Get Schooled

By Tony

June 19, 2008 9:13 AM | Link to this

My hat’s off to those parents who take on the task of schooling their own children. Many parents do an excellent job of this and our government has no business interfering. The families are required to register with the local board of education and must prove that the parent has a high school diploma. Parents are required to provide periodic updates and show how much time is spent schooling the children. Anything beyond this, IMO, would be excessive government interference.

It was very disappointing to see a liberal court in California declare that parents were not qualified to school their own children. This came from a state that is in crisis in many of its districts because they can not find enough certified teachers.

In Georgia, it is fairly easy for parents to home school their children and there are support groups to assist in providing resources to help. I have only had a couple of children who were home-schooled that I suspected had done nothing toward learning the basics. Most families I know go well beyond the basic curriculum prescribed by our state and provide learning opportunities for their children through travel, work, and camps.

By jim d

June 19, 2008 9:21 AM | Link to this

Should parents get training before being allowed to home school?

NO

However, perhaps they should recieve training before birthing a child.

Whatta think?

Here’s the point. Any parent that will give of themselves to homeschool their kids is indeed qualified to do so. Those that aren’t—won’t.

By Jeff

June 19, 2008 9:26 AM | Link to this

Tony:

Other than the fact that I don’t believe parents should even have to register with the local school board, we are in agreement here.

YES, I’ve known some home school kids that sat around and did nothing all day - including one that I know VERY well, as she has been dating my brother for several years.

On the flip side, I also know MIDDLE SCHOOL home school kids that know more Shakespeare than some COLLEGE GRADUATES I know, and have actually READ many of the classics that most HS kids only skim through. (Including the one I am currently reading - Fahrenheit 451 - and others that you may not expect, such as Atlas Shrugged, Anthem, The Prince, The Art of War, Animal Farm, etc.) Many of these kids also know their math facts so well that they can go up to Calculus before even THINKING about needing a calculator. Also, the level of knowledge of history, geography, and US History in particular often astounds even ME. (Ever read Paine’s Common Sense? MOST Adults I know can’t say they have - many don’t even know what it is- and yet I know some home school kids that can discuss it, and probably could discuss it with Jefferson or Paine himself!)

By FCM

June 19, 2008 9:28 AM | Link to this

My cousin home schooled her kids (now 15, 16, 18) for years. In recent years she has had to send them to a home school group…she is not qualified to teach the HS subjects. It seem to work for them…we shall see as they move into college/university what happens.

Bortz was trashing people who let their kids go to public school. I called and reminded him that some of us are doing the best we can and public school is our only option. Vouchers baby vouchers…then make the schools compete for my children to attend.

By Jeff

June 19, 2008 9:44 AM | Link to this

BTW:

A book I am reading right now by a GA native author speaks quite a bit on homeschooling. Those that like to read may want to check it out:

Deeper Water by Robert Whitlow.

(Yes, I have switched into my ‘summer’ mode of reading two books at once, one at home - Fahrenheit 451 - and one on my lunch break at work - Deeper Water.)

By dragonlady

June 19, 2008 10:02 AM | Link to this

A small word of advice to that father: the home-schooled students I have taught cannot spell and haven’t got a clue about English grammar. When they do come to me in the public schools after years of home-schooling, they are mostly great kids who know a great deal. I have taught quite a few over the years, and without exception, their spelling is poor and their grammar skills non-existent.
Otherwise, my hat is off to him.

By FCM

June 19, 2008 10:42 AM | Link to this

@ jeff—

I think Common Sense and Democracy in America should be required reading for HS Seniors….both would allow the newly voting public to understand just why they need to be informed. Your telling me these are not even discussed in school anymore?

By Mike K.

June 19, 2008 11:03 AM | Link to this

FCM-

I graduated high school in 1985. We talked in passing about Common Sense (i.e. significance, author, etc.) but we didn’t read the work itself.

By Jeff

June 19, 2008 11:08 AM | Link to this

FCM:

Let’s put it this way:

No even I have read Common Sense.

