How will we educate immigrants to be Americans and assimilate if we defund schools?
In any case I consider home school a fine choice - but a limited one for a limited segement of the population.I don't see it as solving our education system for the vast majority.
Hmm, gee. I wonder how this nation ever got started; after all, we were all immigrants without public schools. Your reasons are so weak.
And absolutely, I think schools should be able to turn away problem children. If the child doesn't fit into the school environment there (same argument about immigrants having to fit into our society); there is a better school fit for them. Again, once those choices are opened up, you will see a more productive school system.
Colleges have the ability to turn away students based on their abilities to fit into that school environment. It is the same philosophy.
"Home schooling is not school choice - it is leaving the school system - which is fine - but it is no solution."
"In any case I consider home school a fine choice - but a limited one for a limited segement of the population.I don't see it as solving our education system for the vast majority."
Okay which one do you want to go with to continue this?
Homeschooling IS a choice. I am not asking for tax money, I don't have a wonderful cash flow, and I struggle to make ends meet at times.
I don't suggest that it is the be-all, end-all solution. I do suggest, however, it is right for my children at this time. Public school did not work. I fixed what didn't work for my children, after trying to fight with the system.
If you believe you can fix the PS's in KY overnight, I'll have my children at the School's door on Monday morning.
Otherwise, me and 2,000,000 (and growing) other families will continue to do as we planned, get our children educated.
The growing number of homeschoolers should indicate there is a real problem, and once KY (and other states) schools lose out on enough $7,000.00 per year/per student they will wise up and change. This is a form of protest that will work, because it deals with the almighty dollar.
Based on a 1998 Independent Study By Dr. Rudner who studied over 20,000 homeschoolers:
Another obstacle that seems to be overcome in homeschooling is the need to spend a great deal of money in order to have a good education. In Strengths of Their Own, Dr. Ray found the average cost per homeschool student is $546 while the average cost per public school student is $5,325. Yet the homeschool children in this study averaged in 85th percentile while the public school students averaged in the 50th percentile on nationally standardized achievement tests.iv
Similarly, the 1998 study by Dr. Rudner of 20,760 students, found that eighth grade students whose parents spend $199 or less on their home education score, on the average, in the 80th percentile. Eighth grade students whose parents spend $400 to $599 on their home education also score on the average, in the 80th percentile! Once the parents spend over $600, the students do slightly better, scoring in the 83rd percentile.v
The message is loud and clear. More money does not mean a better education. There is no positive correlation between money spent on education and student performance. Public school advocates could refocus their emphasis if they learned this lesson. Loving and caring parents are what matters. Money can never replace simple, hard work.