The Benefits of Homeschooling

by Irene Helen Zundel

Homeschooling is presently a national

phenomenon gaining ever-increasing acceptance,

and even praise and respect. It is estimated

that four percent of the nationís children are

home taught (roughly 1.5 million students) and

the numbers are increasing in some areas of the

country as much as 15% annually. Why?

Because homeschooling provides children

with an equal or better education than can be

found in our nation's schools, with excellent

side benefits as well:

Let's consider a few facts from recent

(1998-1999 ) studies:

Homeschoolers go on to college as often

as traditionally schooled children. Presently,

they are accepted at over 1,000 colleges and

universities in five countries --

including, Harvard, Yale, and Stanford

University!

They score higher on national college

entrance exams than their public school peers.

The average SAT score for a homeschooler is 1083

(67 points higher than the national average!)

On ACTs homeschoolers have an average score of

22.7, while public school kids score a 21.

They outperform, by far, public school

children in standardized achievement tests.

A 1998 study conducted by Maryland statistician

Lawrence Rudner showed that homeschoolers

scored substantially higher in every subject,

at every grade level. By eighth grade they were

academically four grades ahead of their publicly

educated peers.

By the way, Mr. Rudner, by his own admission,

was shocked at the results of his study.

His preconceived notion was that homeschoolers

were a fringe element, isolated from society,

and given sub-standard schooling by their parents.

He has greatly modified his opinions since!

Critics of homeschooling often retort that

home taught children must be reclusive geeks,

and lack opportunities to become properly "socialized".

This is a myth that has been disproved. Studies show

that homeschoolers participate just as often in church

activities, scouting, clubs such as 4-H, and sports

like Little League, as often as their publicly

educated counterparts.

More people are realizing that home taught children

are socialized with far less risk and in a more

emotionally secure environment. They don't need to

worry about drug dealers, gangs, and mentally unstable

classmates gunning down their friends and teachers in

Columbine style rampages. They feel less peer pressure

to follow popular trends. And they do not become latch

key children, whom statistics prove are more likely to

try drugs, alcohol, and premarital sex.

Why is it that homeschoolers learn so well?

They study in a less stressful environment.

They enjoy a far smaller student-teacher ratio.

They often have a curriculum that they helped design,

and that reflects some of their interests, so they have

a greater enjoyment and higher satisfaction in learning.

They have the luxury of spending longer on trouble areas,

and accelerating their learning speed in easier courses,

so they learn with less frustration and greater retention.

Parents can tailor their teaching methods to reflect their

Child's personal learning style, strengths, and talents

thereby increasing their chances for academic success.

Is it difficult to homeschool?

Yes and no! Requirements that homeschooling families

have to meet, vary from state to state. In PA where

I reside, the National Education Association has a

very strong lobby, and school districts tend to be

stringent in their enforcement of the many rules

they impose. Some states, such as Mississippi,

are very lenient.

My personal experience is this:

Prior to the school year, I have to submit to the

Superintendent an academic plan and list of courses

I intend to teach, along with what books and other

resources I plan to use. (I generally devise my own

curriculum and buy my own books and supplies, but I

can borrow the school's textbooks if I wish). I must

submit an affidavit stating I have no criminal

convictions related to certain crimes, nor is any adult

residing in my home with access to my child so convicted.

I must also agree to certain medical and dental exams and

vaccinations, or claim exemption due to religious belief.

During the school year I must provide 900-950 hours of

instruction (depending on grade level) spread over

180 days. I must teach a prescribed amount of English

and composition, mathematics, science, social studies,

history, health, physical education, and continuing fire

prevention education. I must keep an accurate log of all

daily activities, and samples of assignments and tests,

graded according to the district's scoring standards.

At the end of each academic year, I must submit a

portfolio containing my log, assignments, tests,

and extra-curricular activities to a licensed

psychologist or licensed and certified teacher

in good standing for evaluation. They must agree

that I have accomplished my said academic goals

for my child, and that he presently is learning

at or above his grade level. In third, fifth,

and eighth grades, I must have administered to my

child a standardized achievement test by a

licensed teacher or psychologist.

I must annually meet with the Superintendent and

bring with me my child's portfolio and evaluation,

and my child if possible, for an interview. It is

his final determination whether my child will be

promoted to the next grade and I are authorized

to home school for another academic year.

I generally give David the summer off. Sometimes

he takes on special projects like learning website

design, or works on drawing and animating his own

video game. I spend the summer reading all his

books and planning his classes. This past summer

I quipped to friends that at 43 I must surely be

the world's oldest tenth grader! I had to exercise

my gray matter re-learning physics and geometry.

I am pleased to report I suffered no nervous

breakdown, nor did I take handfuls of aspirin...

but I did experience a few days where I felt I

had brain drain!

Is it worth all the effort? You bet!

Homeschooling has been a positive experience for

us both, and my son wouldn't change is educational

experience for public or private school for love

nor money!

Here are a few of the many reasons why David

prefers homeschooling:

No homework!

Mom doesn't believe in it, and in homeschool,

it really isn't necessary. By the end of the day

I already know how well he has grasped the subject

material. If he knows it well, practice would be

redundant. If he needs a little more work, we will

give it our attention the following day. We don't

move on in a subject until everything in a section is

mastered. When the material is truly learned it

is learned forever and he has no weaknesses or

problems later down the road.