It WAS discussed when I was in school - in passing, as a minor detail of the Revolutionary War - but even then, the Revolutionary War is largely skipped over in most US History classes. Primary emphasis in most of those classes goes to the pre-Colonial and Colonial eras, mentions the Revolutionary War, then spends most of their time on the Constitution (but not the controversies/discussions surrounding it at its inception), then skips another 50 years or so and jumps to the Civil War, where they spend much of the rest of their time (and even then never REALLY learn about it!)

Myself and my brothers happen to know more than most about US History because it happens to be a common interest for us. Most people can’t say that, and they never learned about much of the history they need in school!

By Jeff

June 19, 2008 11:18 AM | Link to this

BTW:

Just found an online copy of Common Sense:

http://www.constitution.org/tp/comsense.htm

By Elsie

June 19, 2008 11:37 AM | Link to this

I absolutely support anyone who chooses to home-school their children; it is a tremendous commitment, and has amazing results when done well. I share dragonlady’s concerns, though. I have also known some home-schooled students who were woefully lacking in certain subjects. Even more scary are the parents who blog defiantly and defensively about how they would never send their children to public schools- in the worst possible spelling and grammar.

Are home-schooled students in Georgia required to take any standardized tests? Even with their flaws, standardized tests are the current measure of student achievement. Perhaps a reasonable compromise would be to use the same criteria for home-schooled students (setting a minimum score for “passing” a grade; if the home-schooled student fails to meet the criteria, then the parent would submit an intervention plan for the second year). This would in no way prevent the parent from supplementing the curriculum and teaching in unconventional ways, but it would encourage at least minimum competency across subject lines. What, then, should be the consequence if a student fails to meet this benchmark for two consecutive years? In public school, if a student had the same teacher for two years and failed for two years, we would be questioning the teacher rather than the student. Thoughts?

By HS Teacher Too

June 19, 2008 12:03 PM | Link to this

FCM, In my experience, the books are discussed, but other than in the advanced/AP classes, most of the students will not read the books (or excerpts) as primary sources. Part of the logic behind that is the forest-for-the-trees argument: for some of the lower-achieving students, trying to read colonial English is such a challenge that they lose the message of the text. That’s not to say a great teacher can’t help students past that, but nowadays most teachers don’t have time for that kind of enrichment in their history classes.

Does anyone know if students still take a version of civics, independent of a history class? I wonder if they read — or are at least exposed to — those works in those classes.

By Jeff

June 19, 2008 1:21 PM | Link to this

Looked it up on GeorgiaStandards.com:

HS level: 3/25 of the US History standards revolve around the Revolution/Constitution.

They state:

SSUSH3 The student will explain the primary causes of the American Revolution.

a. Explain how the end of Anglo-French imperial competition as seen in the French-Indian War, and the 1763 Treaty of Paris, laid the groundwork for the American Revolution. b. Explain colonial response to such British actions such as the Proclamation of 1763 Stamp Act, and the intolerable acts as seen in Sons and Daughters of Liberty, and Committees of Correspondence. c. Explain the importance of Thomas Paine’s Common Sense to the movement for independence.

SSUSH4 The student will identify the ideological, military, and diplomatic aspects of the American Revolution.

a. Explain the language, organization, and intellectual sources including the writing of John Locke and Montesquieu of the Declaration of Independence and the role of Thomas Jefferson. b. Explain the reason for and significance of the French alliance and foreign assistance and the roles of Benjamin Franklin and the Marquis de Lafayette. c. Analyze George Washington as a military leader including the creation of a professional military and the life of a common soldier, crossing the Delaware River, and Valley Forge. d. Explain Yorktown, the role of Lord Cornwallis and the Treaty of Paris, 1783.

