Home schooling - Should it be regulated and if so, how much?
By speakeasy
@speakeasy (4171)
United States
January 12, 2008 4:43pm CST
Home schooling has become more and more popular in the US. It gives parents more control over the curiculum their children learn.
But, in 10 states and Washington DC, there are NO regulations concerning home schooling. There is no recommended curiculum and no checks to make sure the children are even being educated at all. You do not even need to notify the local school district that your children are being home schooled.
The latest result is that a mother, with 4 children between the ages of 5 to 17, is now facing murder charges for killing her children MORE than two weeks before their bodies were found. The only reason the children's bodies were found is the fact that she was being evicted from the appartment and the officers serving her with the eviction notice found the bodies. Here is a link to the lates update in this story - http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/12/us/12bodies.html?th&emc=th
What really upsets me, though, is the fact that an organization called the "Home School Legal Defense Association" has been "fighting tooth and nail" against every state, local, and federal attempt to in any way regulate or supervise home schooling.
While it is true that most parents who homeschool are responsible people; there are exceptions to the rule. In this case, if there had been some level of supervision, the fact that this mother was having problems, both economic and mental, might have been discovered before she killed her children.
While this is an extreme case; what about other children whose parents just keep them home because it is simpler, cheaper, or easier than sending them to school. There are no guidelines to make sure that these "home schooled" children even learn to read and write or add and subtract.
While I do not believe that stringent guidelines and monitoring need to be done; I do believe that there do need to be a few basic guidelines and regulations for anyone who wishes to homeschool their children. I would also like to point out that I do come from a state that DOES have regulations governing home schooling and they seem to be working.
Perhaps in return for having regulations and minimum overall supervision, parents who home school could be given some of the money that would have been spent on educating the children in public school. This money could then be used by the parents to purchase their choice of educational materials and for educational field trips or exercise and/or music classes outside of the home.
What do you think about this?
3 people like this
7 responses
@redyellowblackdog (10629)
• United States
12 Jan 08
I have known 2 types of homeschoolers.
1) Bright parents with bright kids who do not want their kid's education to suffer in a poor school system.
2) Stupid parents with stupid kids who can't cope with the school system.
Because of the #2's, yes, there must be some regulation. I favor achievement tests for the public and homeschoolers. This can help keep the public and homeschoolers up to standards.
2 people like this
@speakeasy (4171)
• United States
13 Jan 08
As I stated there are many resposnsible parents who home school; but, the exceptions to the rule (stupid parents with stupid kids) could ruin everything that the responsible homeschoolers have been fighting for.
@speakeasy (4171)
• United States
13 Jan 08
oneandonemakesix - the problem thatI have with the HSLDA is that they are going TOO FAR. According to the HSLDA, the ONLY acceptable requirement is a requirement that the parents file a "letter of intent" to home school.
I think there needs to be a middle ground of some sort.
The attitude of the HSLDA is that ALL homeschooling parents are responsible adults and if there are any exceptions; that is no one's business. The only problem with that attitude is that some children do NOT get enough education to even function in our society. So the children (who become tomorrow's adults) are the ones who end up suffering. That is the same attitude as the person who actually sees a child or animal being abused and does nothing.
By not having SOME regulations and standards they are actually perpetuating the stereotypes that home schooling is an inferior education when it CAN be a superior eductaion.
1 person likes this
@aries_0325 (3060)
• Philippines
12 Jan 08
I think that is what we called a Home Bases Study Program and sometime we will call that a Long Distance Education. We have here that type of education and it will offer to those person who are not capable to go to the school because of some difficulties from their work. Lot of people here are doing that specially the young movie actor and acress.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160978)
• United States
13 Jan 08
I am curious, will you name the ten states that do not have regulations over their homeschooling?
1 person likes this
@speakeasy (4171)
• United States
13 Jan 08
Alaska, Connecticut, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersy, Oklahoma, and Texas; plus, Washington DC.
1 person likes this
@speakeasy (4171)
• United States
13 Jan 08
Similar; but different. We also have "Home Based Study" and "Long Distance Education". Those are usuallly done by young actors, actresses, and musicians OR by people who live in very rural areas where it is a long distance to the nearest school. Those types of programs have regular set curiculum and the students work is graded by an educator.
