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Posted on 07/12/2008 2:33:09 PM PDT by wagglebee
When it comes to getting a good education, apparently, there's no place like home.
When homeschooling first came into prominence in the late 1980’s many viewed it with skepticism, but it has proved itself over and over the past two decades.
Whether the average homeschooled student is getting as good an education as the average public school student is no longer a question. The verdict is in. The results of numerous studies show the average homeschooler is receiving a better education than the average public or private school student.
In a 1997 study, Strengths of Their Own, Dr. Brian Ray examined a sample of over 5,402 homeschooled students. On average, they scored 30 to 37 percentile points higher than the average public school student in all subjects.
A separate test done in 1991 by the Home School Legal Defense Association in conjunction with the Psychological Corporation found that a sampling of 5,124 homeschooled students across all grades scored 18 to 28 percentile points higher on the Stanford Achievement Test than the average public school student.
Finally, the 7,858 students who declared themselves to be homeschooled on the 2004 ACT scored an average of 1.7 points higher, on a scale of 1-32, than the national average.
The academic success of homeschooled students is impressive and, no doubt, attributable to the hard work these students put into their education; but the hard work put in by their parents (many of whom do not even hold a bachelor's degree) is equally impressive. Parental involvement is key and appears to outweigh factors such as race and government regulation on one's education at home.
The success of homeschooling is breaking down the cultural barriers that once restricted the efforts of parents to educate their own children. Most people now have a friend or relative who teaches their children at home. The number of homeschoolers in the United States is currently estimated at over 2,000,000 and growing. The reasons parents choose to homeschool are varied, but they generally center on the belief that they can provide their children with a better academic education, a safer environment, or a stronger set of moral values.
One of the most commonly-raised objections to homeschooling is that children who are homeschooled will not have opportunities for socialization. This objection, however, is contradicted by the facts. Homeschooled students tend to be very involved in a myriad of activities (including community service, service in their church, sports programs, and groups such as the Boy Scouts and 4-H). Moreover, studies show that adults who have been homeschooled are more likely to participate in community service, vote, and succeed in college. Dr. Gary Knowles at the University of Michigan polled a sampling of adults who were homeschooled and found that 94% said that their education "prepared them to be independent persons," and 79% said that "it helped them interact with individuals from different levels of society."
Of course, homeschooling is not for everyone. Many parents will not feel that they are able to provide their children with an adequate education at home, and others may not have the financial means to homeschool their children. Additionally, students who are taught by parents without college degrees score significantly lower than those who are taught by one or more parents with a college education, and those in the lowest income brackets score lower than those in the middle class (although the average student in each of these groups scores higher than the national average on standardized tests).
Nevertheless, it is a great testament to the parents of homeschoolers that so many of them are willing to sacrifice their time and treasure to ensure that their children receive a high level of education, a proper sense of civic responsibility, and a sound set of moral values to prepare them for adulthood. America has benefited and will continue to benefit from their hard work and sacrifice.
At the same time, the success of homeschoolers is made possible in large measure because of the freedoms we enjoy in our democratic society. The freedom of parents to teach their children at home (a freedom not granted in many other countries) has produced a smarter, more civic-minded generation of young people.
In a day when many adults define themselves in terms of their "job" or "career," the number of mothers and fathers who are willing to sacrifice both to ensure the quality of their children's education is impressive. Many of these parents will have a more positive impact on our country than a host of the most successful business people and politicians.
Abraham Lincoln reportedly said, "The philosophy of the school room in one generation is the philosophy of government in the next." If that's true, let’s hope that in the future our government will be populated with plenty of homeschool grads. ___________________________________________________
Ken Connor is Chairman of the Center for a Just Society in Washington, DC and a nationally recognized trial lawyer who represented Governor Jeb Bush in the Terri Schiavo case. Connor was formally President of the Family Research Council, Chairman of the Board of CareNet, and Vice Chairman of Americans United for Life. For more articles and resources from Mr. Connor and the Center for a Just Society, go to www.ajustsociety.org. Your feedback is welcome; please email info@ajustsociety.org.