SSUSH5 The student will explain specific events and key ideas that brought about the adoption and implementation of the United States Constitution.

a. Explain how weaknesses in the Articles of Confederation and Daniel Shays’ Rebellion led to a call for a stronger central government. b. Evaluate the major arguments of the anti-Federalists and Federalists during the debate on ratification of the Constitution put forth in the Federalists Papers concerning form of government, factions, checks and balances and the power of the executive including the roles of Alexander Hamilton and James Madison. c. Explain the key features of the Constitution, specifically Great Compromise, separation of powers, limited government, and the issue of slavery. d. Analyze how the Bill of Rights serves as a protector of individual and states rights. e. Explain the importance of the Presidencies of George Washington and John Adams including the Whiskey Rebellion, non-intervention in Europe, and the development of political parties (Alexander Hamilton).

The American Constitution class has 3 standards that relate to the creation of the document:

SSCG1 The student will demonstrate knowledge of the political philosophies that shaped the development of United States constitutional government.

a. Analyze key ideas of limited government and the rule of law as seen in the Magna Carta, the Petition of Rights, and the English Bill of Rights. b. Analyze the writings of Hobbes (Leviathan), Locke (Second Treatise on Government), and Montesquieu (The Spirit of Laws) as they impact our concept of government. bachjaTesting.

SSCG2 The student will analyze the natural rights philosophy and the nature of government expressed in the Declaration of Independence.

a. Compare and contrast the Declaration of Independence to the Social Contract Theory. b. Evaluate the Declaration of Independence as a persuasive argument.

SSCG3 The student will demonstrate knowledge of the United States Constitution.

a. Explain the main ideas in debate over ratification including those in The Federalist. b. Analyze the purpose of government stated in the Preamble of the United States Constitution. c. Explain the fundamental principles upon which the United States Constitution is based including the rule of law, popular sovereignty, separation of powers, checks and balances, and federalism.

By Paul

June 19, 2008 2:03 PM | Link to this

Although I support the notion of home schooling, I also know that some kids are put in a very disadvantageous position by their parents’ decision to home school.

Someone mentioned vouchers, but a recent report by the DOE (Bush administration’s DOE) showed that the voucher program, supported by Federal money, isn’t working. Of course, the administration is pushing for more support for this failing program…

http://www.thecarpetbaggerreport.com/archives/15904.html

Here is the link to the report: http://ies.ed.gov/ncee/pdf/20084023.pdf

By TheBlogger

June 19, 2008 2:32 PM | Link to this

Home schooled students should pass all tests and requirements as other students. This includes the CRCT, EOCT, and GHSGT.

I feel that even one child that is home schooled by a parent that just doesn’t want their child to ‘go to school’ and yet doesn’t get any education is horrible. I hear of some that keep their kids home to do chores, to work at their small business (free labor), or for other reasons. These children cannot read or write, much less know anything about history or science or math.

There should be rules in place for home schooling to prevent abuse.

By teach1

June 19, 2008 3:31 PM | Link to this

Does anyone know the drop out rate for Homeschoolers? I only ask because I know someone personally who “decided” to homeschool in 9th grade but by 10th was struggling and done by 11th. 4 years later she is talking about getting her GED. Just curious.

By Tony

June 19, 2008 4:13 PM | Link to this

teach1 presents a curious example of bad statistics for schools. By deciding to begin homeschool in 9th grade, that student was already in the database for that high school’s 9th grade. Guess who gets the drop out statistic! Not the home school. The last high school of record will get that mark.

Paul is onto something, too. Vouchers and choice programs are producing no better results than traditional public schools, yet so many are still touting them as the “cure” for the ills of public education. And he is right when he says the Bush administration wants to throw more money at vouchers in DC. Facts do not usually come into play when political decisions like this are made.

By Simon

June 19, 2008 4:54 PM | Link to this

Do students attending private schools have to take all those state mandated tests that public school students must take? If not, why should home schoolers be any different? On the other hand, if private school students are not required to take those tests, why shouldn’t they be?

By catlady

June 19, 2008 4:55 PM | Link to this

I was run into the other day (literally) by a young man who, while making conversation as we waited for the police, told me he had been home schooled and “had a perfect 4.0”! (He works as a grocery bagger) I almost choked.

