Home School Legal Defense Association

Thesis: Homeschooling environment is an effective approach in education due to evidence of higher achievement on placement tests, success through college, engaged socially with activities outside homes, and students becoming active members of society.

Home schooling is becoming an increasingly popular choice of education for parents in the United States of America. “Homeschooling refers to the practice of parents educating a child at home, rather than in a conventional public or private school setting” (Hess and Okun). This can take the form of individual instruction by a single teacher at home or in a small group setting with combined resources of teachers and materials. It was estimated in a 1999 report by the U.S. Department of Education that more than 850,000 students were being educated at home. This number was increasing at rate of 7 to 15 percent annually (Hess and Okun). The numbers are increasing because of the advantages for home school students. In order to promote individualized learning, creativity, and self-confidence, home schooling should be considered for more students.

Homeschooling is a type of education which typically occurs in the home with the child’s parent or guardian serving as the primary educator. Currently, homeschooling is legal in all 50 states and is considered to be one of the fastest growing segments of K-12 education in the United States. In 2007, homeschooled students represent approximately 3 percent of children attending K-12 in the United States (Cogan 19). Since homeschooling is outside the control of the traditional education system, questions have been raised as to whether or not homeschooling can adequately prepare students for a college environment and the rigors of college academics. One side of this argument claims that homeschooling does not adequately prepare students for a college environment. Supporters of this side believe that homeschooling isolates students from the outside world, rendering them socially and educationally handicapped (Romanowski 125). Since their schooling experiences are limited to their homeschool setting, they are at a disadvantage with their postsecondary studies (Romanowski 127). The other side argues that homeschooling is an adequate form of schooling for college preparation. I BELIEVE THAT HOMESCHOOLING CAN ADEQUATELY PREPARE STUDENTS FOR A COLLEGE ENVIRONMENT.

Not long ago, my parents received an endless amount of criticism, similar to the Walls’ family, for their decision to homeschool my siblings and me. Many “feared” for us, because according to them, there was no way we were going to learn effectively at home, what we could in a formal school. My mom tells me stories of how people she’d known expressed genuine concern over the idea of educating children in a different way than what is deemed “normal.” I do not blame these people for their concern, as they were raised in a society that emphasizes a single approach to learning. Although there were definitely times growing up when I wished to attend a brick and mortar school like “normal” people, after a certain age I genuinely appreciated my parent’s decision. Being home-schooled has taught me so much more than just the basic principles of education. I grew up being highly self-reliant due to my online school requiring students to be almost entirely responsible for keeping up with their work. Similar to college, I had a syllabus provided to me, and had no one other than myself to make sure I was on top of everything. This helped me to become a responsible and well-organized individual. I also gained a quality education, despite all of the fear and concern of those around me. I still have to answer the questions, “Why were you homeschooled?” and, “Didn’t you want to go to regular school?” more

This view is furthered by educational psychologists, who feel that homeschooled children may have issues interacting with peers, and thus be characterized by a more difficult experience when entering the so-called real world (Murray 1996, as cited in Medlin 2000:108). Critics of homeschooling such as Pfleger (1998) assert that these children fail to learn skills necessary in the job market, and thus they will be at a disadvantage when compared with their conventionally schooled counterparts (as cited in Arai 1999:2). Finally, schools teach students a great deal in terms of social expectations: etiquette, behaviour, dress, and so forth, and it also makes students aware of the penalties that are associated with disregard for these norms (Pfleger 1998, as cited in Arai 1999:2). Taylor (1986) asserts that homeschoolers will not receive these lessons, but rather simply emulate the social understandings of their parents, and will again be “disadvantaged because they will not realize what constitutes conforming and unconforming behaviour once they leave the family and enter the wider society” (as cited in Arai 1999:2).

Caution: Unsocialised Homeschoolers is an article that addresses the concerns parents have about the quality of social development their children have access to if they chose to homeschool. It also challenges popular assumptions on homeschoolers’ social competence while answering objections that opponents raise. I argue that, rather than isolating and inhibiting social maturity and understanding, homeschooling has the potential to catalyse the processes and produce young people who are socially perceptive and understanding. Two of the ways I presented my case were by using personal experiences and diction to create pathos appeals, and by introducing ideas that my audience would find themselves in most agreement with.

The differences between homeschooling and public education are huge but can be summarized along three lines: firstly, homeschooling is just that, where the parent or an employed governess teaches the child in a home, as compared to a, school setting. Secondly, the home setting employs its own voluntary rules and schedule of education teaching whatever the home educator desires in whichever way the home educator desires the subject to be taught in contrast to the school education. Lastly, the schedule is implemented in an arbitrary time format according to that chosen by the home educator (in contrast to that of the school environment where it is strictly regulated). Each also has its commonalties in that the state, too, to a certain extent regulates home education ensuring that the educator is providing an education and that this education meets the fundamental requirements of the state. Aside from that, home education differs in almost every other aspect from the more formal education provided by that of the school: the one is loosely structured and chosen by the parent; the other is structured by the school, in turn closely regulated by the government, and is open to little purview by the parent.

