For Many Blacks, Home School Rules

Essence ^ | 8/26/02 | Yolanda Gault Caviness

[technochick99]

Joyce Burges had a problem. Her 13-year-old son's failing grades were about to get him expelled. The school counselor gave her little choice: Send him to a private school or bus him to the only other public school in her Baker, Louisiana, district, nearly 45 minutes away. Burges was unimpressed with the costly private school and refused to put her "baby" through a tortuous daily commute.

So she decided to teach him herself. Burges is part of a growing number of Black parents who are homeschooling their children-for a number of reasons: the sorry state of the nation's public-education system, the lack of cultural diversity in the curriculum, concern for their children's physical safety.

"Homeschooling works," says Burges. Her son's grades turned around, and she has never looked back. Today she teaches her four other children at home as well. She and her husband, Eric, recently founded the National Black Home Educators Resource Association. "The system is failing our Black kids-especially our young boys. And this is a way to give them the time, one-on-one attention, values and racial pride they need." But this type of education is not for everyone. When Paulette Maddox's eldest son was acting up, she decided to pull both of her boys out of junior high to teach them at home. "They hated it," recalls Maddox, who became a homeschool facilitator at the time to help other families teach at home. "It didn't work out at all."

After one year, she reenrolled her sons in school. Maddox, of Dana Point, California, observes that-much more than money or levels of education-success depends on a strong underlying commitment. Homeschooling is a formidable undertaking for a family, with much to consider.

The Academic Challenge

Some critics argue that a home setting is inherently inferior and can't offer high academic standards. But the movement's advocates counter that intense, individual study proves the opposite. A homeschooled child gets the close attention that a teacher charged with 25 or more students simply can't give. A 15-year study conducted by the NHERI, based in Salem, Oregon, notes that children taught at home typically score 15 to 30 points above the national average on standardized tests. And children with learning disabilities or other special needs actually fared better with the personalized attention.

Just as with traditional classroom studies, the rigor of homeschool educating depends on the dedication of the teacher and the motivation of the student. The Burgeses advise that parents "know their strengths" and get help when needed. For example, when it was time to cover trigonometry and Spanish, they reached out to the local community college. At 16, their son was not old enough to be a full-time college student. But he scored high enough on the placement exam to be eligible to take some advanced-studies courses there. Many teach-at-home parents also participate in study groups or co-ops to supplement their children's studies.

Your children's academic success at home is not just a point of pride; you have to make sure the youngsters are keeping up, because many states require them to take the same standardized tests as their publicly educated peers.

Will My Child Lack Social Skills?

Detractors' chief objection to the arrangement is the limited social interaction it offers children. Burges has a simple and direct response to those who believe her children are missing out: "If socialization means wearing baggy jeans and expensive labels because everyone else is doing it or hanging out in the halls, I'll pass." Her children receive social and cultural stimulation through several extracurricular activities, such as dance and music lessons, that they take with groups of other youngsters.

Debbie Officer, a Brooklyn mom who teaches her daughter Amber at home, says that the 6-year-old has far more positive social experiences than most kids her age-and enjoys them more-because they're tailored to her interests. For example, Officer nurtures her daughter's love of science by letting her join clubs at her local zoo and nearby botanic garden. She encourages Amber's artistic talents by taking her to the opera and theater. She notes that most of the things she exposes Amber to are free. And parents can tap some of the resources of their public schools-for sports, arts and other extracurricular activities-which open their doors to homeschoolers for access to some free activities.

That's because homeschoolers, like everyone else, pay taxes that contribute to public education. The kinds of activities may vary by state, but access is usually a phone call away. Many states, such as California, have facilitators or coordinators as a liaison between public school and the home. In other states, the county or district board of education will work with homeschoolers individually so they can participate in public school-run programs.

Is Homeschooling Right for Me?

Still, you have to be realistic about what will work best for you and your child. "As a parent, homeschooling has got to be your passion," says Maddox. "If being with your kids all day makes you crazy, or if you're on the fence about teaching them yourself, it's not for you."

Yolanda Gault Caviness is Parenting Editor of ESSENCE magazine and senior editor of ESSENCE.com

[spintreebob]

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[lpisec]

"Burges is part of a growing number of Black parents who are homeschooling their children-for a number of reasons"

We don't know how the Black parents that homeschool vote. There really are a lot less of them than this story leads us to believe. The numbers are growing across the board for homeschoolers so it should be true among Black parents as well.

My guess is that there are only thousands of Black parents that homeschool. This voting block is miniscule now and they may be voting Republican for all we know.

[mafree]

I don't blame Black folks for homeschooling and wish more would. I try to support the few I know who do, especially those who are single parents.

[nmh]

I hope you are right! Also I like your verse. Haven't seen you before. Hope to see more of you.

Best Regards,

[nmh]

"... My guess is that there are only thousands of Black parents that homeschool. This voting block is miniscule now and they may be voting Republican for all we know."

Well lets hope they influence others and vote for conservatives. Notice I don't necessarily label them Republicans. I sure wouldn't vote for a Demoncrat but some third party people who are conservative do get my attention from time to time.

[nmh]

"one of my friends who is black and has never voted repub we talk about stuff like this frequently and I truly think he has no idea why he votes dem he just does and will continue to it's just instilled in them it's actually quite frustrating."

I've run into that too. It's like a family tradition or something. Hopefully they'll wake up!