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INDEX:
“The
main part of intellectual education is not the acquisition
of facts but learning how to make facts live.”
Oliver Wendell Holmes
What
is homeschooling?
Parents
begin homeschooling the day their child is born. They teach
him how to walk, how to talk, how to behave properly, how
to say his abc's, how to count to 10 and write his name.
Perhaps they even teach him how to read. Then at age
five, they make a decision to continue home schooling
or to send their child to a "real" school. Many
people, famous and not-so-famous, have been successfully
educated at home including this SHORT list:
Artists:
Claude Monet, Andrew Wyeth and Ansel Adams
Business
Persons: Soichiro Honda (automobiles), Colonel Sanders,
Ray Kroc, Andrew Carnegie, Horace Greeley and Joseph
Pulitzer
Explorers:
Davy Crocket, Sir Ernest Shackleton and George Rogers
Clark
Judges:
John Jay, Sandra Day O'Connor, John Marshal
Political
and Military Leaders: Frankline Delano Roosevelt, Thomas
Jefferson, Woodrow Wilson, Winston Churchill, William
Penn, Daniel Webster, Douglas MacArthur, George Patton,
Matthew Perry and Robert E Lee
Preachers
and Missionaries: Jonathan Edwards, Hudson Taylor, Dwight
Moody, John & Charles
Wesley, Joan of Arc and William Carey
Musicians:
The Hansons, Mozart, Irving Berlin, Noel Coward, John
Philip Sousa and Mendelssohn
Movie
Stars: Dakota
Fanning. Movie Star Homeschool parents: Lisa Whelchel,
Kelly Preston and John Travolta
Physicians
and Nurses: Clara Barton, Albet Schweitzer and Elizabeth
Blackwell
Scientists:
Blaise Pascal, Booker T. Washington, Sir Frank Whittle,
Alexander Bell, Thomas Edison, George Washington Carver,
Cyrus McCormick, Benjamin Franklin, Albert Einstein,
William Lear (airplanes) and Mary Leaky
Sports:
Tim Tebow (Heisman Trophy winner)
Writers:
Agatha Christie, C.S. Lewis, Rosemary Sutcliff, Walt Whitman,
Beatrix Potter, Thomas Paine, L. Ron Hubbard, William
F. Buckley, Jr., Pearl S. Buck, Hans Christian Anderson,
Alex Haley and Louisa May Alcott
More
famous homeschooled Americans: Famous
Homeschoolers and Famous
Homeschoolers and their Parents.
Here
is a brief timeline of education history*:
For
over 4000 years, education was received in the home,
parents being a child’s only instructor. Homeschooling
was the norm.
During
the next 1600 years, parents continued to teach their
children at home. With the advent of the synagogue, many
Jewish parents sent their male children to teachers at
the synagogue who taught them the law using the rolls
of the sacred Scriptures as their textbooks.
It
has only been during the last 400 years that schooling
outside the home has become more of the norm. The first
educational institution outside the home in the American
colonies was established by John Cotton in 1635. The purpose
was to establish a school for poor children and orphans
so that they could read the Bible and obey the laws in
the community. Most families continued to teach their
children at home, while wealthier families hired tutors
to teach their children either at home, at the home of
the tutor, or at small community schools run by the parents.
From
the founding of our country until the early 1800s,
the over-all literacy rate was higher than it is today.
Very few people
were unable to read. Children were taught a trade by
their parent or in an apprenticeship program. Most
children who entered small community schools already
learned how to read and write at home. Colleges were
established in the 1700s but were for biblical and classical
studies.
1805
- DeWitt Clinton helped to form a school for “the
education of poor children, who do not belong to,
or are not provided for, by any religious society.” It
is the first secular school in America. As Oliver Van
DeMille, president of George Wythe College, says in
his book, A
Thomas Jefferson Education , “Historically,
the primary goal of public schools, the reason they
were instituted, was to educate the poor so that they
could get a job and take their place in society. The
middle class already had private schools and apprenticeships,
and the wealthy were tutored at home.” The
creation of a uniform common school system also required
standardization of curriculum and instruction. This
is the beginning of the graded school and graded textbook
resulting in a one size fits all curriculum.
1856
- a German immigrant establishes the first American kindergarten
based on the idea that children should be trained to
be servants of the state.
1857
- the NEA (National Education Association) is formed.
1859
- Origin of the Species by Darwin was published.
By
the early 1900s, the authority and responsibility of
education shifted from the parents to the state.
1914
- World War I begins. WWII follows shortly after and
continues through 1945. During this time, many women
in America work in factories producing equipment and
supplies for the military while their husbands fight
in the wars. This is the beginnings of American women
working outside the home and mandatory public school
attendance.
By
1930, all states have passed compulsory education laws.
1934
- the Teachers College of Columbia University urges the
remaking of American society through the schools.
1962
- Supreme Court ruled prayer in school unconstitutional.
1963
- Supreme Court struck down laws mandating Bible
reading and prayer in schools. What was once "one nation
under God" was feeling the effects of its increasing
multi-cultural population.