I have taught quite a few recycled home schooled kids. With a couple of noteable exceptions, the children had massive gaps in their skills in one or more areas. One told me he never studied science at home because he “hates science”. Another told me English was a bore. He could not write a coherent sentence. However, I applaud their parents’ wherewithal to undertake such an important job. I just wish the student had to be tested to be placed if they decide to send them to public school, and a placement decision made based on the results. I get annoyed with those who drop in and drop out, depending on whether they are mad at the current teacher or not. If you decide to home school, then DO IT. I also do not support public schools having to provide sports, etc, for home schooled kids. To me, it’s one of those things that, if you make the decision, an important one, you should stick to it. Public school is not a cafeteria, iMHO. Yeah, yeah, I know they pay taxes, but I pay taxes for stuff I never use as well.

Laura, any information yet on how many of the roughly 900 (?) kids who got the sp ed vouchers to go to private school left their chosen school before the end of the year? Could you do a public records request?

By FCM

June 19, 2008 5:10 PM | Link to this

Jeff, Mike K, HS Teach 2—thanks for clarifying. I had American History, American Lit, and History of US Aviation (JROTC) all at the same time my Junior of HS about 22 years ago. I remember the most from that year for 2 reasons…one with all those classes going over the same time period from their perspectives it was reinforced like crazy—not to mention it made studying a breeze. 2—That is when I found my twin passions of Politics and History—-when I got to college I added the Sociology bent…I love to see how what government does effects/affects (yes both) the people they govern…Unfortunately History keeps showing me that humans are slow learners.

I read The Prince in Middle School when my Dad dared me to do it for a report…That is when I really learned that I liked government…but until HS I didn’t understand the true study.

Such a shame to have a degree in Pols, and enough credits to go back to formalize a degree in History and no way to use it in life…. well ok I use it in social settings or on blogs. However the knowledge might make some money on a game show.

By Janine

June 19, 2008 6:41 PM | Link to this

LAURA…Ditto CATLADY’s question…how many of the roughly 900 (?) kids who got the sp ed vouchers to go to private school left their chosen school before the end of the year? I tHink a lot of people would like to know . Not only that , but how many who actually completed the year are returning to those private schools…AND How many vouchers have been requested for the upcoming year? **Please do let us know about this.

By Lee

June 19, 2008 7:01 PM | Link to this

Here’s my take on homeschooling:

If a child has average to above average intelligence and is homeshooled by parents who have average to above average intelligence, then most likely, the child will receive an education at least as good as public school and in most cases, a better education.

A below average child with below average parents will produce dismal results.

By HomeSchoolMomma

June 19, 2008 7:07 PM | Link to this

We homeschool our children. After several years in the public school system in Fayette County. The elementary school was great but once the eldest hit middle school, we knew we needed to do something different. Are there parents that don’t do as they should when homeschooling? Absolutely but don’t even try to tell me that the public schools successfully educate all the children that pass through their doors. If they were doing such a good job, homeschooling wouldn’t be growing by leaps and bounds. The overwhelming majority of homeschool parents ensure their children are receiving the highest level of academics that they are capable of pursuing. They also make sure their children have ample opportunity to socialize with other children. It is rare day that my children do not see other children, whether it be at a homeschool class, field trip, Little League, gymnastics, etc. On a side note, if my grammar isn’t perfect in a blog, I really don’t care so please don’t think I’ll care if you analyze it (and this lovely run-on sentence).

By Jennifer

June 19, 2008 7:29 PM | Link to this

Home School Momma, While I don’t think your grammar needs to be perfect for a blog, don’t you think it would send a stronger message if you at least made an effort? You are, after all, trying to defend homeschooling against accusations that specifically address poor grammar!

I think you missed an opportunity to make a stronger statement. That’s a shame.

By Tony

June 19, 2008 11:11 PM | Link to this

I also do not support public schools having to provide sports, etc, for home schooled kids….Yeah, yeah, I know they pay taxes….

I agree with catlady’s position on this issue. You see, since home schooled students do not attend/enroll in the public school, the school does not get the funding for that student. So, the tax paying, home schooling family’s tax money is supporting other forms of government - not the school. Before you blast me, I know they pay property taxes, but this is usually insignificant in comparison to the FTE.

