Changed By Love

Changed By Love

Following the Lamb wherever he goes… Revelation 14:4

They Risked It All: The Homeschool Pioneers Who Faced Jail for Their Beliefs

🏛️ They Risked It All: The Homeschool Pioneers Who Faced Jail for Their Beliefs

By Penney Douglas

Homeschooling is legal across the United States today—but that wasn’t always the case.

In the 1970s and 1980s, families who chose to educate their children at home were often treated like criminals. In many states, it was considered educational neglect or truancy. Brave parents were taken to court, threatened with jail time, and even told they could lose custody of their children.

This is the story of the homeschool pioneers who stood firm in their convictions and fought for the freedom we now enjoy.

👩‍⚖️ Zan Tyler — Facing Jail in South Carolina

“We were told we could go to jail for 30 days for every day our child wasn’t in school.”

In 1984, Zan Tyler and her husband Joe began homeschooling their son in Columbia, South Carolina. The state superintendent told Zan that she could be jailed for exercising her parental right to homeschool.

But the Tylers did not back down. They went to court, endured opposition from the school board and legal system, and held on to their convictions. Their battle helped pave the way for the eventual legalization of homeschooling in South Carolina. Today, Zan Tyler is a beloved author, speaker, and advocate, but her journey began with civil courage and a deep trust in God’s call on her life.

⚖️ Michael Farris — The Attorney Who Defended a Movement

“Some parents hid their children during the day so the truant officer wouldn’t find them.”

Michael Farris, a constitutional lawyer and homeschooling father, founded the Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) in 1983. At the time, homeschooling was either illegal or severely restricted in most states.

He stepped in to defend families being threatened with imprisonment, fines, and the removal of their children. He recounts numerous cases where parents were forced to teach in secret, draw the curtains, and fear the knock at the door. Farris’ legal work and advocacy helped change the landscape of homeschooling nationwide.

🏚️ The Toma Family — Threatened with Losing Their Children

In Michigan, the Toma family was among many who faced intense pressure from the authorities. They were told their children would be removed from the home if they didn’t enroll them in public school.

The family stood firm in their beliefs, refusing to comply. Legal threats turned into a court battle—but they weren’t alone. With the support of HSLDA and other homeschoolers rallying around them, they helped bring about legal recognition for homeschoolers in Michigan. Their story was one of many that led to a key Michigan Supreme Court decision affirming homeschool rights.

🚔 The McDowells — Convicted in North Dakota

In the 1980s, North Dakota required homeschool parents to be certified teachers. Mark and Debbie McDowell were not certified—but they believed it was their God-given right to teach their children at home.

When they refused to comply, they were charged with truancy and convicted. Their story went public and helped catalyze reform. The McDowells’ bold stand became part of the larger fight for parental rights and educational freedom in one of the last states to legalize homeschooling.

🙏 Their Legacy, Our Freedom

These were ordinary families with extraordinary courage. They weren’t trying to start a movement—they were simply following their convictions and doing what they believed was best for their children.

Because of their bravery, we now enjoy the freedom to homeschool without fear. But we must remember that freedom is never free—it is preserved by those willing to stand up and speak out, no matter the cost.

“If we don’t remember the fight, we may not appreciate the freedom.”

✍️ Reflection Prompt for Readers:

Do you take your homeschool freedom for granted? What would you be willing to risk for your children’s future?

 

 

 

 

 

Safe Haven Newsletter June 2025
🏵️🪻🏵️🪻🏵️ Hey Safe Haven Family! 🏵️🪻🏵️🪻🏵️

Last month, I told you I would have a story about “The Power of Asking for Help”. Well, here it is!

Homeschooling with Confidence: The Power of Asking for Help

I used to believe I had to do everything myself—to prove I was strong and capable. At the time, I had several young children and was homeschooling them. The house was a mess, but I never asked for help.

Instead, I just tried harder. I took on even more, spending my summers doing homeschool assessments for other families, all while barely keeping my own kids clean and fed. I was exhausted, juggling far too much and feeling like I was always falling short.

Then one day, a woman came to my house for a homeschool assessment and said something that changed everything. She pointed out that I already had help—right there in my home. My kids! She gently suggested I let them take on some chores and help with the housework.

