Angela Harris

Angela Harris homeschools six children on the South Side of Chicago – two of her own, plus four cousins. She attended Cherry Pie Day at the state capitol to oppose House Bill 2827, which would force her family to register with the local public school.

“I worked with families in social services, and even before I had babies, I made the decision that my kids would never go to public school. We are in the inner city of Chicago, the West Pullman area. Our neighborhood school was not a good school.”

“So, I made the decision they would go to private school. At the time, the idea of homeschooling was there, but it was way in the back of my mind. That changed when COVID came along.”

“My little one struggled with e-learning. She was not grasping it and needed a lot of extra help. Figuring that out and how to teach her was empowering for me.”

“I had to work so hard with them. It became a question of, ‘What are we paying all this money for? I’m working so hard; I need to be their teacher.’”

“I am able to give each of my kids an individualized education. It’s a concept we need to apply more often, not just for behavioral issues or slow learners, because no two kids learn the same way. Public schools are a kind of cookie-cutter system and a lot of kids fall through the cracks.”

“E-learning made me realize even in private school, my youngest daughter was one of those falling through the cracks. She wasn’t learning the way other students were. Since we’ve been homeschooling, she has really started to blossom in her skills and interests.”

“Then about a year ago, one of my relatives lost custody of their children. My husband and I took them in. I told DCFS they would have to be homeschooled as long as they are in my custody, and they agreed.”

“They were coming out of a very toxic situation, with a lot of fear, abandonment, emotional abuse. It was very difficult at first because there were some behavioral issues. But now, I feel like God brought them to us for that very reason.”

“I received tremendous help and support from my friend Latasha, who runs a micro school, which we run like a “one room schoolhouse.” We worked together to teach them. Now the kids are doing great and have been transformed through biblical teaching and discipleship.”

“I know homeschooling is my calling. It is the greatest, most important work I’ve done for my family and for my community. Now it is being threatened by House Bill 2827.”

“It’s almost like I came out of their system and now they’re trying to pursue me. That’s how I see it – I left the system and now they’re coming.”

“This bill criminalizes parents separating themselves from the public school system. They say they can arrest you for truancy.”

“My decision to leave is based on my faith and a mandate from God. I personally would never go back. More and more parents are making the decision to pull their kids out, now the system is trying to pull them back.”

“I want to appeal to the common sense of these lawmakers. It doesn’t make sense to punish parents for taking charge of their child’s education.”

Angela Harris
Homeschool mom
Chicago, Illinois