History buff shares his passion with home-schooled children Published April 30, 2008 By Steve Pivnick 81st Medical Group Public Affairs KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, MISS. -- Col. Chet Roshetko is a history buff. The 81st Inpatient Operations Squadron commander enjoys it so much he shares it with a dozen home-schooled students involved in the Biloxi-area Home Educated and Raised to Serve Program every Tuesday at the First Baptist Church. It's an expression of his firm belief in "renewing Keesler's role in the community," one of 81st Training Wing Commander Col. Greg Touhill's goals. Colonel Roshetko's current class consists of young people in grades 6-12, all of whom are home-schooled. He conducts the hour-long "home-school enrichment" for nine-week periods. "The class doesn't count for a grade," explained the colonel, whose family has been home schooling since 1998. "But it enhances their home education. "I want the kids to visualize America's future by understanding America's present. I guide them to that understanding by reviewing the 'timeline' of America. We learn how laws, economics, politics, technology, personalities and foreign relations interact to impact history." Colonel Roshetko started the course by sharing how the Mayflower Compact influenced the Constitution and how the Pilgrims' goals remain the basic tenet of American values. With this premise, the kids pick the subjects of weeks two-eight. Their interests revolve primarily around the major wars and presidential assassinations, but the colonel also teaches how such events are about much more than isolated battles or murders. "The kids actually know a lot of individual facts, but they never tie it all together," he explained. "I spend most of the hour showing them how to connect events on a timeline. We also constantly refer to U.S. and world maps so they can relate history to specific locations." HEARTS director Adita Harrell said there are currently 12-15 different classes with a total of 80 children, plus parents, involved in the home- school program. "In addition, we teach the children how to serve the community. They participate in community service after class," she said. "Currently, they visit the FEMA park on Popps Ferry Road where they spend about 40 minutes interacting with the families, playing with the children and reading them Bible stories." HEARTS began four years ago at Mrs. Harrell's Biloxi home with a couple classes and a few families. It has grown far beyond her original expectations. Students range from toddlers to 12th grade. "Different parents volunteer to teach different subjects," she said. For more information, e-mail Mrs. Harrell, aditah@bellsouth.net.