Homeschooling

Homeschooling (or home schooling; also called home education) is the education of children at home and in the community, in contrast to education in an institution such as a public or parochial school. It is also in contrast to those who are self-taught.

In the United States, homeschooling is the focus of a substantial movement among parents who wish to provide their children with a custom or more complete education, which they feel is unattainable in most private schools or the government's public schools. While millions of families in the U.S. are educating their children at home, tens of millions of families still prefer an institutional setting for their children.

Overview

As an alternative means of primary and secondary education, homeschooling has proven increasingly popular in the United States. Despite its popularity, or perhaps because of it, some people have concerns about the recent renaissance of this traditional method of educating children. The general historic foundations of homeschooling originate with the informal education systems that existed in the United States before the rise of public schools in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. For example, famous figures such as Thomas Jefferson, Jane Austen, Abraham Lincoln, Geronimo and Louisa May Alcott might be considered to have been homeschooled as they were self-educated or had mentors or tutors growing up, but received little formal schooling.

In the United States, the "curriculum in a box" (or All-in-one curriculum) form of homeschooling dates back to 1906, when the Calvert Day School of Baltimore, Maryland made such materials available through a downtown Baltimore bookstore and a National Geographic advertisement. Within five years, nearly 300 children were making use of materials from Calvert's Home Instruction Department. In less than a century the materials had become the basis for lessons for more than 350,000 children annually in more than 90 countries.

Although estimates vary, roughly one to two million children are homeschooled in the United States, about 90,000 in the UK[1], and about 26,000 in Australia/New Zealand[2]. Individual motivations to homeschool, homeschooling methods, and results of homeschooling (both social and academic) are varied, and are the source of vibrant debate.

As educational choices become abundant through a vast array of educational products and services available, computers, and the internet, the idea of homeschooling is expanding in popularity and acceptance. Some state governments (e.g. Alaska, California, Pennsylvania, Utah and Kansas) sponsor home education "virtual" charter schools and/or reimburse parents who purchase curricula approved by the state. [3] [4]

Homeschooling motivations

Proponents of home education invoke parental responsibility and the classical liberal arguments for personal freedom from government intrusion. Few proponents advocate that homeschooling should be the dominant educational policy. Most homeschooling advocates are wary of the established educational institutions for various reasons. Many are religious conservatives who see non-religious education as contrary to their moral or religious systems. Others feel that they can more effectively tailor a curriculum to suit an individual student’s academic strengths and weaknesses, especially those with learning disabilities. Still others feel that the negative social pressures of schools (such as bullying, drugs, crime, and other school-related problems) are detrimental to a child’s proper development. Some parents simply like the idea of teaching their own children rather than letting someone else do so.

In the United States, reasons for homeschooling vary; religious concerns are an important, though not overwhelming, factor. According to a U.S. Census survey, the parents of 33% of home-schoolers cited religion as a factor in their choice, 30% felt the regular school had a poor learning environment, 14% objected to what the school teaches, 11% felt their children weren't being challenged at school, and 9% cited "morality." [5]

Options which make homeschooling attractive to some families also include:

• Allowing a longer exploratory play-oriented childhood, encouraging the development of rich imagination and pre-academic skills which can foster later academic success
• Allowing the child to learn faster
• The flexibility of the education schedule allows each student to work at his own pace, enjoy family vacations, and integrate outside activities or current events with subjects they are studying.
• Religion, ethics, and character topics not included in public school curriculums can be freely taught.
• Non-traditional curriculums (see "Methods" below) and unusual subjects such as Latin and Greek can be taught.
• Geography, art and music curriculum can be enhanced
• Money management and business topics may be taught and integrated with a family business.

Homeschooling may have a financial impact on families. In addition to having to purchase school supplies and curriculum materials, a homeschooler’s parent(s) often cut back or refrain from employment outside the home in order to supervise the child’s education. This may have long-term career consequences as well. However, many homeschooling parents say that one unique benefit is the additional time they get to spend with their children.

Public opinion of homeschooling

Gallup polls of American voters have shown a significant change in attitude in the last twenty years, from 73% opposed in 1985 to 54% opposed in 2001 [6].

