Home Education vs. Public Education

My alarm clock blares loudly at 7:30 a.m. I open my bleary eyes and reach towards the offending noise. Just then, my door opens. My mother, cheery at any hour, bounds into the room. "Wake up, wake up, rise and shine," she proclaims. When I mumbled and roll over, her voice drops an octave. "Get up. It’s time to do your school work!" Who said home schoolers have it easy?

Looking back on my education, I feel privileged to have been home schooled through all my school years. Yes, that’s right – grades kindergarten through 12. Most people don’t realize this, but being home schooled was not some type of prison for young people. I didn’t gaze longingly out the window in the direction of the local public school. I did not yearn for mystery-meat lunches or early morning bus rides. For I did reap all of the benefits of school: friends, sports, lunchboxes, recess, music lessons, arts and drama, math, history, English – well, the list goes on and on. Yet when people discover my educational history, they tend to assume immediately that I was either an ignorant child who couldn’t hack it in the sophisticated world of public education, or an overachiever who studied textbooks straight into the weekend.

Since I was neither, I seem to surprise some with the statement that, yes, I am normal. It’s almost as if those who are pro-public education expect a tale of woe, but the fact is that I simply can’t recall any time that I suffered from home education.

Throughout my home-schooled years, many mothers of publicly "educated" children would approach either my mother or me, and with sincere curiosity ask about the benefits of home schooling. It didn’t take a long time to convince these concerned mothers that home schooling has many benefits over public schools; for instance, the ability to control what is being taught to your children. My mother and father are religious people and do not like some of the subjects taught in the public school systems such as evolution and sex education. They feel strongly that these topics are best left to the parents to teach their children as they see fit. But here’s the conundrum, folks – government-funded schools won’t give parents an option. Instead, they prefer to regulate what is being taught to produce a self-serving pro-government viewpoint.

As the failure of public education becomes ever-more obvious, more parents are chaffing at the restriction of free-thinking afforded our children in public schools, and by free thinking I do not mean the movements to save our salmon, hug our trees, or adopt an indigenous person. I refer to free thinkers as those who embrace individual responsibilities and ideas; those who practice time-tested rules and morals without restrictions imposed by the left-wing public school system. Hence, there is a movement afoot for parents to take more responsibility for their children’s education.

Once upon a time there was a thing called education. Defined by Webster’s Dictionary, to educate means "1: to provide with schooling 2: to develop mentally and morally." The word carries a simple definition, but one that has been clouded by a left-liberal society’s definition of the word. Somewhere between reading and ‘rithmetic, public schools replaced mental development with liberal-agenda brainwashing. As a recipient of home schooling, my educational training was never compromised by the liberal collective or spoiled by unmotivated teachers, but instead was nurtured by my mother, the one person who had no ulterior motive other than providing a quality education. I was given the opportunity to focus on true academic studies instead of being drawn into the social and political subculture of public school. I was given one-on-one attention that allowed me to fully comprehend the subject at hand. Without the distraction of a crowded classroom, I was able to ask questions about the subjects I studied, and I was able to retain and comprehend the lessons taught to me.

Scholastic education aside, what about moral education? Public schools are teaching high schoolers proper condom usage, while staying away from such alternatives as chastity. Pro-homosexuality and anti-gun sentiments are being hurrahed in schools, yet prayer is banned. School nurses tell parents that children are not required to receive permission before obtaining abortion referrals through the school. Any aspect of moral education has been wiped out and replaced with an "if it feels good, do it" mentality. As a result, the rebellious attitude and scholastic disinterest of today’s youth are fostered by a permissive and indulgent educational system.

When parents look at their child’s educational well being, on a whole, they will notice that this extends further than simple academics. Since the mid 1990s, there has been an increase in violent incidents in public schools. Throughout my years of home education, I never once feared for my safety. From the moment I opened my textbooks until the end of the day, I knew my one purpose: to learn (be it academic or moral lessons). I didn’t worry about knives in lockers or guns hidden in waistbands. I never heard threats or taunts; classmates never disrespected me. I received an environment of total and uninterrupted peace where I was allowed to focus on learning and not on whether I’d make it home from school in one piece. Going back to the basics, this should be what one encounters when receiving an education. School should be a place of learning, not a melting pot of violent, misguided youths.

While we struggle with the issue of school violence, another concern comes to light. Peer pressure has long been a negative factor of public education. I realize that peer pressure can be found in many places, not just our public school system. However, school is a place where children spend five days a week, eight hours a day with their peers, making the chances for caving to pressures such as smoking, drinking, sex, and drugs much higher. A member of my family attending public high school has smoked and drank since she was 14. Raised by morally aware but often busy parents, she turns to her friends for companionship and guidance, and often succumbs to the pressures of fitting in amongst the students with whom she spends most of her days.

In a home-school environment, the parents have the ability to be more "hands on" and reduce some of the pressure children face on a daily basis. So many people asked me while I was being home schooled, "Don’t you wish your parents were less strict," somehow equating home education with a way to exercise stifling control. I can’t count the times some well meaning individual took it upon themselves to inform my parents that I was suffering from a lack of social interaction that I could only find in a public school. These people seemed to label those who home school their children as ignorant and uninformed, though it takes a high level of intelligence and dedication to properly educate your children at home.

I look back at my teen years and acknowledge all the pressures my parents kept me from having to face until I was mature enough to make wise choices. Home education carries into more areas than just the academics. It helps the individual to grow creatively, without the worries of popularity and peer pressure. Due to this, I was able to express myself in many areas without the fear of what others would think. I developed a stronger sense of who I was and for what I stood.