By Chet Lemon

June 20, 2008 12:06 AM | Link to this

“…what kind of training and lessons do parents need before they start home schooling their children? Should we require parents to get some training before they start home schooling?”

With homeschooled kids handily outperforming government school “educated” kids, shouldn’t Ms. Diamond’s question be: “Should government school teachers take classes from homeschool parents every summer in order to improve their performance?”

Seriously, what gives the education establishment and the journalists who propagate teachers unions’ propaganda the nerve to demand that parents get “training” before they educate their OWN children. It’s kind of like demanding that everyone who wants to play baseball take batting lessons from Mario Mendoza.

By lovemy4kids

June 20, 2008 1:04 AM | Link to this

I would say that the home school movement of today is best described as “free-market education”. The parent examines the multitude of educational options available and then selects the ones that are the best fit for their children’s aptitude and their own intellectual strengths. Some choose a complete video home school program (A Beka is popular) where the veteran teacher is on the video and the parent serves as the facilitator. Others choose the book curriculum and do the teaching themselves, often using a teacher’s guide. Others choose to create their own curriculum, or select a mix from different publishers. There are also many online courses which are available and some will even issue credits. “Write at Home” will provide your student with a personal writing coach. Computer software, such as Rosetta Stone can fill in the gap for teaching a foreign language. There are also many home school co-ops that organize field trips and offer courses taught by parents with special training in a certain academic area. There is even a “home school” school. This uses the University Model in which classes are held three days a week in a classroom setting with certified teachers and parents are responsible for teaching their child at home on the other two days. These schools usually have accreditation accepted by private and public colleges. As you can see, the free-market has provided a solution for most educational needs, whether the parent is teacher material or not. I have a friend (a former elementary public school teacher) who home schooled her children through fourth grade, sent them to a private Christian school through eighth grade, and the oldest child just graduated from a public high school in the gifted program and will be attending college. I think more than anything, the home school movement is about freedom of choice; the Founding Fathers would smile on this idea.

By TheBlogger

June 20, 2008 3:18 AM | Link to this

Lee I would say that a child with an average or above average IQ with parents that give a darn and also have an average to above average IQ would be ultra successful in a public school (as well as home school). Your qualifications don’t make sense to me. That child would be successful anywhere, right?

So then, why homeschool?

The only reasons I can think of include:

Chet Lemon Where, pray tell, do you get your statistics that home schooled kids outperform public school kids? Even if you could produce such statistics, I would say that they don’t tell the whole story. Why?

People like you (and Rush L, Neal B, etc.) really p** me off. You spout complete BS and slant topics to suit your own views without looking at everything. Open your eyes and ears - you may learn something.

By Lee

June 20, 2008 5:17 AM | Link to this

Blogger, if your definition of success is the student pass all the mind-numbing standardized tests, then yes, the student would be successful.

Unfortunately, the current public school model is to place the above average student in a “balanced” classroom with dimwits, borderline retards, ESOL students who can’t speak a lick of English, and a host of other troublemakers and malcontents for the first ten years of the student’s academic career. It is only when the student reaches high school that they can segregate themselves by attendance in A/P, honors, or college prep classes. Almost too little, too late IMHO.

Consider too that the public school model is to make sure that the lowest students in the class pass NCLB instead of providing an appropriate education commensurate with the individual students ability.

No wonder people are looking at homeschooling as a viable option.

By jim d

June 20, 2008 6:58 AM | Link to this

Interesting comment Lee, about the measure of success. I have a young man that was an A/B student throughout HS, taking a pretty rigorous course load, who had been labeled as gifted at a very early age. His measure is only now being taken as he is enrolled in a college summer program.

Just for the record, I’d recommend that any student enrolling as a freshmen in the fall, look into summer programs, to prepare them for what they are about to encounter.

By HomeSchoolMomma

June 20, 2008 7:04 PM | Link to this

There are a lot of measures for success, test scores being only one of them. Most homeschoolers that I know do get in to college, and do well, maintaining their scholarship money. That’s a measure of success. One employer in our town told me he prefers homeschooled students for his part time summer/after school positions. I asked him why. He said that, normally, he has to spend less time training them, and he has fewer customer complaints about them. He also said they tend to ask for less time off, and have strong work ethics. To me, that’s another measure of success.