We follow a disciplined approach to learning,

but not a regimented one.

We are not a slave to a schedule or a clock!

David rises when he feels rested, has a good breakfast,

makes his bed, and does his personal grooming before he

starts school. If he is ill or slept poorly the night

before, we will take the day off, and make it up later

on in the week. This way he is learning at a physically

and mentally optimal state and we always manage to

accomplish our school goals for that day.

He is allowed to do his classes in whatever order he

likes and without a time limit on any class.

He works from a general outline of what I want him

to accomplish for the week in each subject. I find

this very effective for a number of reasons. First,

he is interested in learning the material he tackles

that day because he selected it. I don't need to

cajole him to do his work, and we have no problem

with negative attitude. Second, he can study as

long as his interest is sustained. He doesn't have

to stop his brain and move onto another subject, just

because a bell rings, or a clock says it is time to do so.

Sometimes he will spend half the day or the whole day

doing a project or reading and researching for one class.

This is learning by "immersion" and it is a great way to

master a subject! Third, it makes his learning

inner-directed, and not imposed from the outside.

David finds this a more enjoyable way to learn.

It is rather like letting a hound follow a scent all

the way to the end of a trail, instead of calling him

back half way through a hunt! ;-) Finally, it makes

him learn and work without constant supervision, and yet

accomplish the task that was planned. When he gets a job

in the real world, this ability will be a plus for him.

He is allowed intellectual curiosity and freedom when

he learns:

We DO NOT believe in the public school method of

read, memorize, regurgitate the "facts" on a test and

move on. For example, from age two through sixth grade,

David had an intense interest in dinosaurs. He had

visions of a career in paleontology. He was intrigued

by two controversial questions floating around at that

time. "Are dinosaurs reptiles, or are they more

biologically related to birds?" and "Is it possible

that Tyrannosaurus Rex was a scavenger, not a predator

like traditional opinion suggests?" We tailored his

science curriculum that year to answer those questions.

He studied for three months the biology of reptiles,

another three months the biology of birds, and the

last three months about T-Rex, and different

dinosaurs that were predators and ones that were

scavengers. At the end of the year, he wrote an

extensive paper with his findings and gave his reasons

for the opinions that he formed.

With regard to T-Rex, he felt he was a scavenger.

He formed that opinion because of the structure of his

jaw, the size, shape, and number of his teeth, the

speed at which he was known to run, the length of his

very short forearms etc...

In public school, textbooks declare T- Rex to be a

predator. On a test, if the question were asked "Is he

a predator or a scavenger?" the "correct" response would

be predator. David's response of scavenger would be marked

"wrong." But is it? Dr. Phil Curry, noted paleontologist

at the prestigious Royal Tyrell Museum in Alberta, Canada,

shares David's views. We went to the museum for a field

trip in hopes of meeting him, and to check out their

wonderful work as well. If my son holds an unorthodox

opinion, but can justify it through facts and research,

should he be called wrong? I don't think so! Remember,

Galileo was branded a heretic for his opinion that the

world was round, and now we all accept it as a

scientific fact!

Is reading a textbook, memorizing their data, and

marking an answer on a test real learning? Or did

David truly learn and learn more by his approach to

studying and answering the questions he was interested

in finding out?

That is one of the beauties of homeschooling.

Learning is motivated by the heart, and the pursuit of

information can be intense and pleasurable. It

furthers a love of learning and fosters the ability

to seek out information on one's own. It also helps

children to independently form their own views, and

broadens their intellectual horizons. They acquire

an ability to "think outside the box."

I would encourage you to find out about homeschooling

requirements in your own state, and to consider

trying it for yourself! Listed below are some

resources to facilitate your search:

Homeschooling Websites:

http://www.geocities.com.hs_hopeful/

Homeschooling...A Light At The End Of The Tunnel

an extensive site of every conceivable sort of

homeschooling link. It has websites for

homeschoolers of various faiths

(Bahaíi, Buddhist, Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Pagan,

or Secular) correspondence and umbrella schools, sources

for curriculum and standardized testing materials,

organizations grouped by country, personal websites

made by homeschoolers, e mail lists to join, and a

lot of neat education, homeschooling, and learning

webrings.

http://w.webring.com/hub?ring=hesn

Home Education Special Needs webring

http://www.home-ed-magazine.com/

The Home Education Magazine website.

A good source of information for beginners and

seasoned homeschoolers alike. It includes legal

issues, sources for curriculum, and much more

practical advice.

http://www.learninfreedom.org/

School is dead, learn in freedom!

One of my favorite homeschooling/unschooling

websites. Lots of thought-provoking material.

www.montessori.edu/homeschooling.html

A website for homeschooling via the Montessori

method from ages 3-18. It includes free Montessori

E-books, Montessori educational products, and a list

of related homeschooling groups.

http://www.homeschool.com/

Your virtual homeschool!

Contains online courses and curriculum, message boards,

support groups, a newsletter, and much more.

Helpful Books:

The Right Choice: Homeschooling

(Christopher J. Klicka, Noble Publishers, 1995 )

The Big Book of Home Learning

(Mary Pride, Alpha Omega Publishers, 2000)

This article is an excerpt from my 2001 book, Make Your Kid A Genius! (Tools to Maximize Your Child’s Potential from the Womb Through College.) You can obtain a free copy in the "downloads" section of my website at http://www.irenehelenzundel.com