Opposition to homeschooling comes from varied sources, including organizations of teachers and school districts. For example, the National Education Association, the largest teachers' union (in fact, the largest labor union) in the United States, is on record as opposing homeschooling outright, though in recent years they have not been outspoken in this opposition. Opponents' stated concerns fall into several broad categories, including: academic quality and completeness; reduced government money for the public schools; socialization of children with peers; lack of political correctness; and fear of religious or social extremism. However, recent studies tend to dispute this claim. [7][8] Opponents view homeschooling parents as sheltering their children and denying them opportunities that are their children's right, lowering the amount of government money public schools would receive if more children were attending the publicly-funded school, and providing an unfair advantage to homeschooled children over students whose parents lack the time or money for homeschooling.

Legality of homeschooling

In the U.S., homeschooling is generally legal, although in some states homeschool parents are occasionally threatened with prosecution under truancy laws. The U.S. Supreme Court has never ruled on homeschooling specifically, but in Wisconsin v. Yoder, 406 U.S. 205 (1972)[9] it supported the rights of Amish parents to keep their children out of public schools for religious reasons.

Registration practices vary from state to state; for example, in California homeschoolers must register as private schools (a category which has no minimum-enrollment requirement), and are required to have attendance records and lesson plans available for state inspection, although this is rarely performed. In 2002, California Secretary of Public Instruction Delaine Eastin announced that such registration was illegal for homeschoolers, but this has not been tested in court. Other states require submission of curriculum plans or require standardized testing.

Currently, schools and districts in at least five states are offering a home-school curriculum through virtual schools, charter schools, or other education programs. [10]

A few school districts have extension programs which allow homeschooled students to use district resources, such as school libraries or computer labs, or meet with a teacher periodically for curriculum review and suggestions.

In the United Kingdom, section 7 of the Education Act, 1996, states*:

The parent of every child of compulsory school age shall cause him to receive efficient full-time education suitable:

a. to his age, ability and aptitude, and

b. to any special educational needs he may have,

either by regular attendance at school or otherwise.

Homeschooling methods

There is a wide variety of homeschooling methods and materials. Many homeschoolers base their work on a particular educational philosophy such as:

• Classical education (including Trivium, Quadrivium)
• Waldorf Education
• Charlotte Mason education
• Theory of multiple intelligences
• Montessori method

Others use a broad combination of ideas or allow the child to develop his or her own motivation, through what is known as Unschooling.

Because homeschool laws vary widely according to state statutes, official curriculum requirements vary.

Unit studies

Unit studies teach most subjects in the context of a central theme. For example, a unit study of Native Americans would combine age-appropriate lessons in social studies (how different tribes lived), art (making Native American clothing), history (the history of Native Americans in the U.S.), Reading (usually by a reading list), science (plants used by Native Americans). The following month, the unit-study subject could change to "Construction," or some other broad topic of study. Supporters say unit studies make excellent use of student time by combining several fields into one study time, and permit students to follow personal interests. Unit studies also permit children of different ages to study together. For example, in a Native American unit, a 10th-grade student might make a deer-skin coat for an art project, while a 1st-grade student might make construction-paper tipis. Homeschoolers often purchase unit-study guides that suggest materials, projects and shopping lists, and supplement them with specialized curricula for math, and sometimes reading and writing.

Special materials

Special materials focus on skill-building. Individual subject materials usually consist of workbooks, sometimes with textbooks and a teachers' guide. Many specialized subjects are only available in this form. Special materials are frequently used for math and primary reading. Critics say that some parents over-focus on skills while excluding social studies, Science, Art, History and other fields that help children learn their place in the world.

All-in-one curricula

All-in-one curricula are comprehensive packages covering many subjects, usually an entire year's worth. Some call them "school in a box." They contain all needed books and materials, including pencils and writing paper. Most such curricula were developed for isolated families who lack access to public schools, libraries and shops, or are overseas. These materials typically recreate the school environment in the home, and are typically based on the same subject-area expectations as public schools, allowing an easy re-transition into school if desired. They are among the most expensive options for homeschoolers, but are easy to use and require minimal preparation. The teacher's guides are usually extensive, with step-by-step instructions. These programs may include nationally-normed tests, and remote examinations to yield an accredited private-school diploma.

