Considering the options: Homeschool or Government School

The recent homeschool movement began as an underground, illegal activity. The parents who began the modern homeschool movement had various motivations for their participation in such behavior. For some it was a matter of conviction, others wanted either a better quality of education than the public school or out of concerns for safety. There were other motivations as well, although these are some of the most frequently referenced ones. In the State of Texas, homeschooling became legal with the Texas Supreme Court decision of Arlington v. Leeper (1994). In that decision, homeschools were considered private schools. That ruling made the once clandestine action, now legal in the State of Texas. It is important to clarify the legal status of homeschooling in your State. The Home School Legal Defense Association can help with that.

Much like private schools differ, the approach to homeschool differs as well. There is no one approach that all homeschoolers use. Parents need to consider which approach works best with their children. Some parents do distance learning, some rely on heavy computer use, some are more apprenticeship orientated. Despite the various approaches, there are some points to examine when considering homeschooling as an option.

1. In most cases they are academically superior to government schools. This is based on the performance of homeschoolers in national competitions such as spelling bees.

2. Education is emphasized rather than ‘training’. Many of the contemporary education used in government schools such as Goals 2000, emphasize training rather than education.

3. The homeschool community has their own journals, magazines, books and publications.

4. Homeschoolers have developed institutions of higher learning (Patrick Henry College).

5. Home and faith become a central emphasis in homeschooling.

6. The emphasis is based on character development based on Biblical norms.

7. They have their own support groups.

8. They have their own activity groups.

9. Homeschoolers have camaraderie.

10. They value truth and history.

11. They recognize that education is a life long process.

Since there is no standard curriculum used by homeschoolers, they are more difficult to control. They tend to be independent thinkers. Homeschooling also reduces the dangers of peer pressure and instead replace it with an emphasis on home or church. There is also no requirement for immunizations and the pressure to purchase designer clothing for each school year.

It was not by accident that private education was outlawed in Nazi Germany. Adolf Hitler once said “Let me control the textbooks and I will control Germany”. Hitler wanted Federal control of the schools in Germany and saw State or parental control as dangerous to his plans.The folowing quote also captures his thinking.

"By educating the young generation along the right lines, the People's State will have to see to it that a generation of mankind is formed which will be adequate to this supreme combat that will decide the destinies of the world."

"In relation to the political decontamination of our public life,the government will embark upon a systematic campaign to restore the nation’s moral and material health.The whole educational system, theater, film,literature, the press and broadcasting --all these will be used as a means to this end."

It was also not by accident that upon seizing power, Fidel Castro seized control of the education system in order to implement his policies. Governments with a strong emphasis on State control of education often view homeschooling as a threat to the stability of their centralized system.

Some of the modern government school thinkers have a different approach. One leading spokesmen is Marc Tucker. He was a close advisor of the Clinton Presidency and on the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards. He advocates that students reach test based standards. He was insturmental in the Goals 2000 program, School to Work and No Child Left Behind Programs. He has molded and shaped the government educational establishment in a significant manner.

He wants schools to set standards which use tests to see if children reach them. When those standards are achieved, then the new curriculum focuses on

1. Recognizing cultural diversity,

2) teach higher order thinking skills and

3) integrate disciplines to solve real-world problems (from his book, Thinking for a Living). In the same book, he lays out plans for schools to serve as training programs to prepare the future generation for the new workplace. He sees education as critical to having success in the workplace.

The differences between what homeschooling and government schools emphasize and provide are striking. The decisions as to which is best depends largely on what you want for your children. Each has their place. Not all parents have the necessary skills and ability to homeschool, so it is not an option for everyone. Presently, the State of Oklahoma is the most homeschool friendly State. The designation of which state is the most homeschool friendly often changes related to laws passed by the various State legilsatures and agencies.

In terms of private school, there are many private schools that provide a quality education. With education, you often receive what you pay for. The higher quality schools are often quite pricey. The private school option is often limited by budget and availability of such schools in your community. Private schools can provide a quality education along with the moral foundation and safety that parents view as important.

Some private schools like Calvert offer the protection of a private school with the freedom of homeschool. With Calvert, they handle the required administrative hassles. They send you the books and school materials. As the parent, you have the responsibility to watch over their assignments and testing. This type of set up is often called an umbrella school.