1965
- the Head Start program begins.
In
the 1970s and 80s, landmark court cases in special education
gives children with physical, mental and learning disabilities
the right to and improves access to public school education.
Education
for All Handicapped Children's Act (EHA) passed in 1975
which provided:
- all
students in special education to be placed in the least
restrictive environment (LRE)
- all
student in special education must have an individualized
education plan (IEP)
- the
evaluation for placement in special education must
be nondiscriminatory
- tests
must be given and reports must be written in the student's
native language
- students
and parents are entitled to due process
- zero rejections are allowed for all students.
By
definition, placement
in a regular classroom of children without disabilities
is the least restrictive environment, followed by providing
supportive education services to the child while in
a regular class placement. LRE
does not mean every student with a disability should
be placed in a regular classroom. Children are only
placed in a more restrictive environment if it is to
their educational advantage.
The
EHA was amending as the Individuals
with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
in 1997. All mandates remained the same,
however IDEA strengthened the least restrictive environment
mandate as well as required that the schools should
not only meet the students' unique needs, but it also
should "prepare them for employment and independent
living." It also expanded provisions to add "at-risk"
children from birth to 5 years old and mandated
related services to these children including transportation
and developmental, corrective and supportive services.
IDEA provides money to state
and local agencies to help educate students with disabilities.
Disability
categories requiring special education services include:
autistic, blind, deaf, emotionally disturbed, hard
of hearing, learning disabled, mentally disabled, multiply
disabled (more than one category), orthopedically impaired
(physical disability), health impaired (includes students
with limited strength, vitality or alertness due to
chronic health problems such as asthma, diabetes, Tourette's
syndrome, attention deficit hyperactive disorder-ADHD,
etc.), partially sighted, and speech impaired.
The
return to homeschooling begins in the 1960's & 70s
& 80s.The public schools had eliminated God from the
curriculum, and although great advances were made to educate
those with special needs, it came at the expense of lowering
expectations for the regular student. Education standards
were dropped as accommodations were made to keep special
needs children in regular classrooms. Unfortunately, the
public education system was not able to accommodate
both needs.
By
the year 2000, an estimated 1.7 million children are
being homeschooled once again.
For
more information on the history of homeschooling,
read
History
of Homeschooling on AtoZ, A
Brief History of Homeschooling,
and Politics
of Survival on HSLDA's site (includes information
on African Americans and the homeschool movement).
(top
of page)
Why
do people homeschool?
The answers are varied.
Here are a few:
Religious:
Many homeschool to give their children an education that
includes a Biblical perspective on all subjects.
Scholastic:
Statistics has now shown that home educated students do
far better academically than most public schooled children.
The individual attention that the child gets in homeschooling
can help a delayed learner catch up and an advanced learner
go at a pace that will challenge him to work at his potential.
Financial:
Parents who would prefer sending them to a private school
but cannot afford the tuition often opt for homeschooling
as the next best alternative.
Family
Time and Influence: Many homeschool so that they have
more quality time with their children. Flexible scheduling
allows them to school around the parent’s work
or travel schedule. This in turn helps family to experience
a closeness that is not possible with a normal school/work
schedule.
To
Prevent Negative Influences: Parents homeschool to keep
them from destructive influences such as unsafe school environments,
negative peer pressure, and humanistic teaching.
Why
people homeschool video: Stupid
Schools
Read
these comments about school from some former Noble Prize Winners:
http://learninfreedom.org/Nobel_hates_school.html
Ten
Signs you need to find a different kind of education for your
child:
http://www.edrev.org/tensigthatyo.html
(top
of page)
Is
it Legal?
Oklahoma
is the only state with a constitutional provision guaranteeing
the right to home school. Read the actual law: http://oklegal.onenet.net/okcon/XIII-4.html.
Even though this is the law according to our Constitution,
you would most likely get in trouble with DHS if you only
homeschooled for three months! It is recommended that you
adhere to the following as recommended by HSLDA:
- Children
must attend school from age 5 to 18.
-
Children must attend 180 days of school.
- Parents
are not required to be or use certified teachers.
-
Parents are not required to use state-approved curricula.
-
Parents must teach the same basic subjects as public schools
but the texts and methods are left up to the parents. Subjects
required to be taught: reading, writing, math, science,
citizenship, U.S. Constitution, health, safety, physical
education, and conservation.
-
Parents are not required to test their children.
-
Parents are not required to initiate contact with, register
with or seek approval from state or local officials.
- Parents
are not required to permit public school officials to visit
or inspect their home.
Note:
This summary does not constitute the giving of legal
advice. For more information, contact HSLDA (Home
School Legal Defense Association) at 540-338-5600 or
www.hslda.org. HSLDA offers legal protection to homeschoolers
across the nation. The cost is $100 per year per family.
Medical
Requirements. Check the Oklahoma
State Department of Health for information on immunization
requirements in Oklahoma.
For
laws in other countries, check out the information
found at
Homeschool.com.
and A
to Z Home's Cool Homeschooling.
(top
of page)
Do
homeschooled children get into college?