Community resources

Homeschoolers take advantage of educational programs at museums, community centers, athletic clubs, after-school programs, churches, science preserves, parks, and other community resources. High-school level students often take classes at community colleges, which typically have open admission policies.

Eclectic curricula

The majority of today's homeschoolers use an eclectic mix of materials. For instance, they might use a pre-designed program for language arts or math, and fill in history with reading and field trips, art with classes at a community center, science through a homeschool science club, PE with membership in local sports teams, and so on.

Unschooling

Unschooling is an area within homeschooling in which students are not directly instructed but encouraged to learn through exploring their interests. Also known as interest-led or child-led learning, unschooling attempts to provide opportunities with games and real life problems where a child will learn without coercion. An unschooled child may choose to use texts or classroom instruction, but it is never considered central to education. Advocates for unschooling claim that children learn best by learning from doing. A child may learn reading and math skills from playing card games, better spelling and other writing skills because he's inspired to write a science fiction story for publication, or local history by following a zoning or historical-status dispute.

Homeschooling results

Academic results

The academic effectiveness of homeschooling is largely a settled issue. Numerous studies have confirmed the academic integrity of home education programs, demonstrating that average homeschoolers outperform their public school peers by 30 to 37 percentile points across all subjects. Moreover, the performance gaps between minorities and gender that plague public schools are virtually non-existent amongst homeschooled students.[11]

Some critics argue that while homeschooled students generally do extremely well on standardized tests[12], such students are a self-selected group whose parents care strongly about their education; such students would also do well in a conventional school environment. Increasingly, colleges are recruiting homeschooled students; many colleges accept a GED as well as parent statements and portfolios of students' work as admission criteria; others also require SATs or other standardized tests.

Some opponents argue that parents with little training in education are less effective in teaching. However, some studies do indicate that parents' income and education level affect home educated students' performance on standardized tests very little.

Homeschooled children's curricula often include many subjects not included in school curricula. Some colleges find this an advantage in creating a more academically diverse student body, and proponents argue this creates a more well-rounded and self-sufficient adult. Opponents argue that homeschoolers' eclectic curricula often exclude critical subjects and isolate them from the rest of society, or present them with ideological worldviews, especially religious ones.

The results of homeschooling with gifted and learning-disabled children are not as thoroughly studied.

Social development

A common concern voiced about homeschooled children is they lack the social interaction with peers that a school environment provides. Many homeschooling families address these concerns by joining numerous organizations, including independent study programs and specialized enrichment groups for PE, Art, Music, and Debate. Most are also active in community groups. Homeschooled children generally socialize with other children the same way that school children do: outside of school, via personal visits and through sports teams, clubs and religious groups.

Some homeschooling proponents have argued that homeschooling actually enhances the student's social development. Arguing that the school years are the only time in a person's life that he or she will be artificially segregated into chronologically-determined groups, these advocates assert that homeschoolers have a more normal interaction with persons across the age spectrum. This, in turn, results in more influence on the child from adults, and less from other children, leading to more mature youngsters. Needless to say, this is a controversial view.

In 2003, the National Home Education Research Institute conducted a survey of over 7,300 adults who had been homeschooled (over 5,000 for more than seven years). Here are some of the study's findings:

"Homeschool graduates are active and involved in their communities. Seventy-one percent participate in an ongoing community service activity (e.g., coaching a sports team, volunteering at a school, or working with a church or neighborhood association), compared to 37% of U.S. adults of similar ages."

"Homeschoolers are more involved in civic affairs and vote in much higher percentages than their peers. For example, 76% of homeschool graduates surveyed between the ages of 18–24 voted within the last five years, compared to only 29% of the relevant U.S. population. The numbers of homeschool graduates who vote are even greater in the older age brackets, with voting levels not falling below 95%, compared to a high of 53% for the corresponding U.S. populace."

"Of those adults who were homeschooled, 58.9% report that they are 'very happy' with life (compared to 27.6% for the general U.S. population). Moreover, 73.2% of homeschooled adults find life 'exciting', compared to 47.3% of the general population."[13]

ERIC, the Education Resources Information Center of the U.S. government, has published multiple articles on homeschooling. Here's an excerpt from one which examined several studies on homeschool socialization:

"According to the findings, children who were schooled at home 'gained the necessary skills, knowledge, and attitudes needed to function in society...at a rate similar to that of conventionally schooled children.'