At first, the idea felt strange. I was of the opinion that I needed to let kids just enjoy their childhood and not be bothered with work. I had never done chores as a child. But I decided to try it. I created a simple chore chart and asked my kids to start helping with daily tasks. To my surprise, my life became so much easier.

That experience taught me something important: I had to acknowledge that I needed help before I could receive it.

If you’re feeling like you have to do it all on your own—as if asking for help means you’re not enough—I want to gently encourage you to think differently. Imagine how much lighter your homeschooling journey could feel with support from someone who truly understands both the beauty and the challenges of this life.

You don’t have to do it all. You don’t have to prove anything. With a little guidance and encouragement, you can homeschool with clarity and confidence.

I’d be honored to walk alongside you as a homeschool life coach—to help you feel secure in your decisions, supported through the hard days, and reminded of just how well you’re doing.

Let’s make this journey easier and more joyful—together.

https://changed-by-love.teachable.com/p/the-basics-of-learning-and-homeschooling

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And now for today’s Limerick:
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I’m writing in other places that you’ll want to check out:

https://open.substack.com/pub/penneydouglas/p/how-to-get-your-kids-to-do-their?r=e35kx&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false

https://penneydouglas.substack.com/

I write mostly homeschooling posts there, but I think you’ll find encouragement there even if you aren’t homeschooling.

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Have you heard of “Grounding”?

It’s really just putting your bare feet on the earth, but the benefits are phenomenal. The Earth is like a giant battery charger. And our bodies are electrical, so they get recharged when we get electrons from the Earth.

“Authors of a 2020 report said they believe grounding can counteract cardiovascular, respiratory, neurodegenerative, and auto-immune conditions, type 2 diabetes, and cancer. According to The Earthing Institute, time connected to the ground can improve sleep, lower inflammation, ease stress, improve blood flow, and boost physical healing, to name a few.” From a WebMD article HERE.

There’s a whole movie about it called “The Earthing Movie”. Earthing is another word for grounding.

This clip does a good job of summing up what the movie teaches us about grounding.

You can watch the whole movie on YouTube HERE.

You can just go outside barefoot to ground or you can get grounding products for inside. There are grounding mats, grounding sheets, grounding patches, grounded socks, grounding yoga mats, and grounding shoes. You can find some of these products HERE or do a search for grounding products to get an idea of what’s available.

Here’s a good video about ways to ground: Robin Perry Braun on YouTube

I have been trying to go outside to ground every day. I don’t make it every day, but that’s my goal. My neighbors think I’m a little strange, but that’s never stopped me from doing anything before (like homeschooling!).

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Here’s a free printable full of ideas for self-care for moms who work so hard to take care of their families and sometimes forget to take care of themselves. *Print it using the landscape setting on your printer.* 😊

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If you would like to book a free 15-minute call with me to talk about curriculum planning for next year or developing a homeschool mindset or lifeschooling or whatever! – go to this link to schedule a Zoom meeting with me https://calendly.com/safehavenhomeschool

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And if you need something fun for Dad for Father’s Day, here you go!

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Well, that’s all for now.

Except…

I hope you were able to check out Danielle’s book about Lifeschooling. Her philosophy is so life-giving and freeing. I want to help her get her book in the hands of as many homeschoolers and even non-homeschoolers as possible.

“Lifeschooling is a how-to manual for homeschoolers desiring a more relaxed approach that challenges the status quo of failed traditional school methods. In this book, you will be encouraged with practical suggestions, not only from Danielle’s own 23 years of homeschooling, but also with stories and experiences from her community of thousands of Lifeschoolers.

You will come away breathing a sigh of relief, knowing the freedom you have in Christ to help your children realize the full potential of their gifts and their life purpose. You will rest in the stability that putting Christ first in your homeschooling can bring.” From the Amazon description. The ebook is available now on Amazon.

The paperback will be available on June 5. I’ll let you know more about that in a few days.

See you next month when we’ll talk about Homeschool Freedom!

