Homeschooling: Successful and Expanding

I've noticed a bit of discussion lately in a few of the local Wisconsin blogs on home schooling, and thought I'd throw in my two cents. I had the great opportunity, along with my three siblings, to be homeschooled. None of us would give up that blessing for the world. It is an amazing option that is often ignored due to a number of common misconceptions that are completely false.

This quote from a Seattle Times article details some of the common misconceptions:

Like many critics, I used to feel vaguely sorry for home-schooled kids. What a shame, I thought, that they might be deprived of the well-rounded education and social skills to become integrated, productive members of society. I never thought to question why cafeteria food fights or the predatory pack habits of teenage girls would be better for molding productive members of society.

The author then actually meets some home schoolers and her opinion based on false misconceptions is turned upside down:

This uninformed, critical opinion lasted precisely until I met my first home-schooled children several years ago. Within one month I met five home-schooling families, and their 13 children were among the most polite, well-adjusted, socially adept and academically advanced kids I'd ever seen. Being home-educated seemed to have given them a confidence and maturity — and yes, social skill — far beyond their years. They had many friends, but didn't seem dependent on their peers for approval — a far cry from what I remember as a kid.

Here are some further statistics from the article:

• In a landmark study by Dr. Brian Ray of the National Home Education Research Institute, among 7,000 young adults who had been home-schooled, 74 percent had attained some college courses, compared with just 46 percent of other young adults — and 82 percent said they would home-school their own kids. On the social front, almost twice as many home-schooled adults as those in the general population were active in their community (71 percent to 37 percent) and "very happy" with life (59 percent to 28 percent).


• In 1998, a Home School Legal Defense Association's study of 20,760 home-school students found that: "In every subject and at every grade level (on standardized tests), home-school students scored significantly higher than their public and private school counterparts." Younger home-schoolers performed one grade level higher than their public and private school counterparts, and by eighth grade, "the average home-school student performs four grade levels above the national average."

The author of the article concludes, "Obviously, home education doesn't fit every family. But the evidence makes me think it's the kids who aren't home-schooled who may be missing out, not the other way around."

It seems to be fitting more and more families however, according to the AP and Rich Glasgow:

More Black families are deciding to educate their children at home, according to an AP piece in The State. And why not? As government schools take it upon themselves to indoctrinate more and educate less, the home education movement will continue to flourish, as it should.

Rich goes on to state:

The success of home schooling is a threat, like no other, to the proponents of government education. Like so many failing leftwing institutions, schools and administrators are threatened by the success of home schoolers because it renders them virtually irrelevant. Not only can parents educate their children for a fraction of the cost, but they can actually do a far better job.

So how is the government and the teachers unions battling this threat? By fighting school choice and vouchers tooth and nail. If you can restrict a parents access to funds you can force them to use the only system they can afford. I hope and pray that school choice will become more of an issue in the upcoming election and that the amazingly successful programs that exist in this state are extended and expanded.

From my personal experience, the main societal hurdle in the way of homeschooling is not that kids don't get exposure to peers, on the contrary I met a wide range of children from many grade levels in group science classes that were taught by one or two of the parents with advanced degrees in a given subject to a group of homeschoolers from a range of grade levels. The amazing thing about these classes and most homeschool groups is the interaction and knowledge sharing that happens between older and younger kids, not only are the professors teaching, the older kids are helping the younger ones and the younger children are challenging and expanding the perceptions of the older kids.

Rather than this misconception, the largest hurdle I see for homeschooling is the unwillingness in society to slow down, and teach kids. Many people will say, "Well what if I fail, what if I can't teach my kids, what if I screw them up?". You would trust someone you barely know in a government institution known to be dropping in competitiveness and world status over the vested interest you have in your own children as a parent? With all the curriculum options and homeschooling support organizations out there, how can those who have the fiscal ability afford not to try? Maybe our public schools will take notice and improve once they face increased challenges brought on by giving the fiscal ability to almost everyone with school choice.

PS For a great blog from a Marquette University alum who has chosen to home school her kids check out Stand in the Trenches.

Cross-Posted at GOP3.com:The Triumvirate