What Are “THEA” and “CSTHEA” and
Why Should I Join?
A number of inquiries have been received about our organization by both new and veteran homeschoolers. I hope the following discussion will address those inquiries. CSTHEA (Chattanooga/Southeast Tennessee Home Education Association) is the local chapter of the state homeschooling association THEA (Tennessee Home Education Association).
CSTHEA serves families in the southeastern corner of Tennessee, the northernwestern part of Georgia and the northeastern part of Alabama. CSTHEA serves the following southeast Tennessee counties: Bledsoe, Bradley, Grundy, Hamilton, Marion, Polk, Rhea, Sequatchie, Van Buren, and Warren as well as Northwest Georgia and Northeast Alabama.
We are a volunteer Christian organization seeking to serve homeschooling families by providing support, encouragement, and assistance; advance the cause of home education in the state of Tennessee; and safeguard and promote the general right of parental authority in education.
The CSTHEA Board consists of a group of Christians who serve as “support group representatives,” officers, and committee coordinators. They volunteer their time and energy to help provide area–wide activities, services, and the Esprít newsletter for our fellow home educators.
Neither CSTHEA nor THEA, however, control the activities of local support groups or individual homeschooling families.
CSTHEA is supported primarily by annual activities such as its curriculum fair.
THEA was formed in 1984 for the purpose of preserving and defending the rights of parents to direct the education of their children and to provide a state–wide network of support, encouragement, and assistance to regional chapters, local support groups and to home schooling families.
THEA accomplishes these goals by means of a unified, organized network of volunteer home schooling parents and others supportive of parental rights.
By dividing the state into several geographical areas and having the membership elect Area Coordinators, we have developed a unified state voice while building strong support for home educators at the local and chapter levels.
THEA maintains careful scrutiny over the Tennessee legislative and judicial arenas, writes and sponsors home education legislation, coordinates lobbying efforts, and hosts an annual legislative reception with displays from all over the state.
At present the legislative mission of THEA is to maintain pressure on the Tennessee Legislature to reduce the legal and administrative restrictions on homeschooling. Working with our Church–Related School allies, THEA is committed to building upon the 1994 legislative changes that finally permitted homeschooling in grades 9–12 without a baccalaureate degree.
Furthermore, THEA will be working with national and state organizations to help block federal legislation that is attempting to infringe upon the rights of homeschooling parents.
THEA is supported exclusively by your annual $10.00 membership dues.
- Please be aware that you are not a member of CSTHEA. You cannot “join” CSTHEA.
- You join THEA. There is no “separate” membership.
- If you have not paid your $10.00 membership fee to THEA, you are neither a member of THEA nor CSTHEA.
- CSTHEA does have a separate subscription fee for the Esprít newsletter. However, mere subscription to the Esprít does not make you a member of CSTHEA or THEA.
Just so there is no misunderstanding—without THEA…
- Home education in Tennessee, in its present form, would probably have remained illegal.
- Even if some type of home education were legal, you would likely have parent/teacher “certification,” in–home inspections by Department of Education personnel, mandatory annual course–specific testing, state–issued mandatory curriculum requirements, etc. All of these exist in many other states.
- There would be no unified voice for “Mom and Pop” homeschoolers and little, if any, monitoring of legislation affecting home education.
- There would be no area–wide curriculum fair, used book sale, newsletter, high school graduation, area–wide field trips, P.E. classes, mock trial team…get the point?
- Last, but perhaps not least, there would be no liability insurance to provide protection to you and your family from legal action in the event of an accident while engaged in a THEA/CSTHEA sponsored, home education related, activity. THEA provides liability insurance coverage. If you are not a member of THEA, you are exposed.
God has placed the responsibility for the education of your children ultimately upon you.
“Train up a child in the way he should go, and, when he is old, he will not depart from it.” (Prov. 22:6)
Such an education encompasses academic, social, moral, spiritual, and physical training consistent with your faith.
May God bless you as you carry out this important task. Please pray regularly for your state and local homeschool organizations and for your fellow home school families.
Finally, if you have not already done so, join THEA. A membership form may be found on the CSTHEA Website or on the back of a newsletter.
Jeff Atherton, CSTHEA Vice-President