Love,

Penney DouglasSafe Haven Homeschooling

My books on Amazon

Curriculum I’ve created with a Charlotte Mason twist plus other conventional types of curriculum

E-course I created – The Basics of Learning and Homeschooling

Coaching Course I created – Also called The Basics of Learning and Homeschooling – I take you through the course and do a coaching call with you each month

My shop for homeschool merch, t-shirts, mugs, notebooks, phone covers, and much more!

linktr.ee/penneydouglas – All the places you can find me!

Changed By Love – My original Blog about Homeschooling, Family, Faith, and Alternative News

My YouTube Channel – Safe Haven Homeschooling Channel – Homeschool Encouragement for Newbies and Burnt-out veterans, Family projects, Relationship Building, and Interviews with Homeschool Experts
Copyright © 2025 Safe Haven Homeschooling, All rights reserved.

Homeschool Pioneers: Zan Tyler, A Homeschool Pioneer Who Fought for Freedom

🪴 Zan Tyler: A Homeschool Pioneer Who Fought for Freedom

When homeschooling wasn’t legal, she didn’t back down. She stood up—for her children and for yours.

When Homeschooling Wasn’t Free

Today, we take it for granted that parents can educate their children at home. But that freedom wasn’t always guaranteed. In the early 1980s, homeschooling was illegal in many states, and parents risked jail time just for keeping their children home.

One of those brave parents was Zan Tyler.

Threatened With Jail for Homeschooling

In 1984, Zan and her husband Joe decided to homeschool their son in South Carolina. What followed was a nightmare.

“The state superintendent of education told me that if I didn’t put my son in school immediately, he would drag me into court and have me put in jail for truancy.”
 —Zan Tyler

She was told she could be fined $1,000 per day and sentenced to 30 days in jail for every day she kept her son home. But Zan didn’t give in.

Standing Firm in Faith

Zan believed God had called her to homeschool—and that conviction gave her the courage to stand strong in the face of fear.

“I knew in my heart that homeschooling was what God wanted for our family. That gave me the strength to stand when everything in me wanted to run.”

She spent the next year battling the state in court while continuing to teach her children at home. It wasn’t easy. But she saw that this fight was bigger than just her family.

“This was about freedom. This was about parents’ rights to direct the education of their children.”

Changing the Law, Changing the Future

Zan worked with attorneys and lawmakers to form the South Carolina Association of Independent Home Schools (SCAIHS), which gave homeschoolers structure, support, and legal protection.

Her tireless work helped shift state policies and made homeschooling legal in South Carolina—and her influence rippled across the country.

“We saw miracle after miracle. God opened doors, softened hearts, and brought people together.”

A Voice for Homeschool Families

Zan’s journey didn’t stop in South Carolina. She became a national advocate, writing books, speaking at conferences, and encouraging parents through her podcast and interviews.

“I want moms to know they don’t have to be perfect. They just have to be faithful. God will fill in the gaps.”

Her legacy is one of courage, faith, and unshakable trust in God’s call.

We Stand on Her Shoulders

Because of pioneers like Zan Tyler, homeschooling is now legal in all 50 states. Thousands of families are walking in freedom because one mom refused to be silenced.

Let’s not forget the cost of that freedom—or the faith it took to win it.

📌 Want to Learn More About Zan?

  • Listen to The Zan Tyler Podcast

  • Read her book: 7 Tools for Cultivating Your Child’s Potential

  • Visit ZanTyler.com

💬 What About You?
 Have you ever had to stand firm in your conviction to homeschool? Leave a comment below—I’d love to hear your story.

With love and hope,
 Penney Douglas
 Founder, Safe Haven Homeschool

🕊️ Encouraging homeschool moms with faith, freedom, and joy

The Beautiful Freedom of Homeschooling

Free ai generated mother son illustration

The Beautiful Freedom of Homeschooling

One of the most beautiful gifts of homeschooling is freedom—and it shows up in so many life-giving ways.

  • Freedom to set your own schedule

  • Freedom to choose curriculum—or create your own

  • Freedom to decide what your children learn and don’t learn

  • Freedom to live where you want (no need to stress about “good school districts”)

  • Freedom from comparison and competition

  • Freedom from worrying about what’s happening to your kids while they’re away from you

  • Freedom to choose their friends and influences

  • Freedom from bullying

  • Freedom to take field trips whenever you want—for as long as you want

In our home, we embraced that freedom. We were a family of night owls, and we were so thankful we didn’t have to rush out the door early every morning. We could stay up late reading, talking, and enjoying one another. If we had a commitment, we got up and went, but we weren’t ruled by a school bell.

