The History
There was a time when there was no
basketball at co-op. As a matter of fact, there were no classes for students
beyond the age of 11. Older siblings sometimes came to co-op, but they
simply waited around until co-op was over -- maybe assisting in a class,
maybe taking an arts and crafts class, but mostly just hanging around until
co-op was over. That was when co-op met at the First Baptist
Church in Martindale. Then co-op moved to Hill
Country Christian School in San Marcos, and they had a gym! That's when it all
started.
Co-op met in the gym. Opening was held in the gym, and classes were held in
the gym. Not entirely ideal, but it was a place to meet. The following year
we were allowed to use some of the classrooms, and the gym was available
for PE classes. My son loved basketball, and basketball was quickly
suggested for one of the PE classes. About that time he became too old for
the community basketball program, and I remember the quiet desperation in
his eyes along with silent tears as he told his dad he wanted to play
basketball. A parent feels his child's dreams. Can you find enough boys who
want to play? And the dream took form.
Stephen made his list, and his excitement empowered his work as he called
every homeschooled boy he could think of. And you
know what? Every one of them wanted to play. A team was born.
The first year we played maybe three games. We had inexpensive t-shirts for
jerseys. Boys began to bring their mothers to co-op instead of the other
way around. Older children no longer stayed at home or waited around until
co-op was over. We began an upper division for older students, and we had writing
classes, biology, Spanish, speech, physics, and whatever else caring moms
created for their kids. And the basketball class grew into a program!
Almost everyone wanted to take basketball. We developed basketball classes
for younger students, and they filled up and waiting lists were created. By
now we had moved to the First Baptist
Church, and the gym was busy all three periods,
sometimes with two basketball classes using only half court. It was getting
crowded, and there was no room for other PE classes. Then San Marcos built the Activity Center, and a group of three moms looked into using that facility for
basketball so we could free up the gym for other classes. The co-op board
agreed to help with the cost since we were moving in order to allow room
for the younger kids to have PE. The people at the Center were very
cooperative and generous, and the price they gave us was affordable!
So that's how we got where we are today. Along the way we won trophies for
State and National competition. We created a girls team so our daughters
didn't have to play on their brothers team. We
made close friends and learned to work together, and that wasn't just just the kids, either. Parents were there all along the
way. We worked together to build the program, we cheered the kids when they
were successful and hurt with them when they lost. We learned how to
schedule games and keep score and coach. Our kids grew and we grew with
them.
Today our kids share a bond that is wonderful to see. Two nights ago I
watched them come together to play basketball with friends at Hill Country
Christian School. There were current team members and alumni, and they
worked together beautifully. It was great. They were probably the best
games I've ever seen them play because of the beauty of that bond of
friendship -- and because I've grown to love each of them as I watched them
grow up on and around a basketball court.
There are a number of reasons to have a co-op; there are a number of ways
that coming together benefits both us and our children. One very obvious
reason is for the social contact. People like being with other people; we
like having friends. The kids are drawn to co-op, desiring to be with their
friends. That's fine with moms, but we like to add the benefit of classes
to that arrangement. The classes are not just an excuse to get together;
they really accomplish something, particularly as the student gets older.
Moms get excited about classes for their kids; they want them to have all
those learning opportunities. They understand all the needs and uses for
education. Co-op is not the only way to accomplish this, but it is a big
help. At co-op's best, it produces classes that even become programs --
like basketball.
Co-op has grown up. It is not just a gathering of young children doing fun
things and making friends. It is that and more. As our children grow with
co-op, we see the future taking form. We see a basketball program that
produces sound, lasting Christian friendships. One graduate plays
basketball at a Christian college, another runs track at West Point. We see a science program that provided the
basics for one student to attend Texas A&M as an elite medical student.
The accomplishments of co-op alumni tell us we are doing something right.
If your child has dream, go to work on it with him. You never can tell what
will come from it and what might be accomplished. Dreams can be realized.
And the dream of one individual can bless the lives of many others.
Vanita Swift
September, 2001
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