Homeschooling as a social movement

Since I have been praying that God will increase the next generation of homeschoolers, I was struck by what Vishal Mangalwadi writes in his book Truth and Transformation about social movements. (He says he would like to encourage the gospel to move forward as a social movement.)

I thought: "How can we use Mangalwadi's ideas to help push the homeschooling movement forward?"

I wrote up the following summary to some of my coworkers at Sonlight--and to my husband, John.

John urged me to post it here on my blog. "Get your readers' input!"

So here is my summary of Mangalwadi's insights as I have just begun to meditate on and interpret them for the homeschooling movement.

1. Vision--Mangalwadi says, "(T)his vision must be spelled out in imaginative language through a wide range of media, including speech, writing, the arts, and the formation of new institutions." How do we mold vision for homeschooling? I think in the past too much of the "vision" has been simply to "protect our family from the evils of society." Can we change that perception to something like: unified families, strong, empowered children, purposeful lives, change the world...?
    
2. Values--"the core convictions its members cherish above all else" I wonder if we can incorporate some of the ideas Mangalvwadi's lists--Centered in Christ, Committed to unity, Loving others, Seeking excellence. --Is this something that we can find more Christian homeschoolers to tweak and embrace?
    
3. Vernacular--"a vocabulary of terms, ideas, mottoes, and catchphrases that are broadly understood and embraced and used consistently throughout the movement to provide integrity, direction, and unity." I'm thinking that such terms could include phonics, unit study, literature, support groups....
    
4. Volunteers--people "committed to the project by conviction of mind, heart, and conscience, as well as devotion of life." According to Mangalwadi, "social movements require six kinds of volunteers:
    
   • Visionaries--people who define and articulate the vision in clear and compelling terms.
      
   • Vocalizers--men and women who communicate the vision to volunteers, public and others (people who speak at conventions, on the web?).
      
   • Vanguard--leaders in the field who translate the vision into action (homeschool companies?).
      
   • Voles--men and women "on the ground" who carry the work through to realizing the vision (the moms who teach?).
      
   • Vestry--organizers, tabulators, evaluators, and accountants.
      
   • Versifiers--those who celebrate the achievements of the volunteers and the progress of the movement." (PR people?)
     
     How can we encourage the various roles?
5. Vehicles--"entities by which the movement expresses its convictions, mobilizes and resources its volunteers, sustains and guides its energy, advances its progress, communicates its vision, and engages the world on the ground" (homeschool companies, blogs...).
    
6. Validation--"A social movement, to succeed, must be able to demonstrate progress." "These results must be intentionally sought, assiduously assessed, and faithfully celebrated at every level of the movement and to the public at large." Have we done a good enough job showing how effective homeschooling is? How can we do this more effectively?

So. What do you think? Any insights or ideas?

What is your role?