Posted on 11/29/2005 1:34:50 AM PST by Lorianne
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.
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.
I've since learned that these kids were not the home-schooling exception but the rule, which makes me wonder how anyone could look at the data and say it deprives kids of anything. 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."
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.
My 14 year old son is heading for Eagle and just completed his Nuclear Science merit badge in a few weeks. Has only been in Scouting for a year and is about to go Star, with 16 merit badges, 7 of them Eagle.
Both he and his older sister (16) are working toward GED, and we now have to go to the district to get approval for them to take it early. I just got two sets of review books for them to work through as preparation, and what a breeze. They had it all down by sixth grade (thank you A Beka).
One of the great myths of homeschooling. It actually takes less time, for me. I can be talking while I make breakfast, and we are all still in PJs.
Most of my kids have done both and public school was much, much harder, not to mention ridiculous, for the short time we tried it. I well recall my oldest daughter coming home with 4 completed art projects and all of her math and language to be done - at home. At which point I figured - why not just do it all myself?
Which is exactly what happens here - Washington State. They have no sense of responsibility for the time you give them your child. I once discovered quite accidentally that my son had spent the entire day in the gym watching a play.
At age five in Kindergarten, we received requests for not one, but two sex education films to be shown.
Then I brought him home and taught him to read and write.
We just rec'd a strong recommendation to get our 14 yo son into a fast track program at U of Washington. From a professor there who was his Nuclear Science merit badge counselor.
So we're thinking about it, though it sounds a bit different than what you describe. He's ready for his GED and then some, but in this state they want the kids to wait until they are 18 to take it. And we have to get permission from the school system for him to take it early. Gotta love it....
Congratulations to you! And yes, same here, my kids love both church and Scouting.
...and public/private schoolers who's parent's are...
...The rest of the kids who's parents...
Not to nit-pick; okay I'm nit-picking: Your usage is incorrect, it should be whose, not who is (who's)
Home schooling mom of 17 years and nit-picky grammar person.
You're missing one of the key ingredients. Public schools have taken to teaching singular methods - even in subjects like math, where any number of techniques can correctly derive the correct answer. The teacher gives a single methodology, and proceeds to mark wrong anyone who uses a different methodology, even when the disparate method is correct.
Unfortunately, the singular method taught doesn't "click" with all of the kids. In fact - it's frequently an estimation method and not a solution, in my experience. When a kid "gets it" through using another method, he or she is told that noncomformity is not an option, even if he or she can't do the work using the conformed method.
Homeschooling gives the opportunity to explore as many correct solution methods as necessary to make sure the child "gets it". The 30-point differential, in many cases, is not unrealistic. I have 2 kids who have demonstrated this VERY clearly (having started out in private and/or public schools, then progressed into homeschooling).
You seem to have an axe to grind. I'm curious as to what it is.
Congrats on your soon to arrive grandkid! :) I have only two grown children as of yet, but I hope the upcoming four will give me lots more grandbabies.
I think all my kids will homeschool. My second oldest just taught her daughter to read; she is not quite four. My daughter's in-laws are amazed but think that the granddaughter will still have to go to public school when she turns five. Obviously they don't get it!
"You seem to have an axe to grind. I'm curious as to what it is."
Why don't you just say what you think it is - I've stated my position, I'm curious as to why you wouldn't take me at face value?
"The 30-point differential, in many cases, is not unrealistic. I have 2 kids who have demonstrated this VERY clearly (having started out in private and/or public schools, then progressed into homeschooling)."
Remember, 30 points is an AVERAGE (it could be much more). But you are comparing your individual kids to the entire population of public school kids - not much point.
That stat serves no purpose than to make homeschooling parents feel good - which is fine, but accept it for what it is.
"Not to nit-pick; okay I'm nit-picking: Your usage is incorrect, it should be whose, not who is (who's)
Home schooling mom of 17 years and nit-picky grammar person."
Grannyx....Sometimes on here I write "Their" instead of "They're" or "There", sometimes I split infinitives, and even end sentences with prepositions.
You'll go nuts nit-picking spelling and grammar on here!
You are, of course, correct about trying to keep up on FR and bad usage. I thought since we were on a home school thread, it sort of seemed appropriate. :)
I'm not sure why I see so much hostility to homeschooling statistics in your posts, else I wouldn't have asked.
It's interesting that you say I shouldn't compare my individual kids to a population in the public schools. Following that dictum, no comparison could ever be made, statistically or otherwise. Anecdotal evidence in support of statistical analysis is valid. Anecdotal evidence by itself, of course, is commonly specious.
"All academically successful children are homeschooled. Academically successfully schooled children have parents who do everything before or after school I did academically for my kids."
I think I understand what you are saying....and if so we agree at least on this point.
But then you say:
"By the way,,,,,I have never met a fat homeschooler who has been homeschooled from the beginning.
Also,,,,,I have never met a homeschooler with ADD or ADHD who has been in the home from the beginning."
Come off it.....So now public schoolers are fat, lazy, unfocused, as well as stupid?
These statements are unsupportable.
Academic excellence can be found in homeschool, public school, and private school environments.....You are far better off advocating for homeschooling with valid statistics and facts.
I'm just trying to find the data.
You may not like his comments but they do make sense.
What he is saying is you can't draw causal conclusions from an after-the-fact comparison study.
I happen to think that home schooled children are better off for the experience, have better study skills and better social skills.
The study cited above doesn't show that it is home schooling that caused the successful performance in those children. You'd need a different type of study to show causation.
"You are, of course, correct about trying to keep up on FR and bad usage. I thought since we were on a home school thread, it sort of seemed appropriate. :) "
Oh, I don't mean to say I don't appreciate being corrected. Excellent spelling and grammar is a continuous quest, and I need all the help I can get.
...Excellent spelling and grammar is a continuous quest,...
Lynne Truss would be proud! She is the very funny author of Eats, Shoots and Leaves; a truly hysterical and helpful book on grammar.
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