Hopefully this will be the case.
Homeschool Ping
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Lacking, however, are statistics showing how many youths are homeschooled because they are whiney babies who can't cut it in the real world.
This is especially impressive since it is likely that homeschoolers take the ACT and start college earlier than their government schooled peers.
My own kids matriculated in college at the ages of 13, 12, and 13.
Hm?...Is this the “real” world were people are sorted by age to within 12 months of each other?
Just ignore him.
I do believe that there are a number of professional NEA public relations people posting on Free Republic. These are the smart government school defenders (probably lawyers in their real lives). The other government school defenders are government teachers or their spouses.
Yeah, they’re on here every time, and their nonsense gets tiresome real quick.
Well, I've never had to ask permission to use the bathroom in the "real" world. I've not routinely faced the probability of physical assault, day after day, in the "real" world. I've never been slotted with other soils technicians or technical writers on the basis of a common age in the "real" world.
Whoops, I forgot. The "real" world is a government program, run by government employees, at public expense, where "the facts are made up and the results don't matter." Where bullies serve the same function as prison rapists, of enforcing despairing conformity.
I can think of a certain dark place where you can shove your version of the "real" world.
Read tagline...and I’m going to fight ANYONE who declares that HOMESCHOOLING is ILLEGAL!!
One of the most commonly-raised objections to homeschooling is that children who are homeschooled will not have opportunities for socialization. This objection, however, is contradicted by the facts. Homeschooled students tend to be very involved in a myriad of activities (including community service, service in their church, sports programs, and groups such as the Boy Scouts and 4-H). Moreover, studies show that adults who have been homeschooled are more likely to participate in community service, vote, and succeed in college. Dr. Gary Knowles at the University of Michigan polled a sampling of adults who were homeschooled and found that 94% said that their education "prepared them to be independent persons," and 79% said that "it helped them interact with individuals from different levels of society."
Liberals - Be afraid, be very afraid.
Are you a NUTCASE? Whiney babies?? You TROLL, go back to the DU...or KOS where you came from!!
Facts are sticky things. Every home schooler I've come in contact with is one that I would hire in a heartbeat for any job requiring real understanding. In the REAL WORLD. Where facts matter.
/johnny
If anything, the homeschoolers benefit from the “lack of socialization” of their publicly schooled peers. It’s an open secret in the psychiatric community that many people’s emotional and psychological hangups are caused and/or exaserbated by their experiences in school. Unfortunately, few psychiatrists have spoken of it publicly.
the statistics comparing the drug use, teenage pregnancy, sexual abuse by teachers, and mass killings in public school vs home schoolers, is reason enough to dump public school.
Yet we have abundant evidence that the public schools, especially for inner city kids, are a a disaster. My oldest had undiagnosed dyslexia and couldn’t read in the sixth grade. As gifted as he is I see gaping holes in his education. You bet your but we started homeschooling my daughter when she was doing sixth grade math on the computer in the second grade, and her ‘gifted’ teacher couldn’t find a way not to bore her with 2 + 5.
Public schools are based on the turn of the century industrial model, with a heaping spoonful of failing PC educational theories. Homeschoolers are not whiners, they know dysfunction when they see it, and get out.
tyme for the gubmint to get out of the skool bidnez!
My daughters (who attend a private Christian school) are part of a summer theater program and another private Christian school. About a quarter of the kids are homeschooled including several of the stars of the show.
The homeschooled kids seem friendly and well-adjusted to me. Then on top of that they can sing and act in front of a huge audience. My kids are just part of the chorus.
I’m sure there are bad homeschooled kids, but I have yet to meet any. My kids get along better with homeschooled kids than they do with kids in public school.
Thanks, noobie.
I've been waiting around for seven years for you to come along and figure me out.
