Each year more than a million children are homeschooled in the United States, and that number is steadily growing. While some parents believe homeschooling is an ideal situation, others fear that a student's education can be severely hindered in such an environment. When making a decision about your child's education, which is the more reasonable school of thought?
Please select the category that most closely reflects your concern about this content,
so that we can review it and determine whether it violates Civility 101 or isn't
appropriate for some other reason.
Abusing this feature is also a violation of Civility 101.
Explanation:
Biweekly updates on new debates and experts
Please check your email to confirm your subscription.
© 2008 Opposing Views, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Opposing Views, Inc. is not responsible for the content posted on this website. Please view full disclaimer under Terms
Parental Involvement
- From California Federation of Teachers
By California Federation of Teachers - AFL-CIO
Thank You for your Comment
We review all comments before they're posted. For more on our comment policy, please see our FAQ.
I was an involved parent.
I believed it was the socially responsible thing to do. I found my participation in the clasroom was helpful to the teachers and to many of the students but it didn't really do much to improve the education of my children. My children were being damaged by being in the classrooms and they were losing out on all I could offer them at home. I now homeschool my children. I'm sorry the classrooms lost an involved parent but I had to do what was right for my children.
- rose
September 15, 2008 1:16PM
Reply to this Recommend (3)
Side: No
Thank You for your Comment
We review all comments before they're posted. For more on our comment policy, please see our FAQ.
I second this!
I, too, was an involved classroom parent. The schools FAILED. We now homeschool and my kids are allowed to move at their own pace. They are grade levels above their peers.
Gee. Should I send them back to be dumbed down? I think not.
- Laughing at you September 18, 2008 7:45AM
Reply to this Recommend (1)
Side: No
Thank You for your Comment
We review all comments before they're posted. For more on our comment policy, please see our FAQ.
Advice
Do you homeschool through public school assistance? Or do you choose and purchase your own curriculum? I'm new at homeschooling. There is so much on homeschooling online, it could get a little confusing. Would you have any advice for moms who are new to homeschooling.
Thank You,
Maribel
- Belle0074
December 13, 2008 5:30PM
Reply to this Recommend (0)
Side: Uncommitted
Thank You for your Comment
We review all comments before they're posted. For more on our comment policy, please see our FAQ.
Im fairly new at it too. This is what I did my first year.
We spent thirty minutes on 6-8 subjects per day leaving a nice chunk of the day for just being together etc. It fluctuated due to music lessons once per week and pe, which was going to the gym, or doing our weight training exercises from a licensed trainer, lady from our church gave me a list after evaluating our personal body needs. I got my materials on line from places like sonlight curriculum, local school supply store, paperbackswap, and from book sales at public library, and other moms. So my teaching is very eclectic. ( spelling not my strong suit). I hope to encorporate more science next year.
1. Bible
2. Spelling-sonlight book
3. Music practice daily and lessons once per week
4. Language Arts-sonlight book
5. Math-from local school supply store
6 Writing ( not every day)
7. PE
8. Community Service ( not daily) I used this as Civic duty lesson
9. Art work-Walmart craft section ( not daily)
10. Reading- variety of places, mostly library rentals
- Hope7
July 2, 2009 11:46AM
Reply to this Recommend (0)
Side: Yes
Thank You for your Comment
We review all comments before they're posted. For more on our comment policy, please see our FAQ.
I forgot to mention this too
I had her join girls scouts for socializing and girsl team basketball and handbells. She is now active in softball.
- Hope7
July 2, 2009 11:48AM
Reply to this Recommend (0)
Side: Yes
Thank You for your Comment
We review all comments before they're posted. For more on our comment policy, please see our FAQ.
What pillar?
Compulsory public education has been and remains an important pillar of our democracy"
Compulsory schooling was never a pillar of our democracy. It was jammed into our lives by greedy businessmen. If it was to be a pillar of our democracy then why leave it our of our founding documents?
It was never intended to force tripe down the children's mouth. That happened when two groups got together. Big business and teachers. There were both looking for a more secure financial future. It was never about making life better for children.
- purelabor
September 25, 2008 11:19PM
Reply to this Recommend (0)
Side: No
Thank You for your Comment
We review all comments before they're posted. For more on our comment policy, please see our FAQ.
definition of parental involvement is literally overdefined
Excellent results have been obtained from public and homeschools. Poor results have been obtained from both public schools and homeschools as well.
The question becomes, "Would the schools have done a better job with the children who "fell through the gap" at home?" In spite of a few exceptions, it is argued strongly, that they could not. How? The 'best education comes about when parents are involved in their children's education.' Most the parents who fail their children via homeschooling 'are not involved enough.' Most of these 'problem homeschoolers' were 'problem public schoolers' first. The system had already proven itself incapable of addressing the needs of these children. The parents in question either would not or could not advocate successfully for their children. Perhaps some of them, believing the lie that 'Professionals know best', then gave up. (to learn more about a philosophy and methodology of education which empowers all students to increase their ability to learn, study the Charlotte Mason Series found here: http://www.amblesideonline.org /)
The author states that parents must be involved, then he goes on to provide a narrow and limiting view of what the participation of the parent should be. The presumption of this definition promotes a prevalent attitude that parents need to stay out of the Professionals way. This presumption is often applied in unprofessional ways. On multiple occasions, when polling a significant number of parents holding to the same concerns, they were all told by the same staff members that, "You are the only parent who is concerned about this." This was unprofessional, untrue and a tactic of controlling the growing number of parents who oppose 'the will of the school.'