"The researcher found no difference in the self concept of children in the two groups. Stough maintains that 'insofar as self concept is a reflector of socialization, it would appear that few home-schooled children are socially deprived, and that there may be sufficient evidence to indicate that some home-schooled children have a higher self concept than conventionally schooled children.'" [14]

Proponents argue further that the social environment of schools:

• eradicates individuality and creativity.
• sinks to the standards of the lowest common denominator
• involves bullying, drug use, early sexuality, defiance, criminality, materialism, and eating disorders.

and that socialization in the wider community:

• leads them to see adults, rather than peers, as role models
• better prepares them for real life
• encourages them to be more involved in youth organizations, church organizations, and sports
• helps them develop an independent understanding of themselves and their role in the world, with the freedom to reject or approve conventional values without the risk of ridicule.

Opponents of homeschooling offer the following criticisms concerning socialization, pointing out that not all homeschooling families participate extensively in community activities:

• Interaction with peers and different social groups is essential to learning to live in society.
• Schools are a unique environment that provide students with necessary social networking skills that help them succeed in the workplace and in the politics of high-level business. Real life includes school as well.
• Homeschoolers tend to live in an insulated world where they aren't exposed to a variety of ideas, which can prevent any personal growth and independence later on in life.
• If children are insulated from unpleasant social situations, then they will be left unprepared when they are inevitably left to make their own way in the world. Children should be allowed to live and learn from their mistakes rather than sheltered from reality.

Some persons oppose homeschooling because they fear that children in such homes will be influenced too much by the ideas of their parents, and not exposed to the ideas forwarded in schools run by the government.

Notable homeschooled individuals

• Thomas Edison
• Dakota Fanning
• Christopher Paolini
• Sho Yano

See also

• Educational philosophies, education reform
• Catherine Baker
• John Taylor Gatto
• Accelerated Christian Education

Footnote

• The extract from the Education Act is Crown Copyright, 1996. Reproduced from Her Majesty's Stationary Office, United Kingdom. The Education Act is available in printed form, ISBN 0105456969.

Resources

• Teach Your Own by John Holt and Patrick Farenga
• The Well-Trained Mind by Susan Wise Bauer and Jessie Wise
• The Teenage Liberation Handbook by Grace Llewellyn
• The Homeschooling Handbook by Mary Griffith
• Family Matters: Why Homeschooling Makes Sense by David Guterson
• You Are Your Child's First Teacher by Rahima Baldwin Dancy

External links

USA

General:

• National Home Education Network
• What They're Reading at the Kitchen Table, a September 2005 article from the Wall Street Journal
• A portal for homeschooling, with consumer information from an AdSense-supported website run by a Californian woman
• National African-American Homeschoolers Alliance The largest and most comprehensive website and organization for African American homeschooling families
• About Homeschooling An About.com homeschool community with forums, free ecourses, curriculum reviews, unit studies, clubs for the kids, and information for beginners
• One family's guide to "Christian homeschooling", partially supported by AdSense

Research:

• National Home Education Research Institute
• Homeschooling Grows Up: The largest research survey to date of adults who were home-educated.
• ERIC digests from US Dept. of Education
  • Homeschooling, by Patricia M. Lines, 2001
  • Home Schooling and Socialization of Children
  • The Scholastic Achievement of Home School Students
  • Home Schooling
• Annotated bibliography of research on homeschooling, hosted on a GeoCities website

Legalities:

• The Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA)

All-in-one curricula:

• Calvert School, which created the market in 1906
• K12, Inc., founded by William Bennett and popular with parents who want a heavy emphasis on values

UK

• Home Education UK - Contains links to UK, US, European and Australian home education organisations
• Diversity-Otherwise - UK multi-cultural home education
• HSLDA UK Webpage - Legal information and links to UK home education organisations.
• Home Education Diary - from a family in Scotland, with activities and links to resources.
• Education Otherwise - a home education charity with around 16,000 members in the UK

France

• IndigoExtra - provides information and links on home education in Europe, with a focus on France

Publications

• Home Education Magazine The oldest homeschool magazine in the US. Many articles online
• The Old Schoolhouse Magazine Large, diverse homeschooling magazines with international distribution.