HOMESCHOOLING ON THE RISE

HOMESCHOOLING ON THE RISE: More Parents Losing Faith in Public Education

It’s a growing trend in the 21st century. More students are being sent home from school. But it’s the school being punished, so to speak, by the parents, as they opt to take charge of their children’s education themselves.

Attorneys for the Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) are available for interviews to discuss this intriguing migration, documented by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the Education Department, which indicates that:

• Homeschooling has grown 36% between 2003 and 2007.
• 1.5 million (or 2.9%) of school-aged children are now taught at home.
• The trend shows a 9% increase a year in that short time.

So what gives?

Quite plainly, according to an NCES survey, parents are growing disenchanted with public schools, citing negative peer influences and concern about the academic quality of public school as two primary reasons for homeschooling.

But the fastest growing opinion cited among homeschooling parents is a desire to provide religious or moral instruction—up from 72% of respondents in 2003 to 83% in 2007—as the secularist movement continues to strip Christian values from public institutions.

For HSLDA President, Michael Smith, the trend also has everything to do with parents’ acceptance of homeschooling as a “mainstream educational alternative.” And, he says, “It will continue to flourish as parents and children continue to experience the social and academic benefits of a home-based education.”  [snip]

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE MERITS OF HOMESCHOOLING?

Homeschooled children consistently score well on standardized achievement tests. The most comprehensive study shows a 20 - 30 percentile point gap in favor of homeschoolers. For example if the public school average is the 50th percentile a homeschooler will on average be in the 70th or 80th percentile.

Homeschooling is the fastest growing education sector in America, growing at a rate of 7 to 15 percent per year. Some of the Reasons people homeschool include:

1. Safety of their children in public school, crime, drugs, and negative peer socialization.
2. The ability to teach from a religious perspective.
3. The belief that parents, in conjunction with a homeschool support group, can provide a better education than either a public or private school.
4. Desire to spend more time together as family for better quality of family life.

Homeschool graduates are more involved in community activities than the average public school student.

Homeschool graduates are significantly more politically active than the average public school student. Over 74 percent of homeschooled graduates aged 18-24 voted in an election in the past 5 years. Compare this to a token 29 percent of public schooled graduates who voted during that same time period.

Homeschooled students consistently win national geographic and spelling bee contests.   (Special Guests)

Comments

[Katie]

And Homeschoolers aren't programed with the PC nonsense, taught Cultural Anthropology instead of History and have a high self-esteem.

[Steve Harkonnen]

My wife is a (frustrated) World History I teacher for 9th grade. She's frustrated over many things, including the SOL's involved, and what is being taught.

Creativity is being removed from teachers, which translates to less of an education than what we received when we were younger.

"Homeschooling is a plus," she tells me, "but only if the parents keep active and keep up with inspiring their children to learn."

[Steve Harkonnen]

Exactly, Katie. Further, I see that in the Virginia SOL's that American History must teach the kids about McCarthyism - which is nothing but a liberal fabrication. Too bad liberals don't read about the Venona Decrypts which tells the truth...McCarthy was doing fine work and too bad the liberals stopped him.

[Always On Watch]

As one who works with groups of homeschoolers, I know very well the benefits and the shortcomings of the homeschooling movement.

Overall, though, I believe that homeschooling is the only way to make sure that parents' values are passed on to their children.

BTW, a few years back, homeschoolers at Patrick Henry College defeated Harvard in rounds of policy debate. Woohoo!

[Wayne]

I've linked to your post from

http://www.jeremiahfilms.com/released/conservatism/901071438

Why Conservatives are losing ground - Call to Dunkirk

... I do not know where you stand on the 2nd amendment but I've had a conversation with a 12 yo about gun laws - apparently only bad people have guns; Ignoring the fact good people use guns to stop crime in self defence. And Global warming, and, and, and ...

[Debbie]

Wayne: Thanks for that link and for your article.

It's true, our schools have played a huge part in the downfall of Conservatism, the family, parental control over what kids learn and their values.

It's a shame that home schooling parents have to pay twice, once through taxes and the second time with their own money for school supplies etc. for their children.