in classes at their homes, they enter a fairly traditional classroom environment. "The style of teaching is the same as most colleges," said Danny. "But there's a lot more student involvement, and more opportunities."

An intriguing aspect of being in a school that is literally in the startup phase is the opportunity to help shape policies that could be standard operating procedure for years to come. One of Danny's current activities, the honor code committee, is a good example. "Since it's a new school, we're helping form the honor code," he said.

Continuing the government emphasis outside the classroom, Patrick Henry College has every student involved in student government. A "town hall meeting" or sorts convenes weekly, with a special speaker brought in from the world of politics to share his or her experiences with possible future leaders.

Danny plans to be back in Peachtree City this summer and might look to land an internship somewhere. But he is certain that he'll be returning to PHC in the fall.

Meanwhile, his 6-year-old sister is being home-schooled at the beginning of her academic career, although their father says that she might be placed in a traditional classroom at some point in the future. Danny says that being at home more during her early years was another advantage of his own home-schooling.

Whatever either of these two students does in the coming years, it will almost certainly be decided with their own spiritual well-being and their family's best interests at heart. And as thousands of Georgians and millions of Americans in similar academic situations are proving each year, that's not a bad way to arrange one's priorities.