One evening, my husband came home late from work, and instead of missing out, he joined us for Poetry Teatime. He sat down holding our guinea pig, picked a poem to read aloud, and munched on snacks with the rest of us. It was 9 o’clock at night, and it was absolutely perfect. Learning wasn’t limited to certain hours. Life and learning happened together, all the time.

My oldest son, Shawn, once told me at age 15 that he wanted to spend his year studying the Bible. I was surprised—but thrilled. I asked him to also keep up with a bit of math and write about what he was learning. He agreed, and he dove deep. He filled notebooks with Bible study notes, read The Divine Comedy, listened to audiobooks like Sherlock Holmes and G. K. Chesterton, and became a true thinker. Today, he teaches a young adult Bible study at his church and has even preached sermons.

My son Morgan once read King Alfred’s English, followed by The White Horse King: The Life of Alfred the Great. He was captivated and read it twice in one week! That lit a spark in him for Medieval history. Since then, he’s read more classics than I have—The Scarlet Letter, A Tale of Two Cities, the entire Miss Marple series, and Hamlet.

Today, he works at a restaurant where his managers constantly praise his intelligence, creativity, and work ethic. He sees problems and solves them. He’s unafraid to jump in and take initiative. And he carries himself with a confidence that’s rare—because he was never boxed in by judgmental peers or discouraged by teachers who didn’t understand him.

That’s another gift of homeschool freedom: the freedom to fail—without shame. My kids knew it was okay to make mistakes. They were never mocked or compared. So they grew brave. They tried new things. And they discovered what they were truly capable of.

We read so many good books together. We pursued their interests, explored new ideas, and went on adventures. We shared the same friends. They learned life skills I never thought to “teach.” And now that they have homes of their own, I see the fruit of those years—confidence, wisdom, creativity, and courage.

They didn’t spend their days stuck inside doing pages of busywork. They experienced the world, discovered who they are, and learned to love freedom.

And I’m so thankful I gave them that.

