Home-Schooling
14 Mar
Home-Schooling
Recently, a judge in Raleigh, N.C. ordered three kids who were being home-schooled to attend public school instead. The issue arose in a divorce proceeding where the father wanted the kids to go to public school, and the mother wanted to continue home-schooling her children. I have not had the opportunity to read the case itself, but if you’re interested in reading more, click here.
Apparently the problem was that the kids were receiving a creationist focused education when it came to science. However, the kids were also testing two years above their grade level. So that begs the question, why were they forced to go to public school? I don’t believe in creationism, but it does seem to me that no matter what they are learning, if they are testing two years above their grade level, then home-schooling seems to be working out.
My greater concern, though, is: when is it okay to home-school? The lesson here is that if a judge disagrees with the curriculum, then he can order the kids to public school. Not enough math? Too much math? Not enough structure? Not reading the right books? Cases like these can be slippery slopes.
What do you think? Did the judge make the right decision? Is it okay for parents to home-school their children?
My only problem with home schooling is that I feel it takes away from a child’s need to socialize. Social development is a big part of life, and while I know some home schooled kids who have good social development, generally it detracts from socialization with kids your own age. I mean, I’m beyond the level of pretty much every high school curriculum and I could easily graduate early or be home schooled, but I think there’s something to making friends and growing up with people outside of your family. The thing about life is that you spend more time out of your home than you do in, and I think it’s good to get kids accustomed to that.
That’s just my two cents. ^_^ More power to you if you’re not socially inept and you’re home schooled.
Shifting gears for a minute, test scores mean nothing. It all depends on how the kid’s feeling that day and how difficult the test is. Just because a test score is good doesn’t mean the kid’s a genius. And frankly, I don’t think even home schools should teach just creationism — I was taught both in high school biology, my parents told me what they wanted me to believe, and I decided for myself which to believe. That’s the kind of exposure kids need, but usually, public schools and home schools teach just one and completely ignore the other. So in that regard, it’s all pretty much the same.
But the problem with home schooling in a divorced family is that if custody is split, things get confusing. I can’t be home schooled because I live in a different place every other week. And if it’s the same-ish case for them, then home schooling wouldn’t work anyway.
IN response to concerns about the curriculum, even home schooled kids have to take the same SAT/ACT exams as public and private school kids. As long as the curriculum is geared toward that, then I think it’s okay.
I think I’m up to about eight cents, now. XD
Teague
x
Sadly there are many cases like this throughout the country every year. Most of them occur quietly though because the people involved have the discretion to keep their mouths shut and not air the involved families dirty laundry in public. It is bad enough to go through a divorce and have the children sent to public school. Can you imagine having your family ripped apart with thousands of others reading all about your husband’s cheating and his accusations against you?
In this case, as you can read in several of the articles around, the Mom was accused by the Dad of being in a cult. Her own father agrees. (do a google search on Sound Doctrine Church cult). As such the judge felt the children would be better off in a public school where the children could get away from those influences at least some of the time.
This is a family law / parental rights issue though. This is not an education issue. The children were not being sent to public school for a good education but because the father complained. The father is almost always listened to more than the mother.
Sexism in the courts is rampant. If you want to DO something go after that trend. If that ended most of these cases would have very different outcomes.
I personally have nothing against home-schooling, but in some cases it’s better for a child’s creative development and people skills development to go to school. Otherwise, they could become neurotic nutcases like me! XD just kidding, just kidding. But seriously though, sometimes kids with learning disabilities or social anxiety issues may be better off in a home-schooling environment, so they can receive one-on-one education.
Other than that, isn’t it really expnsive to be home-schooled? My parents looked into it one year and it was going to cost us over 500 USD to get started, and then 100+ USD after that, so I could have the books and testing materials I was going to need. Needless to say we couldn’t afford it, but it’s still a nice concept if done right and used in an effective manner.
When criticizing home-schooling, people often bring up the argument of socialization. Somehow mass culture has this misconception that schools teach good socialization. True social skills, such as learning how to work out issues with others and work as a team do not develop in laboratory settings such as classrooms; they occur on the playground (when students are allowed to have recess) and after school or else on extra-curricular teams. One can still develop life long friendships with those the same age as well as cultivate social skills as a home-schooled student. Through community activities, co-ops, and home-school partnerships, these students learn how to behave in the “real world” much faster than those chained to desks 30-40 hours per week (and let’s not forget to include the watchdog of “homework” that keeps students occupied outside of school; heaven forbid students have time to develop interests outside of a government-run institution).
Props to this blog, btw. I found it while researching good sites for teen writers; I’m including it on a list of resources that I’m giving out at a teen writing class I’m teaching.
I agree with Teague. Children who are home-schooled are deprived of the ability to socialize. So personally, I think going to school is better.
“Everyone thinks what they do is right.” ~ Jeff, my husband
We choose not to judge how parents choose to educate their children, whether it be public or private schools, home schools or other options i.e. Charter ISPs, Private PSPs, etc.
We are personally thankful for the multiple options. And we’ve found that independent home education works for our family.
A loving & nurturing family, home education support groups, church & community activities, sports clubs, etc. are all part of Socialization.