Are you perhaps one of those whiney babies, and thus so offended?
you to gots gubmint edjumakation?
I'm sorry the normal kids beat you up.
I'm sure you are very tough within the right environment.
Did they call you names? Were the names cruel?
One of my daughters is special needs. She had a terrible time in 3rd grade in the public school, and we seriously considered homeschooling.
She had a neuropsychological exam during this time to figure out what her strengths and weaknesses were. The neuropsychologist said that homeschooling is a great option for special needs kids because they actually get to participate in after school activities. She said there are plenty of opportunities for homeschool children to socialize (church, scouts, art classes, drama classes, sports).
We didn’t homeschool because we found a great little private Christian school, but I like keeping our options open.
I just graduated my first graduate from “Deo Vindice Christian School,” where “You may be whatever you resolve to be.” Anoreth will start at our local community college in one month, and plans to be a top candidate for an ROTC scholarship by the time she’s 20.
The world will be hearing from Anoreth. She wants to go to Iraq (or wherever the next place is :-), and then start her own automotive business after military service. I think she’ll go into politics - she’s got the ego and the drive for it.
Grow up.
For a long time I had a concern that kids who were homeschooled lacked certain social skills. However, now that we are seeing young adults who were homeschooled, went on to college (including many who went to large, prestigious colleges) and have entered the workforce, there is simply no indication that this is true.
The positive, as you’ve noted, is that they are not exposed to the negative socialization.
Yes, I'm sure it's a fine option for some.
But if you'll notice, every pro-homeschool thread manages to
paint public schooled kids as perverts and retards and future bums.
I got two who would love someone to say that to their faces.
I'd break out the camera for that.
When the homeschool crowd stops painting my sons as bums, I'll stop painting the momma-schoolies as whiney babies.
Care to comment, Bobby?
I’m sorry the normal kids beat you up.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Well?....While the “normal” kids were still in high school, mine were picking up their B.S. degrees from our local university.
Guess what? No one ever beat them up or stole their lunch money on the university campus.
Note to all public school teachers, administrators, counselors, cooks, busdrivers, and the whole expensive establishment:
Eventually the idea of freedom in education will win out. Vouchers, tax credits, education by independent contractors, whatever. When public school teachers realize they can be paid directly by the parents there will be an exodus rivalling the Biblical one from the nasty old government schools into the light of day.
Armies of good teachers will rent a space somewhere and start their own little “dame schools,” collecting tuition amounting to double their previous salaries for teaching ten kids, tops. In our lifetime, too.
I think it depends on the parents. However, public and private school kid performance also includes the parents.
I think if parents are involved in a kids education most of the time the child will be successful.
Homeschool parents that take the time to get their kids involved in social activities will have successful kids.
Grow up and help spread the word that my kids are crap because they are public schooled?
Yeah, OK. That makes sense.
Where on this thread did it say that? Nowhere, that’s where.
While you were dutifully declaring my public schooled kids to be morons.
Sorry, Zippy, but it's stupid to expect folks to HELP you insult their kids.
I'm sure you are very tough within the right environment.
Did they call you names? Were the names cruel?
Wow! I am absolutely impressed. Stringing multiple sentences like that together. Your family over at DU must be extremely proud of you.
Tell you what. Why don't you go back to DU and impress them with your "logic", wit and charm, and leave us here at FR to wallow in our ignorance.
So?...You haven't seen government schoolers totally fail?
I have an idea!
If near total illiteracy and numeracy is the standard for a government high school diploma, then the same standards should be completely acceptable for homeschoolers.
Last year my son was in 8th grade public school. One of his favorite teachers was a Christian, so I asked his opinion of private Christian vs public school.
His opinion was that kids can succeed in public school, but it is very hard. Lots of them do get pulled in the wrong direction.