Safe Haven Newsletter for April
🌸🐝🌸 Happy Spring, Safe Haven Family! 🌸🐝🌸
In last month’s newsletter I promised that I would share a powerful experience that showed me learning is always at work. Even when we’re not actively teaching a skill like reading, our kids’ brains are constantly processing, connecting, and building on prior knowledge. Learning doesn’t pause—it unfolds in the background, shaping understanding and mastery in ways we might not even notice. Here’s that story:
Patrick was my elusive student. No matter how hard I tried, I could never pin him down for homeschooling. He was always outside—riding his bike, running, climbing, and exploring. When I did manage to sit him down, he had no interest in workbooks. The only exception was his Phonics book, Explode the Code. He liked the cover illustration of “Big Tex” and would do a page without too much fuss—when I could catch him. I’m pretty sure he was hiding from me.
Anna, on the other hand, worked steadily through her Phonics book with little resistance. She moved through it at a good pace, and eventually, both she and Patrick finished their Phonics books around the same time.
Expecting them to be ready to read, I introduced the Bob Books. They did okay at first, but when we moved to the next level readers, neither of them could read them. I was stunned. My approach had worked for my first two kids, but not for Patrick and Anna.
Then all of the drama of losing our house and living with others happened. Homeschooling was put on pause for months because of the chaos in our lives. We left Ohio and went to Arizona, then to Kansas City, and finally “settled” there in Kansas City after being without a place of our own for 10 months. We had lots of adventures and new experiences during those months but no time for bookwork or anything like that.
A couple of months later, after I got my bearings, I pulled out the beginning readers again for Patrick and Anna. This time, they could read them with ease. Somehow they had both learned to read during that crazy hectic time in our lives. It was not through direct instruction, that’s for sure. I think their brains developed enough, and the skills necessary to read fell in place during  that time.
It was a humbling reminder: learning doesn’t always follow a straight path. Sometimes, kids just need time for things to click.
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I’m sending this newsletter a few days early so you can catch this flash sale at Crafty Classroom. It only lasts until March 30. They’re giving us:
10% off $50
15% off $75
20% off $100
25% off $200
This is one of my favorite homeschool curriculum providers, so I wanted to make you aware of this before it’s too late!
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Subscribe to Your Homeschool Companion on Substack! My friend Elisabeth, the heart behind Your Homeschool Companion, has been my mentee for years, and now we’re teaming up on TikTok and Substack to encourage and support homeschool moms—especially those who feel unqualified to teach their own children.
Our message is simple: true learning is a lifestyle, not just a part of the day.
We share practical tips, personal stories, and answers to common questions, all to help moms feel confident and empowered in their homeschooling journey.
Don’t forget to subscribe to my Substack, too—HERE!
Someday I’ll have a farm.
And these are the kinds of animals I’ll have.
I’m sure you’ll all want to come to visit my mini farm of miniature animals.
I want to have a learning and creative arts center that will be a place for homeschoolers to bring their children for enrichment and to supplement their homeschool curriculum.
In one part of the Learning center, we will have a big open area filled with learning stations. They will include hands-on activities and manipulatives to encourage discovery and experimentation. This area is intended for ages 4-8.
Another part of the center will consist of rooms for classes for art, music, and technical skills. Children ages 5-18 will be able to take these classes.
There will be a section for some classrooms for the older children (ages 6-14) who are homeschooled whose parents want more formal instruction using the Charlotte Mason method.
A separate part of The Learning Center will be a Barn where we will do hippotherapy with several horses.
What is Hippotherapy?
The term hippotherapy refers to how occupational therapy, physical therapy and speech-language pathology professionals use evidence-based practice and clinical reasoning in the purposeful manipulation of equine movement as a therapy tool to engage sensory, neuromotor and cognitive systems to promote functional outcomes.
We will also have other small farm animals for a Petting Zoo. We will have some miniature animals like goats, sheep, and horses. We will have chickens and rabbits. The children will have the opportunity to interact with the animals and help feed them and otherwise care for them.
Another area of The Learning Center will be The Greenhouse. We will have a large greenhouse where we will grow vegetables and flowers. The children will learn how to grow plants and will be able to take some produce home with them for their families. BC Greenhouse Builders Limited builds custom greenhouses that are built to last in any climate.
We will sell some of the produce and eggs to the community, too.
We will have a butterfly house too. The Butterfly House will be open to the public. We will use it as an educational facility. We will encourage others to plant butterfly gardens to increase the populations of endangered butterflies.
What dreams do you have?
Start making some plans. If you could do anything you wanted to do – if money were no object – what would you do? Would you be a humanitarian? Would you travel? Would you start a school? Would you feed the poor?
What would you do for your family, for your kids?
https://penneydouglas.substack.com/i/159069639/im-sure-youll-all-want-to-come-to-visit-my-mini-farm-of-miniature-animals
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Next month, I’ll share a story with you about the importance of finding out your child’s learning style and preference in books.
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Thank you for sharing this time with me. I pray that it has been a blessing to you.
As always, I would love to hear from you!
Let me know how I can pray and what’s going on in your life. If anything here has helped you in your homeschooling or in your life, please share with me so I can rejoice with you.
I would love to share your stories in this newsletter if you have something that would encourage others in homeschooling, their spiritual life, or just life in general. Hit reply, and tell me what’s on your heart.
Grace and Peace,
Penney Douglas, B. S. in Elem. Ed.
Safe Haven Homeschooling
My books on Amazon
Curriculum I’ve created with a Charlotte Mason twist plus other conventional types of curriculum
E-course I created – The Basics of Learning and Homeschooling
Coaching Course I created – Also called The Basics of Learning and Homeschooling – I take you through the course and do a coaching call with you each month
My shop for homeschool merch, t-shirts, mugs, notebooks, phone covers, and much more!
linktr.ee/penneydouglas – All the places you can find me!
Changed By Love – My original Blog about Homeschooling, Family, Faith, and Alternative News
My YouTube Channel – Safe Haven Homeschooling Channel – Homeschool Encouragement for Newbies and Burnt-out veterans, Family projects, Relationship Building, and Interviews with Homeschool Experts