By shemeekea

June 23, 2008 1:03 PM | Link to this

I think homeschool is pretty good. Believe me, in some classes, there are little or no teaching going on!! There maybe three hours out of seven really spared on instruction. The rest of the day is correcting behavior,doing lunch count,teachers doing paperwork, and etc. There are students who attend public school that still speak incorrect grammar and write run on sentences. If a parent want to homeschool, I think that is good if they are providing more than 2 hours of instruction time. Most children are more focused with one on one instruction which they will never get in piblic education.

By shemeekea

June 23, 2008 1:03 PM | Link to this

I think homeschool is pretty good. Believe me, in some classes, there are little or no teaching going on!! There maybe three hours out of seven really spared on instruction. The rest of the day is correcting behavior,doing lunch count,teachers doing paperwork, and etc. There are students who attend public school that still speak incorrect grammar and write run on sentences. If a parent want to homeschool, I think that is good if they are providing more than 2 hours of instruction time. Most children are more focused with one on one instruction which they will never get in public education.

By katherine

June 24, 2008 5:23 PM | Link to this

So many families use home school as what to do when their kid(s) get expelled or sent to alternative school. There are many, many families who do great with home school - they are focused, creative, knowledgeable, etc. That scenario is wonderful. However, the law allows parents/grandparents/aunts/uncles/neighbors “teach” some of these kids just to satisfy mandatory school attendance laws. Also, parents who can’t get their children up and out of bed enough days to prevent truancy issues then home school to keep the government out of their lives - If the parents can’t get the students to school everyday - how on earth do they teach them? I have visions of unsocialized families all in their jammies eating peanutbutter in bed while doing their schoolwork. There has to be a better way. I think that if you homeschool, there should be a commitment of 180 days, not drop in school, drop out of school to home school, back and forth.

By me

June 24, 2008 9:17 PM | Link to this

not to mention homeschool kids are weird…it’s true don’t deny

By concerned citizen

June 25, 2008 1:05 AM | Link to this

Every parent should grasp and hold on to the urgent reality that as a parent, even while children are attending public schools during the day, these same children are being “homeschooled” by working parents while at home. I’ve never seen the downside of getting the best both worlds have to offer.

The best home school students don’t have anything on the best public school students. That’s a fact.

What should concern society most is that homeschoolers seem to focus more attention on liberal arts like history and reading; future jobs are becoming more focused on science and math; will these homeschooled children be “brilliant” but unprepared for the world that awaits them outside their home experience? I will never feel I have made the wrong decision by exposing my children to all that education has to offer, not just my version of it.

By Luis

June 25, 2008 8:59 PM | Link to this

MY SON HAVE A CHANCE TO TAKE FRENCH CLASS ON 8TH GRADE. HIS CRCT 7TH GRADE SCORE ON READING WAS 830. WILL HE NEED HELP TO PASS THE 8TH GRADE CRCT READING TEST…..PLEASE SOME ADVICE SINCE I HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION QUICK…FOR THE RECORD, I DIDN’T ATTEND SCHOOL IN THE STATES, AND THIS IS MY OLDEST SON, THAT’S WHAY THE HELP.

THANK YOU - LUIS

By lovemy4kids

June 26, 2008 3:09 AM | Link to this

To concerned citizen: Just to ease your mind a bit, I thought would let you know that my home school kids scored in the 89th and 95th percentile on the ITBS Math Total for 4th and 5th grades. The oldest also participated on a First Lego League (robotics) home school team. The top two regional winners were home school teams-not the government funded ones. My oldest has two friends in the public school gifted program. His math and science curriculum are two years ahead of theirs. He has also taught himself computer programming in his spare time. By public school standards, I guess he IS pretty weird….

By jim d

June 26, 2008 6:41 AM | Link to this

Concerned citizen,

I’m afraid you’ve bought into some of the misgivings regarding homeschool.