We are part of a small homeschool support group of over 100 families of all sizes. Socialization is NOT about being cooped up with 30 peers your own age for 6 hours a day or 15 minutes on the playground at recess. Socialization IS about growing into a responsible citizen and being able to confidently communicate with people of any age.
Here’s a wonderful link for the National Home Education Research Institute:
http://www.nheri.org/NHERI-Research.html
BTW, we had a similar court case here in California last year, which led to questions about the legality of home education in our state. The outcome: Governor Schwarzenegger, the CA Superintendent of Public Education, and the court system all said that home education was a parental right and a solid choice for a child’s education.
*I’m a former 4/5 grade public school teacher. I loved teaching children in the classroom. And I love teaching our daughter at home. I host Literature Book Clubs & Discussions for teens, teach in Education Co-op settings, and help parents understand that a child’s first and best teachers are the parents themselves…no matter which educational option they choose.
“Everyone thinks what they do is right.” ~ Jeff, my husband
We choose not to judge how parents choose to educate their children, whether it be public or private schools, home schools or other options i.e. Charter ISPs, Private PSPs, etc.
We are personally thankful for the multiple options. And we’ve found that independent home education works for our family.
A loving & nurturing family, home education support groups, church & community activities, sports clubs, etc. are all part of Socialization.
We are part of a small homeschool support group of over 100 families of all sizes. Socialization is NOT about being around 30 peers your own age for 6 hours a day or 15 minutes on the playground at recess. Socialization IS about becoming a responsible citizen and being able to confidently communicate with people of any age.
Here’s a wonderful link for the National Home Education Research Institute:
http://www.nheri.org/NHERI-Research.html
BTW, we had a similar court case here in California last year, which led to questions about the legality of home education in our state. The outcome: Governor Schwarzenegger, the CA Superintendent of Public Education, and the court system all said that home education was a parental right and a solid choice for a child’s education.
*I’m a former 4/5 grade public school teacher. I loved teaching children in the classroom. And I love teaching our daughter at home. I host Literature Book Clubs & Discussions for teens, teach in Education Co-op settings, and help parents understand that a child’s first and best teachers are the parents themselves…no matter which educational option they choose.
I would invite anyone who believes that homeschooled children are “deprived of the ability to socialize” to visit my homeschool group in Ohio. Not only are these kids testing above their grade level, they also attend science co-ops, conferences, drama, art, and several music classes, in addition to dances, banquets and parties orginized by the group. These kids are holding jobs, applying to colleges, and learning skills that will help them in later life through a wide spectrum of 4-H projects. In some cases, homeschooled children are often friendlier than public-schooled children because they are unafraid of sterotypes or being friends with someone who is “different”. That is what this whole debate is really about, whether it is acceptable to be “different” in a society that would love cookie-cutter children, all attending the same school, wearing the same clothes, and learning the same things. I personally do not have anything against public-schoolers because I believe it takes a variety people to make up the world, and therefore everyone should be tolerant of each other.
Guys, homeschoolers actually can meet people. It’s not like we’re in the house every hour of the day.
I was homeschooled my entire life up until 10th grade, when my mom got sick and teaching four kids, (two of them teenagers) was a bit too much to do on her own. My family was part of a homeschooling group and we had get-togethers several times a week, where I interacted with a lot of other kids my own age.
I had a teacher friend who, one day in a conversation with someone else while I was there, made many of the same arguments that Teague and Lil_Pau are presenting about socialization. I then spoke up, saying that hadn’t been my experience. She was shocked and said that she hadn’t realized I had been homeschooled.
Having now gone to a private high school, I’m glad I was never part of the public school crowd. There is so much crap in the school systems, in the “social” aspect. Peer pressure is insane. This is not a blanket statement to say that everyone who goes to public school is a bad person, going to cave, or anything (far from it – I have a lot of friends from public school that I spend a lot of time with and love to death). I have some friends at school who came from public schools and they talk about how they were surprised at how “clean” our school is, whereas I thought this was a normal environment. I grew up “sheltered”, but I don’t mind if that means I wasn’t exposed to sex, drugs, bullying and all that other stuff that seems to be rampart in the school systems. (This is not to say that you can’t be exposed to all this stuff when you’re homeschooled. I know several kids who have definite problems with drugs, etc.)
I think some of the reasons people think homeschoolers aren’t socialized well are because of the people the parents sometimes are and the reasons that they homeschool. I do actually know a family with kids who would fit the stereotype of a homeschooler: they’re shy, innocent to the point of the ridiculous, out of touch with modern culture, etc. But then, their parents are extremist Christians who are the super-modest, sheltering type and think modern culture is the devil. I’m Catholic myself and have a healthy sense of modesty and whatnot, but I don’t go around in an ankle-length skirt all the time. I don’t swear and don’t like it when people do, but it doesn’t scandalize me. I don’t like rape and gay jokes, but then, why does anyone think those are funny? I’m teased a bit at school for having such a clean mouth (I’ve been used as the standard by which others compare their efforts to stop some activities), but what’s wrong with that?
So yeah, sure there are some sheltered kids out there, but saying that all homeschoolers are unsocialized is like saying that all publicschoolers are sex-obsessed druggies. Not a very fair blanket statement to make, eh?