NEWS RELEASE
Death of Homeschooling Pioneer Dr. Raymond S. Moore
Dr. Raymond S. Moore , author of Better Late than Early, the book that launched the modern homeschooling movement in the United States, passed away on July 13, 2007, at the age of 91.
Moore's book grew out of an article first published in Harper's in 1972, at the time when California was considering a law to make school compulsory for children as young as 2 years, 9 months. The article was
republished by Reader's Digest where it was so popular, the editors requested a book. With his wife Dorothy (deceased) he wrote many books on education and other subjects.
His educational career began as a teacher, principal and superintendent of California public schools. During World War II he served on General MacArthur's staff. After completing his PhD in Education at the
University of Southern California, he held the positions of academic dean and president of numerous Seventh-day Colleges in the United States, Japan, and the Philippines. The United States Office of Education then invited him to be a higher education program officer.
But it was the research that he compiled about the effects of schooling on young children that steered his career away from higher education and into homeschooling. He and his wife Dorothy spent years working with legislatures and courts to establish legal precedents for parents desiring to homeschool their children. Dr. Moore was the world's foremost expert witness in homeschooling appearing in courts as far away as South Africa, West Germany, Great Britain, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand, as well as Canada and the United States. The Moores were strong believers in the educational principles of head, heart, and hand laid out by Seventh-day Adventist Pioneer Ellen G. White. This philosophy of balancing
service, work, and study became known as the Moore Formula in homeschooling circles.
He is survived by his wife Bernice Reid Moore, brother Charles and two sisters Loraine Webster and Helena Reid; son Dennis Moore; daughter Kathie Moore Kordenbrock, her husband Bruce and three sons; daughter Mari Tokizaki Lim, her husband Paul and two children; and numerous other "chosen" children.
Two memorial services are planned in celebration of his life:
August 18, 2007, 4:00 p.m.
Central Seventh-day Adventist Church - 6045 Camellia Avenue, Sacramento, CA 95819, Phone: (916) 457-6511
August 25, 2007, 4:00 p.m.
Vancouver Seventh-day Adventist Church - 9711 NE St. John's Road, Vancouver, WA 98665, Phone: 360-696-2511
In lieu of flowers the family suggests donations to the Raymond S. & Dorothy N. Moore Memorial Scholarship Fund at Weimar Institute, Weimar, CA 95736.
Contact information: Kathie Moore Kordenbrock, email: kkordenbrock@gmail.com"kkordenbrock@gmail.com
Marilyn's comment: Please keep the Moore family in your prayers. While I part ways with Dr. Moore's theology, I am indebted to him and his lovely former wife, Dorothy, for their far-reaching vision that parents can be effective teachers of their children. Dr. Moore's book, Better Late Than Early, was the motivation for our family to homeschool in 1981. It was a delight to meet and visit with him on several occasions, and listening to him as an expert witness in court caused me to realize that homeschoolers could win the battle for parental rights to educate our children. His kind and encouraging manner gave us courage to pursue homeschooling with a whole heart. Thank you, Dr. Moore, for the legacy you leave of a revival in education and a renewal of families through home education.
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