Regardless, the scariest aspect about home-schooling, in my mind, is that 'No single organization tracks the numbers of homeschoolers nationwide, but using state-by-state data, the National Home Education Research Institute estimates that 1.3 million to 1.7 million students were educated at home last year...'
Why does the author think homeschoolers need to be tracked? We aren't criminals, we aren't doing anything wrong and we certainly don't deserve to have our privacy invaded merely because we choose not to send our children to public schools.
He then goes on to ask how parents could possible teach their children everything? Apparently it has never occurred to him that homeschoolers join together with other parents in co-ops in order to take advantage of each parents area of expertise, we hire tutors, we take advantage of online courses, etc. Homeschoolers do not have to know everything we merely have to be resourceful enough to find someone to "teach" the subjects we are weak in.
He also worries that children won't be taught the "right" things. I am appalled by the number of people that think the government should be the ones to decide what children are taught. As a parent it is my responsibility to instill my values and beliefs in my children, other parents have the right to teach their values and beliefs to their children. No one has the right to decide that a parents values and beliefs aren't "good enough" to pass along to their children.
Carlo also expresses the naive belief that public school parents who are unhappy with the academic education their children are receiving could just ADD to their children's education, instead of homeschooling them. Pray tell when? My children were in public school for awhile. I know from personal experience that there isn't any free time during the school year to ADD to your child's education. When they aren't in school being indoctrinated with the local communities dogma they are loaded down with homework, which usually has no educational value but must be done for your child to get a passing grade. The public school my children attended even sent work that they didn't have time to cover during the regular school year home with them, for them to do over the summer, with their parents help.
I can only speak for the homeschoolers I know. But amongst our group the homeschoolers are all normal kids that fit in well with their public school peers. We are so normal in fact that it lead to an interesting discussion with one soccer mom who unaware that I homeschool approached a group of moms I was talking with ranting about homeschoolers. She was very embarrassed when I calmly stated that I homeschooled my kids but she was utterly flabbergasted when I told her three other boys on the soccer team were homeschooled. When I challenged her to pick them out she couldn't because, "they were so normal". I imagine that all the people that claim that the only homeschoolers they know are "weird" don't realize that they do know normal homeschoolers, after all we don't wear signs saying we homeschool.
Also the parents in my group intend for their children to go to college. As a parent who has successfully homeschooled a child into college I am often asked for advice. Since my eldest knew he wanted to major in computer science and what colleges he was interested in attending we visited their websites to find out their admission requirements. I then tailored his course work to their requirements. Since he scored a 28 on the ACT at 15 he was eligible for early admission to college and they had no problem accepting the transcripts I had made. He started college at 16 and is having a wonderful time. He has joined Phi Theta Kappa, made the Vice President's List and has tons of friends. Not only does he attend college full time but he works part time at a fast food place.
I also find it amusing that many people assume that all homeschoolers are white heterosexual Fundamentalist Christians nothing could be further from the truth. I know Atheist, Pagan, Agnostic & Free-thinking homeschoolers. I know single moms who homeschool, gay couples that homeschool and African-Americans who homeschool. Homeschooling is not restricted to white heterosexual Christian Fundamentalist couples.
More Post on homeschooling
Ten Questions About Homeschooling at FamilyEducation.com
Homeschools Run By Caring Parents at Home~Schoolers Rule
Sensationalism & Dr. Phil at Home~Schoolers Rule
All Homeschoolers are Not Christians & All Christians Are Not Homeschoolers at Home~Schoolers Rule
Social Skills & Homeschooling: Myths & Facts at FamilyEducation.com
Deep Thoughts at Alasandra
Who Decides Part II at Deep Thoughts
Hello, We don't all have big families at The Homeschool Cafe
Homeschool Quandry at The Homeschool Cafe
The Other S Word at The Homeschool Cafe
8 comments:
Hi Alasandra,
I've addressed your post in the comments section of my blog. I'm a bit concerned with your misrepresentations of my position. If I've given you the wrong impression, I apologize, but I NEVER advocated banning of home-schooling nor specific regulation (unless such regulation is needed, which I never implied that it was).
I argued that we should have proper statistics on home-schooled children (this should apply to public-school children as well). If you have a problem with that, comment ahead... please don't put words in my mouth.
It is amazing to me that so many can judge without knowing any of the facts. These people needs to read, "Kill A Mockingbird." These people needs to walk in the skins of others before they make a judgment.
Hi Carlo, I should have worded my post better. Those calling for the banning or regulating of homeschooling were commenting on the Creationist Science Fair Post.
I am not sure what you mean by having the proper statistics on home-schooled children.
There are many different methods of homeschooling, homeschooling families are very diverse so it would be impossible to compare one homeschool family to another much less compare homeschoolers to public school students it would be like comparing apples, kiwis and oranges.
I also do not understand why you think you need or are entitled to statistics on homeschoolers. Do you think you are entitled to statistics on what pediatrician parents use or statistics on what parents feed their children, allow them to watch on TV etc.
Brandon, whats really irritating is a lot of these people who are bashing homeschooling don't even have kids.
Hi
What college did your son go to? (Or is he in now, I guess he's still there, right)? and how is he liking it?
Was the transition from a class size of essentially zero (because home schooling does not really have classes) to college easier or harder than a similar transition from grade school to a big scary hight school would have been (because he was older)?
Hi Greg, He is currently attending Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College and is in his Sophomore year. Since he started at 16 this was ideal as it allowed him to live at home and drive to the college which is about 30 minutes away. He got a full scholarship based on his ACT scores which was wonderful.
For him the transition was easy. I didn't say easier because there is no way for me to compare it.
In the public school system no matter if it's grade school or high school you have so many students who don't want to be there and disrupt the class. In college all the students want to be there. The course work is challenging and interesting to him, so he loves it.
He will be transferring to the University of South Alabama in the fall (he'll be 18 and in his Junior year of college). He is looking forward to next year as he will be taking more computer classes, which he really enjoys.
Alasandra,
Great post. I too find it irritating that alot of the people who are claiming that homeschoolers need to be "moderated" are without kids themselves.
I do think it would be nice to see some statistics on homeschoolers. We all know that homeschooled kids shine and it would be great to have the numbers to prove it. However, I'm certainly not for having my day invaded by blind government!
I am a secular homeschooling parent and am sick to death of homeschoolers being associated with the Christian religion. Homeschoolers come in all shapes and sizes and shouldn't be judged by only one set of values.
There is probably alot more to say about this topic and I will no doubt blog about it on my own page HOWEVER the Creationist Science Fair is akin to a crime in my opinion and that bullcrap needs to stop. Call it what you will, but it is not SCIENCE!
As a Liberal, pagan, unmarried homeschooler thank you. So often when I say the word homeschool everyone assumes that I must be a conservative Christian who refuses to teach science. Nothing could be further from the truth.
And I also do not understand why homeschoolers need to be kept track of so that some could have "proper statistics".
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