Despite home-schooling’s controversy because of the lack of teaching credentials for parents and socialization, homeschooling has big benefits for children. The first benefit is that while homeschooled, students receive individualized education. Parents spend all their time and attention to their children. Parents can devote all their time and attention to their children. Martin points out that parents understand their children best (Martin). Therefore, they can choose the best method to motivate their children to learn. “Parents are also able to evaluate their children on a daily basis and provide further instruction if needed” (Martin). Individualized education also provide necessary help as needed. As a result, homeschooled students achieve

B. Preview – Traditional homeschooling can be problematic to a student’s life skills and overall development. The social learning aspect of school, which is lacking in homeschool, directly transfers into college and the workplace. Most teenagers and kids need to be supervised at every moment or else they will not do their work and, while at home, it is hard to find the motivation to do schoolwork.

Stereotypes have continued to lead people to believe that homeschoolers are isolated from the real world. However, taking a closer look into public and private schools it becomes apparent that traditionally schooled children are the ones not living in the real world. Traditionally schooled children are confined to a classroom for around 180 days each year with minimum opportunities to be exposed to a workplace or to go on field trips. Also, they are usually only surrounded by children their own age. Lastly, in traditional school everything is provided for the students and the students are given little to no responsibility. These students are not prepared to be responsible at home or the workplace, making them unprepared for life after graduation.

The greatly discussed dilemma of having a child be taught in a public school setting versus a homeschool setting has been evaluated by parents since the idea was first introduced in the 1970’s. Public schooling had been the standard method of teaching since it is a requirement for states to provide public, free education for children in grades K-12. However, the backlash against the system began when two educational theorists and supporters of school reform, John Holt and Raymond Moore, started to question both the techniques and the products of public schools. Some parents went on to support the ideas of them and began to teach their children in the environment of their own homes for several different reasons. Some included moral or religious reasons, a desire for high educational achievement, dissatisfaction with public schools’ instructional program, or concerns about drugs and peer pressure in a public school environment. Child development specialists believe that homeschooled children are isolated from the outside world, therefore making them socially handicapped. If being exposed to this type of education on an elementary school level, the child can suffer from the lack of fundamental development of effective social skills needed for a lifetime ahead of them.

Most parents hear the word “home-school” and conjure up many assumptions that are either false or overlooked at. The technology provided, as well as the teaching quality spent on home-schooled children requires a lot of time and effort from the parents; it is an act of dedication and total commitment. According to the Robinson Curriculum, the parents have “little personal time or time alone. If care is not taken to set aside time for yourself, it is easy to never have time alone. They are basically with their [children] 24/7” (The Robinson Curriculum). There are many positives as well as the negatives outlooks pertaining to “sheltering” kids from attending private or public schools. Many adults are

Why is it that we rarely acknowledge homeschooled students for who they are in this society? Is it because they are different from the run-of-the-mill students that attend public schools? It could very well be that they are misjudged because so many people are not informed on homeschooling. If so, the majority of homeschooled students around the nation feel like outsiders simply because society has not taken the time to understand and provide for them. But, one should not feel ashamed as around 3.4% of the all K-12 students in America are homeschooled, (Ray). It is reasonable for such a small population to feel like a group of outsiders when everyone else has not been apart of this experience. Fortunately, there are various methods of tackling this problem; diagnosing this issue is the most beneficial of all. Thus, homeschoolers are outsiders because others do not fully understand the setting they are taught in, the education they receive, and the reasons behind why they are being homeschooled in the first place.

Homeschooling, not very well known, presents a new and affordable way to educate children. “Home school is a term used to refer to the education of children by their parents or guardians in a setting other than a public or private school” (Anderman & Anderman, p. 467). It has never been a new thing; it just has not been as popular as it used to be (Lines, p. 76). With this topic meaning so much to groups for and against the right for homeschooling and what should be legalized or not, the debate still rages on from local to even national government entities. Both sides of the argument have valid points, but ultimately it is the choice of the parents. There are many types of ways to educate children and that decision is difficult for both

Education, the most powerful weapon which can be used to change the world. Miriam-Webster dictionary defines education as the knowledge, skill, and understanding that you get from attending a school, college, or university (1). In today’s society, education is dispensed and received through different forms: campus-based, internet-based, distance, and home education. Home education or homeschool means a nonpublic school conducted primarily by the parent, guardian or other person having custody of a child (2). Though all states in the United States permit parents to homeschool, some states (such as California) require homeschoolers to register as private schools (3), while others (such as Pennsylvania) require children that are homeschooled to take standardized tests when they reach third, fifth, and eighth grades (4). It is the responsibility of the homeschooler to know and comply with all the requirements of the state in which he or she resides. The purpose of this article is to educate the reader on homeschooling of children in childhood developmental stage (Age three to twelve): its background, benefits, and position in today’s society, the reasons why parents opt for it, its impact on children socialization, and the difference in performance and behaviors among children in traditional school and those who are homeschooled.