According to education reformers William J. Bennett, Chester E. Finn Jr., and John T. E. Cribb Jr. in their recent book, The Educated Child, the public schools have suffered at least since the mid-seventies from watered-down assignments and exams, politically correct textbooks, incompetent or lazy teachers who can’t be fired because of union protection, and trendy educational fads like “New Math” that have pushed aside the three Rs. It’s a toxic brew, the authors argue, that has left only one out of three public school fourth-graders reading “proficiently,” 40 percent of public school eighth-graders unable to do basic math, and public school 12th graders the worst in the industrialized world in science.

The fact is that homeschool students are doing much better than that in both math and science not to mention being years ahead of their Public school counter parts in reading. Granted it may be more due to their S/E status being more middle class, but they are none the less showing a better track record in these subjects than public school students. So I really have no concerns regarding their readiness to join the work force.

By conerned citizen

June 27, 2008 5:08 PM | Link to this

to luvmy4kids:

you prove my point - you say your child is “2 years ahead” in math, yet my children (3rd and 6th grade)are 99th percentile on ITBS every time they have ever taken it in all subjects (you cite 89% and 95% for yours), and mine score 99th percentile in reading nationally, PLUS they get to interact with peers not chosen strictly by their parents !! And strangely enough, they go to public school!! Go figure.

Don’t put on the school system blame that actually lies with parents — this year when “80%” of 6th and 7th graders failed the Social Studies CRCT, my daughter exceeded (6th grade), almost a perfect score. It’s not about the school. Homeschool if you want, but it’s not the school, it’s the parents. I’m just glad you are one of the few homeschool parents who actually get the homeschooled children objectively tested; most do not — believe me, I have close relatives who are part of a large network of home schoolers who evidently don’t think testing is important, or either they just don’t want to know that the plan isn’t working.

If we compare test scores to test scores, your children appear to be doing OK, but not better than public school children as a whole. In any universe of children, you will find low, average and high achievers. Mostly this is a function of parental involvement and God-given IQ, so your children would do just as well in public school as they do at home.

I’m not sure how jim d’s comments play into this, but when my kids are reading 5-6 levels above “grade level”, I’m not going to worry too much about it. All I worry about is getting them into Harvard….

By lovemy4kids

June 27, 2008 6:25 PM | Link to this

Gosh, Concerned Citizen, do you mean that my HOME SCHOOLED child is only 4 percentage points away from being Harvard material? I had no idea! We have plenty of time to close the gap. Nothing counts until 9th grade. Actually, we had our sights set on Stanford or Cal Tech. The Yankee snobs are a bit of a bore….

By lovemy4kids

June 27, 2008 6:26 PM | Link to this

Gosh, Concerned Citizen, do you mean that my HOME SCHOOLED child is only 4 percentage points away from being Harvard material? I had no idea! We have plenty of time to close the gap. Nothing counts until 9th grade. Actually, we had our sights set on Stanford or Cal Tech. The Yankee snobs are a bit of a bore….

By concerned citizen

June 27, 2008 8:30 PM | Link to this

Lovemy4kids:

Homeschool your kids to your heart’s desire! You seem so defensive - I simply pointed out that homeschooling is not superior, just different. Many children in a homeschool situation are not being adequately educated, just as many in the public/private schools are not. Like I said before, it’s all about the parents and what priorities have been set for education. I thought I was complementing you for giving good effort, but whatever! I hope you are not “teaching” your kids your crappy, hostile attitude. You are the kind that will give home school a bad name because you are so sure that yours is the only way, and homeschool is not by any means the only way to get a quality education. Sheesh, you need to get out more. I’m done here.

By lovemy4kids

June 28, 2008 1:04 AM | Link to this

concerned citizen:

Gee, and this is the thanks I get for donating over $250,000.00 to needy public school children like yours!

By lovemy4kids

June 28, 2008 3:08 AM | Link to this

Home school skeptics, meet the Robinsons… http://www.robinsoncurriculum.com/view/rc/s31p58.htm