I think it also depends on the public school. Some are better than others. My kids attended a wonderful public elementary school for 3 years. My son had attended a private Christian school the previous 3 years. We liked the public school better. It was small and had lots of Christian teachers and lots of parental involvement. Unfortunately, the school district closed it, and thus started our journey into public school HE**.
Just checked the list of folks who can give me orders.
Heads up, you still ain't on it.
/johnny
Opposition to homeschooling generally comes from two sources:
1) NEA union members, government-school teachers, county board of education members, and other assorted educrats. They are opposed to all homeschooling since it directly threatens their cash cow, and they are supported by higher level bureaucrats who know that homeschooling runs against the “lowest common denominator, turning our barely thinking drools who will do exactly what the government tells them to” aims of public education.
2) Secular fundamentalists who oppose religious homeschooling in particular, since allowing “religious nuts” to control the education of their children apart from close, daily oversight by educrats thoroughly steeped in a materialist worldview makes it that much harder to realise the eventual goal of stamping out the scourge of religion.
I have often posted: “All academically successful children are homeschooled.” ( I **know** this is an outrageous statement.)
This is really an important issue to investigate. If the academically successful institutionalized child is really being educated by his parent, and if the child himself and his parents are doing 99% of the learning and educating at home, then this has important consequences for how we help the disadvantaged child.
If 99% of the learning is occurring in the home due to the efforts of the parents and child then pouring more money into the government schools will NOT yield much improvement. To have real academic improvement one or both of two things **must** happen:
1) Teach parents how to homeschool ( “after school”) their children.
2) Build schools like the KIPP schools that essentially duplicate and replicate for the child what a functional family should be doing.
You must have been educated by a publik skool, since you spelled "whiny" wrong.
Completely unfounded fabricated garbage.
It is an equivalent statement to:
"Your family at the AIDS clinic wishes you would give up sodomy."
Give up that sodomy, it can do you no good.
Probably gives you a sore bum too.
That was a President of the United States. Which one?
/johnny
Did I really?
whine (hwn, wn)
v. whined, whin·ing, whines
v.intr.
1. To utter a plaintive, high-pitched, protracted sound, as
in pain, fear, supplication, or complaint.
2. To complain or protest in a childish fashion.
3. To produce a sustained noise of relatively high pitch:
jet engines whining.
v.tr.
To utter with a whine.
n.
1. The act of whining.
2. A whining sound.
3. A complaint uttered in a plaintive tone.
[Middle English whinen, from Old English hwnan, to make a whizzing sound.]
whiner n.
whining·ly adv.
whiny, whiney adj.
Your mommy must have taught you wrong when she was keeping the mean kids from beating you up.
She's probably in the next room, you should ask her.
I have a friend who is going to start teaching at a Kipp school in the fall. She’s been in a regular public school before this. It will be interesting to hear her side of the story.
They are likely very intelligent, but may not be able to parse latin verbs. Or greek verbs. Or read Hebrew.
They just won't be classically educated.
/johnny
And which statistics would THAT be, humblegunner? Why don’t you provide those for your audience, since you’re the one making the claim about a population of homeschoolers who are “babies” and can’t make it in the “real world”???
Who actually lives in the “real world”??
What to do when my homeschooled 13 year old scores PHS on the Stanford test. That stands for post high school grade level. He is also the tagline mentioned life scout with some 30 odd merit badges also. This is the kid the “professional” teacher wanted to toss out for not doing his seat work! I think I have the answer he will be in Junior college with dual enrollment in the fall. The other one is even scarier finishing an online sixth grade class in three months and playing fiddle (violin) with adults. They do a sport every year and scouts as well. I promise I will have their karate instructor beat their lunch money out of them once per year to keep em socialized. Should we go into the 1000 lexiles probably not. Kudos to the factory school kids getting ready for the factory jobs that have all departed maybe they can follow.
RE: Humblegunner
Usually best to ignore this character. Tends to lob grenades without providing supporting facts, which makes debating an exercise in futility.
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