Class content might arguably vary from class to class, but when the quality of content varies so greatly for no good reasons, the result makes a mockery of this 'best education'. Further, the right of the people should be heard concerning content related to worldview issues. More than one world view can be discussed in a classroom setting, and the administrators and teachers should not define which world view positions should not be discussed. The limitations on freedom of speech by such policies not only limits free speech, but it programs children of parents who are unaware of this attack on freedom of speech to think institutionally, disturbingly resembling mind control, which does not promote the freedoms of this country (nor democracy even if we were a democracy).
Best practices in educational philosophy and methods have been proven throughout the centuries. The most recent macrocosm affected by 'best practices' resulted from the works of Charlotte Mason, whose teachings were applied in classroom settings. Further, these 'best practices' do work for all 'learning styles.' But, when the limited definition of parental involvement is applied, and they do not listen, the Professionals continue to engage in ineffective methods and philosophies of education.
A true Charlotte Mason (CM) education produces students who both self-govern and think for themselves in measure far beyond typical Americans today. CM students are much more aware of the history behind the political philosophies at stake, thus they can more effectively protect the freedoms they and their posterity were meant to enjoy. Yet educators resist such changes. (read the first chapters of Mortimer Adler's classic read _How to Read a Book_ for more)
The philosophies most necessary to protecting the freedoms we enjoy are simply this: natural law, which boils down to 'doing what you say you will do' and 'do not encorach.' These are unheard of by most public schooled citizens. If you doubt this, do some research and take a poll for yourself.
It is true that these truths are not written into the Constitution itself. Google Bluestocking Press online and ask them for a book explaining why. (Educate yourself if you were not adequately educated - but don't believe everything from Bluestocking Press either. Think for yourself.)
In spite of the author's concern that "While preparation for work is important, this economic dimension to schooling should not replace or obscure the primary reason for the existence of public education: that everyone-independent of family or social standing-should have the ability to think clearly and critically, and to gain the skills necessary to participate intelligently in our political democracy. It is also important to have a broad range of knowledge," the public schools en masse have obviously failed to do just that, according to the litmus test of 'a knowledge of natural law.'
It is time to fight for the education which public schools claim they produce, but which, it is hoped, very few administrators and educators realize exists. Otherwise, they truly are on a mission to dumb down America.
- bomackin
September 26, 2008 9:40AM
Reply to this Recommend (0)
Side: No
Thank You for your Comment
We review all comments before they're posted. For more on our comment policy, please see our FAQ.
Poor and Crime infested areas do not apply? or Do they?
Not all public education is the same. Students that live in poor communities don't have the same education opportunities than those who live in a middle to rich class communities. I live in one of those communities.
My son is a late bloomer, he has struggled to keep up with his class in every grade. I attended meeting after meeting with his teachers, principals to try and get him some help ( tutoring ). Every meeting ended with " all he needs is a push, or an extra 15 minutes with his teacher, whom by the way would in turn remark " she didn't have that extra 15 minutes to work with him. I couldn't blame her. She had a full class of over 22 students and was behind with her own curriculum. The principal at one point wanted me to wait until my son reached the 5th grade to see how bad his learning difficulties were affecting him in class. There was no way I was going to wait 3 years. We decided we would sacrifice and use our savings to send him to private school. It was the best thing we ever did. The first year his confidence level in his work went through the roof, he was in a smaller class, and instead of D's he was getting A's and B's. Well, my husbands job was cutting positions and we could not send him the following year. I decided I was not going to send him back to public school. They did nothing to help him. I wish I could send him to public school, but not in my community , where I have to worry about gangs or teenage bullying. I have no other choice than to home school my son, and to be honest I love spending more time with him, and giving him that extra attention he needs with his work. As far as social interaction, I take him out of my community for football, art and music lessons. Not all public school education is the same.
- Belle0074
December 13, 2008 5:23PM
Reply to this Recommend (0)
Side: Uncommitted
Thank You for your Comment
We review all comments before they're posted. For more on our comment policy, please see our FAQ.
education-political democracy??
"Compulsory public education has been and remains an important pillar of our democracy" What doesnt this mean? A democracy is where people get a right to vote for what is best for its people as a whole. I was under the impression that in 1870 free public education came about because of social reform due to poor farmers and the industrialized industries using the children of our country to supply a cheap work force. This is 2008 a very different world. The only democracy came about in 1990 when parents were given the right to choose the education most suited to their childs learning needs.
"to gain the skills necessary to participate intelligently in our political democracy" I want my children to learn to be intelligent, responsible and loving humans not to elighten them on how to participate in a political democracy. This is rediculous rhetoric.
- bethmen123
February 21, 2009 7:49PM
Reply to this Recommend (0)
Side: Yes
Thank You for your Comment
We review all comments before they're posted. For more on our comment policy, please see our FAQ.
"Fullest Potential"?
"Today, thanks to public education , all children have an opportunity to reach their fullest potential."
Isn't it true, though, that the pace of the class is determined by the slowest learner? If so, I don't see how the "class genius" can reach anything more than the ability of the average classmate.
I have been homeschooled since second grade. I'm sixteen years old and attend FCCJ (now FSCJ, I think). I really have not seen the downside of homeschooling firsthand, yet I do believe that the effectiveness of any kind of education relies on the involvement of the parent .
Please reply. I'm curious :)
- stupidgenius
April 6, 2009 8:38AM
Reply to this Recommend (0)
Side: Yes
Thank You for your Comment
We review all comments before they're posted. For more on our comment policy, please see our FAQ.