In home schooling, the parent decides WHAT to teach, when to teach it, does the grading, and is ENTIRELY responsible for the child's education. We do have many companies who do prepare excellent materials for parents who wish to home school; but, in 10 of our states; plus, our capital city there is NO set guidance or requirements for these parents. They can teach their children or NOT - no one is checking.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (160978)
• United States
13 Jan 08
I know that our state has some accountability from homeschool families, but I am not sure how much. i think it is unfair to keep them home and not educate them. The homeschoolers I know are VERY responsible, and organized, and they produce bright, caring, well educated young adults.I have long been in favor of vouchers. Homeschool families still pay taxes that support our schools, so do families who choose to send their kids to private schools. I think they should receive some credit for the money they spend and should be helped out financially to educate their children.
1 person likes this
@CocHawk (84)
• United States
13 Jan 08
I think that homeschooling is a very bad idea.
The biggest part of school is not facts and knowledge(it is VERY big) but more of a social aspect. And, it always has been. During the industrial revolution, schools were designed to get the working class of semiskilled workers used to the factory system.
So, really, I don't think there should be homeschooling at all.
@CocHawk (84)
• United States
13 Jan 08
Yes, but that is not the norm.
I was only stating that as a general idea.
And eden32m, I am sorry, but can you read? I said that during the industrial revolution that was the case, and I never said that school was designed to make kids into an unskilled labor foce.
Please, read my post before you jump all over me. And if you think that is true, that there are silent lunches, I do not know what school you are talking about, or those kids are failing at the social aspect of life. Also, I am thinking that it was a elementary school teacher who said that school was not to socialize, because they really do not need to be any smarter than a high school education, I mean a 15 year old can babysit. I AM NOT TRYING TO MAKE A STAB AT ANY TEACHERS HERE, I THINK IT IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT JOBS IN THE WHOLE WORLD! And really, if you can't cant read my post, than can you really teach your kids?
@eden32 (3973)
• United States
13 Jan 08
"And eden32m, I am sorry, but can you read? I said that during the industrial revolution that was the case, and I never said that school was designed to make kids into an unskilled labor foce."
Yes, even with your spelling errors I was able to follow your post. How then would you suggest public school is different now? Unless you graduate from a trade school, a high school diploma is not enough to compete in today's job market; except as unskilled labor.
"Please, read my post before you jump all over me."
It was not my intention to jump all over you, however you attacked a growing segment of the population & your only stance to back that attack was that home schooled children are not socialized.
"And if you think that is true, that there are silent lunches" It's absolutely true. The school my son attended for 3 years had silent lunches daily. The student to teacher ratio was so unbalanced as to be deemed unsafe for children to socialize while eating lunch. Their only time to talk was during recess.
"Also, I am thinking that it was a elementary school teacher who said that school was not to socialize,"
Nope it was several junior high & high school teachers. I have been told this about my daughter, who is in school because that's where she excels, at every parent-teacher conference.She's quite the social butterfly and that is always their only complaint.
"And really, if you can't cant read my post, than can you really teach your kids?"
Again, I had no problem reading your post. Your argument is one that is touted constantly by people who know very little about home schooling. This may have been the first time you've had a chance to share your feelings about socializing & home schoolers; but it's the thousandth time I have heard it.
@eden32 (3973)
• United States
13 Jan 08
We as parents should aspire that our children be conditioned to become part of the unskilled labor force???
If school is to provide "socialization" why has my daughter been told numerous times by teachers, "you're not here to socialize"? Why are silent lunches the norm in many crowded schools? Why are children not allowed to speak to their peers except during special periods, if even then?
@twoey68 (13627)
• United States
13 Jan 08
I do think it needs to be regulated. I had 2 foster kids that were supposed to be in 4th and 5th grade and had to be put in 2nd and 3rd b/c their mom was "homeschooling" them by giving them coloring books and letting them watch cartoons. It made it hard for them to catch up when they had to attend public school while in foster care.
I have no problems with homeschooling and I think it can be great for the kid but the person doing the teaching has to be qualified and there have to be regulations to make sure the kid is learning what they need to learn.