Homeschooled students do go to college at the same rate
as public schooled students.
Most
colleges do admit homeschoolers, even ivy-league schools.
Scholarships
are given to homeschoolers.
Many homeschoolers, just as their public schooled counterparts,
do not go to college and are perfectly happy. They
start their own businesses, work in the technical fields,
get married, go into ministry, go in the service, or
go in the military.
Note:
The biggest problems for homeschoolers as stated by colleges
and schools who have accepted homeschooled students:
(1)
Lack of good skills in advanced math: Use a good curriculum.
Send them to Co-op. Hire a tutor. All colleges require Algebra
I, Geometry, and Algebra II. If the child does not have
it in high school, he will have to take it in college as
a noncredit course.
(2) Composition: Spend more time on composition than grammar.
They can learn grammar while doing composition but not necessarily
true in reverse.
(3) Meeting deadlines and follow through: Get your children
in the habit of finishing assignments. Set deadlines
and insist that they meet them. Have consequences if
they don’t.
Set a good example. Don’t sign up for things and
then don’t go - follow through and commitment.
(top
of page)
What
about Socialization?
If
you mean:
- Does
the child work well in a group or on a team?
- Is
the child awkward
in social situations?
-
Does the child use appropriate manners in public?
- Does
the child respect
others?
If
the above is what you mean, research during the past 20 years
confirms that homeschoolers are just as well or better adjusted
than traditionally schooled children. I've personally noticed
that if parents (whether public schooling or homeschooling)
are well-adjusted socially, their children are also, and vice
versa. It's not the type of school they attend but rather
the social skills modeled by the parents.
There
are an abundance of social opportunities available to homeschooled
children today including extracurricular
classes, sports programs, co-op classes, support
group activities and field trips,
volunteer
programs, and church activities. After the first year
or two, most homeschool families have problems trying to keep
the number of outside activities under control.
For
more information about socialization, read HSLDA's article
on the research done by Dr. Brian Ray: http://www.hslda.org/research/ray2003/Socialization.asp
(top
of page)
Should
I Homeschool?
Here
are some questions to ask yourself that may help you decide.
If you answer yes to all of them, then you are a great candidate
for homeschooling. If you answer no on any of these, you might
want to get additional counseling, determine if you can change
that answer, or consider another option.
-
I
have the time to homeschool my children. No
one is going to do it for you. If they do, it won't
really be homeschooling. That comes under tutoring.
Exceptions to this as tutoring would be a relative
who is helping you to homeschool such as a grandmother
homeschooling her grandchild.
-
I
have the financial resources to buy curriculum for
my children.
Contrary to some opinions, it does take money to homeschool.
I recommend allowing $300 minimum, up to $1000+ per
year. It will cost more the first year and in high school.
-
My
spouse (and/or custodial parents) and I agree on
homeschooling our children. Besides the
fact that it is extremely difficult to homeschool
without agreement, it may lead to DHS getting involved
because the spouse or custodial parent turns you
in for neglect. This happens occasionally in divorce
situations, so good recordkeeping is ESSENTIAL!
-
I
love to read and enjoy learning myself. If
you love to learn, you'll instill that love in your
children. If you don't, maybe you will develop it
as you teach your child. But, if you are not interested,
don't start.
-
I
am able to maintain control of my children in the
home. This
is extremely important. If you have difficulties
in this area, get help first.
-
I
am committed to work on a schedule and complete
tasks as needed. Again,
extremely important. Your schedule doesn't have
to be like the school's or your neighbor's, but
you do need a schedule and to be able to complete
tasks.
-
I
am willing to make the commitment to homeschool. Make
it one year at a time, up until high school. After
that, I recommend a four-year commitment. It is difficult
to get a homeschooled child back into public school.
-
If
I have a high school student, my high school student
wants to homeschool. High school is not
the time to pull your child out of school if your
child is not in agreement. Too much depends on his/her
motivation.
Homeschooling
is a wonderful alternative for many families and its
success has become well documented. However, it is
NOT a miracle worker.
It does not guarantee that your child will graduate early,
get a full scholarship to college, obtain a super job, or
become someone famous. None of us are perfect. As parents,
we're not perfect teachers. Our children are not perfect students.
But with the right motivation, a good plan of study, and a
commitment to persevere, homeschooling can be a good solution
for many people. If homeschooling is not for your family,
look into alternatives such as switching schools, private
schools, tutors, or online learning.
Recommended
Reading: 16 Greatest Mistakes
Homeschool Moms Make.
*Sources
of information for Homeschool Timeline:
1. The Right Choice by Christopher J. Klicka.
2. The American School 1642-1985 by Joel Spring. 1986
by Longman Inc.
3. Can’t Buy Success by Marvin Olasky, World Magazine,
May/June 2001. Pgs. 7-14.
4. Our Schools in War Time and After by Arthur D.
Dean. 1918 by Ginn and Company.
5. The Special Educator's Book of Lists by Roger Pierangelo,
Ph.D. 2003 by John Wiley & Sons. pgs. 2-22.
Go
to Getting Started in Homeschooling
(top
of page)
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