The familiar sounds of slamming lockers and children running through halls are missing from this school. Instead of ringing bells, these students are summoned to class by the sound of their mother's voice calling from the kitchen that it is time for school.
The four reluctant children pull themselves away from the television and take their seats at the dining room table.
Andrea Replogle, mother and teacher, serves breakfast and pulls out her Bible. School always starts with a Bible reading in the Replogle house.
Andrea Replogle reads aloud to the children and asks them questions as she goes. The children, like typical students, are preoccupied with anything but their lesson and only answer her questions on occasion.
When the reading is over, John Replogle, 2, is excused from the table, but Sarah Replogle, 8; Rachel Replogle, 6; and David Replogle, 4; stay behind. It is time for the day's lessons.
This is the beginning of a typical day in the Replogle's house, a family that chooses to home school their children.
Andrea Replogle, a graduate from Illinois University, first became interested in home schooling when she researched it in college for her degree in high school education.
"There are a lot of misconceptions about home schooling," Replogle says.
One common misconception, she points out, is that home-schooled children do not get the socialization that children in public schools get. However, she says that her children are involved in so many things that they had to cut back this year.
"Muncie is a great place to home school," Replogle says. "There's Ball State, the Muncie Children's Museum, and the Minnetrista Cultural center -- there's so much to do here."
To Andrea Replogle and her husband, Joel Replogle, the advantages of home schooling their children far outweigh the disadvantages. Being able to specialize lessons and meet the different learning needs of their children was important to them, in addition to learning in an environment where competition is minimized and where Christian values can be taught.
"It's very rewarding to teach a child to read," she says. "It opens up a whole new world to the child. I want to do that."
The Replogle's also want to be as involved in their children's lives as possible, and home schooling allows them to do so.
"I was a teacher, and in younger grades children can form sort of wolf-pack like mentalities," Replogle says. "We're trying to create well rounded children with Christian values."
Having both come form public schools, the Replogle's do know that they cannot offer all of the social advantages that public schools can provide.
"I'm not negative of public schools, but I do think that society expects too much of the public school system, when ultimately some things are the responsibility of the parents," she says.
That is why they take it one year at a time. When they feel their children are ready, they will send them to public school.
"I want my children to be the ones that can influence, instead of being the ones influenced."
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