**AT PEACE WITHIN**
~~STAND STRONG IN YOUR BELIEFS~~
@speakeasy (4171)
• United States
13 Jan 08
And that is what I am talking about. Regulations do not need to be stingent or onerous. But, there does need to be some accountability to ensure the children are learning.
I know a parent who wanted to homeschool; but, was honest about their own lack of abilitites. What they did was find a family who was homeschooling and made arrangements for that family to homeschool their children too. This worked out great; the children were homeschooled by parents who knew what they were doing and had the same "values" as the children's own parents. Both sets of parents worked together and helped out maing it a better experience for both families.
@twoey68 (13627)
• United States
13 Jan 08
When my Nephew was in 1st grade they wanted to put him back in Kindergarten b/c "he was too immature" (I've never seen a mature 6 year old). Anyways, my Brother pulled him out of school and my Mom homeschooled him for the year. She still had to follow a kind of course that the schoolboard had in place and she had to take in the work he did to show that he was learning what he was supposed to be learning. It was great for him and when he went back to school the following year he was in 2nd grade and did great.
The problem is that some parents either don't care about their kids education or they don't want to deal with the school. If there's no kind of regulation then you don't know if the child is learning what they need to learn and they are the ones that fall behind and have trouble when they try to catch up.
I see what your saying about parents rights to decide what to do with their children but those rights have to be weighed against what is best for the child's education.
**AT PEACE WITHIN**
~~STAND STRONG IN YOUR BELIEFS~~
1 person likes this
@twoey68 (13627)
• United States
13 Jan 08
I had to add something. I read the article and some of the other responses and I was wondering something about the HSLDA. Why are they trying to get all of the requirements overturned? Do they just think there should be no requirements? I'm kind of confused on that part. I can see where a parent wouldn't want to report to the schoolboard everyday but what would stop someone from just keeping their kid at home and saying I'm homeschooling and then keeping the kid locked in a closet or killing them off? There's no one to miss them, like the kids in the article. I'm not saying all parents are a risk of killing their kids but there is alot of that going on and if no one see's the kids it makes it alot harder to know if there's a problem.
**AT PEACE WITHIN**
~~STAND STRONG IN YOUR BELIEFS~~
@ersmommy1 (12588)
• United States
13 Jan 08
This is an unfortunate case. Homeschooling is a wonderful alternative, IMO. Regulating homeschooling IN THIS CASE I don't believe would have kept these children from harm. The only thing that may have occurred is that it might have been discovered earlier. There are arguments on both sides of the issue for which is better for our children. Parents should still have the choice.
@Ravenladyj (22902)
• United States
13 Jan 08
I live in NY and the rules and requirements here are RIDICULOUS! Which is why I'd never go back to homeschooling...In Ontario we had a school liason visit us once right after I pulled the kids then we never heard from them again...There were no rules, provincial testing etc etc..We were free to do it as we pleased which is exactly how I like it..
All that being said, I'm really on the fence over how much the gov should be involved....Being the type of homeschooler that I was and would be I PERSONALLY would NOT like for any interferance at all...BUT on the otherhand I do realize that htere are caregivers out there that DO NOT teach their kids a damn thing and the children suffer for it.....I'm really not sure how to find an even balance between those types of parents/caregivers and ones like me ya know....
@speakeasy (4171)
• United States
13 Jan 08
I used to live in NY and I have to say that state loves to "over regulate" everything.
Personally, I think that requiring a "statement of intent" so that they know which children are being homeschooled amd intermittent testing on basic educational requirements like, reading, writing, and math should be enough to ensure that children are actually receiving an education.
If the children are not making ANY progress; then, the family should be offered assistance to make sure they have access to the necessary materials to educate the children and be placed in a "probationary status". If they still fail to teach their children anything in the next year then, the parents should LOSE the "privelege" of homeschooling and the child should be returned to a formal school environment.
Requirements like this would place very little "burden" on responsible homeschoolers like you; but, they would help identify the few irresponsible parents who look at homeschooling as an "easy out" like the one twoey68 mentioned and some who think they just need to tune the TV to an educational channel on the TV and then hand the kids the remote and ignore them for the rest of the day.
1 person likes this
