Homeschooling Myth Busters–Academics Part 5

If the homeschooling movement can push through the socialization and sheltering issues, we then have to contend with the academic questions that arise from the doubtful. Just like the other issues, this one, too, has been proven by research, statistics, and a plethora of “academic successes”. I am puzzled that there is still so much doubt about the academic progress made by homeschoolers. I assume, once again, that it is simply the lack of exposure people have to the homeschooling community.

Education is a confusing topic because it has so many faces. One of the things about homeschooling that frightens people, is that homeschooling parents were the first (and only) to step back and say, “maybe all education isn’t the same…maybe there are different goals, methods, and applications of what we call ‘education’ “.

Prior to homeschooling, the state told us what made a person smart, capable and prepared for the world. But home education opens up a whole new world of opportunity for the student…one, that can in many ways, far surpass that of a limited, class-room setting.

But because that angle alone is so vast and complicated (what is education?) I will try to stick with the perceived ideas of a proper education.

• Extensive studies among thousands of homeschooling families reveal that the homeschool graduate scores consistently higher on standardized test than that of his public-school counterpart. That doesn’t mean there aren’t homeschoolers who bombed those test, just like there are public schoolers who did the same. Remember we’re talking about most, average, and general, lest my naysayers remind me of “the one kid they know about”.

• Colleges around the nation readily admit that they prefer homeschooled students, for the academic savvy, for the diligent study habits, and for the socially mature behavior. (It just cracks me up when someone says, referring to a choice to homeschool, “but what if they need to go to college?”)

• A prominent leader in the NEA (National Education Association) concluded that the preferred and superior method of educating students was a tutoring-style, one-on-one method (i.e. homeschooling).

Those are the facts, and then there are some less factual, but quite obvious reasons homeschooling provides a far better education than a class-room setting.

Even up against the best-intentioned school teacher, a parent is (or should be) much more concerned about his child’s education. God gave us children to love, train, nurture, and yes, to educate. (There’s a whole debate lying in the last statement, that frankly, I’m not yet equipped to engage.) And that is credential enough to lead your child’s education. It far surpasses any teaching degree.

As to the doubts of the ability of “an uneducated mom” teaching her children, let it rest. Here is where our idea of the way education is supposed to be greatly hinders our ability to see what real education is. A teacher-led classroom with spoon-fed information is by far not the best method of teaching. It’s the only way to accomplish the mass-education we’re familiar with. A superior method of teaching would be to ignite a love of learning in a child, and then show him where and how to find information he needs, discovering it with him along the way. This type of teaching ensures a self-directed learning style, leaving him in a perpetual state of learning instead of an “8:00-3:00″ state.

And let’s not forget, for the really worried parent, that there is an ocean of resouces to assist the homeschooling parent. Teacher videos, any kind of learning style curriculum under the sun, co-op classes, debate clubs, and tutoring are all readily available to enrich the education of your homeschooled children.

I’ve seen mothers without even a high school diploma raise brilliant, homeschooled children. And you can bet that her education was beyond the high school level when she was done! (The other added benefit of homeschooling–mom gets a real education!)

As I’ve mentioned in some of my other posts, there are obvious handicaps to children who are forced to either keep up or wait for their peers in a classroom setting. Every child is absolutely different in speed, learning style and ability. To lump them all together and expect them to thrive is really quite absurd. I heard the comment that “the school’s attempt at education is geared for the average student. The problem is, there are no average students”!

If one does doubt the ability of homeschooling to accomplish as much and more than the public school system, one has only to look at the current high school graduates. They are not doing very well.

I urge people who keep spouting their unfounded opinions of “homeschooling doesn’t work”, to do the research. If, after you have seen a fair cross-section of homeschooling families, assessed the statistics, done the research and still conclude that homeschooling doesn’t work, we’ll talk. You really can’t argue with the evidence. You can only ignore it.