For those of you with a few remaining questions, no, I did not study on Saturdays; yes, I had plenty of friends and no, I didn’t get lunch money. No, I didn’t need therapy because of it. And no, I don’t lie awake at nights dreaming of the prom I never attended, but yes, there is such a thing as a stupid question.

Do you have any idea if someone in that situation could sue for discrimination?

No, but she should look into it.

It's reassuring to know that people for whom killing babies is their top priority are in charge of schooling children.

"Oh, socialization is not a problem. I take him into the bathroom once a week, beat him up, and take his lunch money."

P-schoolers need a sharp blow to the head to snap them out of their comas. I'm all in favor of this tactic, and my wife's dying to use this line.

...but then they HAVE to go back to school or they will never make it in the real world!

Reasonable people can debate and disagree as to the merits of a public school education. However, I find it outrageously funny that anyone could find anything in public school life that REMOTELY resembles real life.

I hope your family comes around. In the unhappy event that they don't, then that's their problem, not yours. If you make it clear that you no longer wish to discuss the matter or to open your child's upbringing for a committee decision, they'll at least shut up.

I'm glad you like the line. As I stated, I picked it up from another poster here on FR. I'd love to give credit, but I can't remember who.

You must post the reaction to the "slappee" when your wife tosses this out the first time. In general, she can expect a cross between a dear in the headlights and a dead-fish slack-jawed gape.

"Oh, socialization is not a problem. I take him into the bathroom once a week, beat him up, and take his lunch money."

I've simply GOT to tell Mrs. Nam Vet that when she gets back. Thanks

Nam Vet

Good job Korth. Since you never had the "pleasure" of attending a government detention center, you may never fully appreciate the benefits of homeschooling.

How would you know whether or not I attended public schools?

You sound like you consider this to be an anti-homeschool article, but it is actually pro-homeschool. Based on their responses, I believe that everyone else on this thread recognized this article to be pro-, not anti-, home schooling.

It's been 22 years since I graduated, and I'm still angry about they did to my head. I figure it took me about ten years to undo the damage on my own.

FYI, I also was entirely "educated", if you can call it that, in the public schools (kindergarten thru 12th grade), and it ruined my life. I first heard of Home Schooling when I was quite young, and I begged my parents to home school me. They wouldn't do it, for all the reasons which others have already posted on this thread.

I fully agree! I hated and despised going to public school! It wasn't the schoolwork that bothered me, just everything else! I heard things from other kids that would've made my dad blush (and not much makes him blush). I can't even imagine half of what kids from decent homes, have to put up with now.

Wow; that's really textbook-case despicable.

I don't know the legal ins and outs, but she might very well. If she'd been discriminated against because she was homosexual, she sure would have.

I had a similar situation, but it was simply because I was a Christian. It was kind of surreal, too; the job was in the world of journalism, among those lofty giants of the freedoms.

Dan

Your experience on being rejected for an ESL position in the public schools is unfortunately common. America is filled with people who would be excellent teachers. But the schools are not filled with excellent teachers.
The reason is the "make-work" rules of the "edukachun" unions. Until we break the backs of these leeches, the "publik skools" will continue to decline in quality and increase in cost.
I have had at least 12 excellent -- meaning "life-changing" -- teachers in 22 years of education, and counting. Less than half of them were certified, public school teachers, and two were not even "teachers" at all, they were a librarian and a schoutmaster.
Do the best for your children, which probably means keeping them away from the public schools. But do the best for your community as well. If you have an elected school board, consider running for it. I have not heard of a home-schooling parent being elected to a school board. It could be an eye-opening experience for the Board, for you, and for your community.

Congressman Billybob

Click for: "Memo to Li'l Tommy Daschle: 'You're Busted.'"

**I'd rather have CIVILIZED children than SOCIALIZED children.

Can I quote you on that? I like the way you put that. **

You sure can quote it! I heard it at a homeschool conference this summer...can't recall which speaker though. Great quote, isn't it? :o)

I graduated 26 years ago and can clearly recognize how homeschooling could have helped me rather than traditional schooling. Our school tried out a program called SWAS (School Within A School) that was tremendous. My childhood friend was a student in the program and greatly improved in every subject area. The idea was to become independent learners. Couches and pillows and tables were abundant...not a desk in sight. I don't know if the program still exists...

What an encouraging post, cowgirl. Thank you. I've had my concerns about schooling our daughter through high school due to being an 'only'. She'll be taking a couple outside classes this year (Spanish and speech) which will help in that area, along with youth group, friends and sports. I think we're doing okay in the "S" area. :o)

This is a GREAT article. God willing, I'll never send my kids to public school. I have them in an excellent parochial school, but if I found we couldn't afford it, I would definitely home-school.

However, a word of caution to conservatives and Christians ... we DO need to care about public education. 90% of children are educated (or not ) in public schools. These are the same children who will be cops, firefighters, teachers, doctors, lawyers, politicians, salesmen, you name it -- as our children. We must care about the quality and character of public education, and not merely throw in the towel because of the big bad government bureaucracy that makes fighting bad education almost impossible.

I think one problem with public schools is that as parents pulled their kids out for a better education, there were fewer parents involved in their kids education, and in making sure the schools performed. It became a downward spiral. Yes, some schools are better than others and yes, some parents are more involved than others, but I honestly believe that if parents complain, the schools encourage them to send their kids to private school ... because they don't want dissent.

You're welcome :o) Believe me, as long as she stays involved with some kind of outside curricula, she'll do fine. Our daughter was involved with our church group and homeschool group, took dance for thirteen years, and even started a part-time job babysitting when she was fifteen. I went to public school and was EXTREMELY shy. She went to private school up until 3rd grade and was homeschooled until she graduated, and has NEVER been shy.

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