In Defense of Home-Schooling
By Lynne Bell
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听听听听听听听听听听听 A recent study from Canada's Fraser Institute states that more Canadian families are choosing to home-school their children.
听听听听听听听听听听听 The study-released in June-states that in the past, children in this country were home-schooled mostly for religious or other morally-driven reasons. However, many Canadians are now choosing this educational option pragmatically.
听听听听听听听听听听听 听Some of the advantages of home-schooling are: offering an educational alternative for students who may have a learning disability or health issues that preclude a successful traditional school experience; accomodating students with careers outside school-such as performing or playing a sport at a higher level- and assisting students whose families may travel for extended periods or who live in an isolated area.
听听听听听听听听听听听 The study also states that statistics show that home-schooled students 鈥渟core higher in the higher percentiles compared to kids in public schools on standardized tests in reading, writing and mathematics.鈥�
听听听听听听听听听听听 All of Canada's 10 provinces require that parents of听 home-schoolers notify authorities in their jurisdiction of their intent to educate their offspring at home. However, only Alberta, Saskatchewan and Quebec currently require parents and/or guardians to submit a learning plan and progress reports, although with the increase of home-schooling across the country, officialdom is beginning to getting up to speed regarding this increasingly popular educational option.
听听听听听听听听听听听 Critics of home-schooling cite the need for young people to adapt to timetables, teachers and their fellow pupils as part of their overall growth as citizens. There are also concerns about an uneven and inferior educational experience for home-schooled students (in spite of statistical evidence to the contrary), that would potentially leave young people unprepared for post-secondary schooling.
听听听听听听听听听听听 Ironically, both sides of the home-schooling debate state that their primary concern regarding parents' decision to educate at home is 鈥渘egative socialization.鈥�
听听听听听听听听听听听 Parents who home-school often keep their kids out of school because they believe that bullying, exclusionary tactics and other forms of anti-social behavior in schools sets up their children for failure, regardless of quality of education. Those who disagree with home-schooling also have similar concerns about student socialization, but at the other end of the spectrum. These people believe that not having the opportunity to experience a school setting will hinder home-schoolers both socially and emotionally.
听听听听听听听听听听听 Both sides have a valid point.
听听听听听听听听听听听 From what I've witnessed, schools are increasingly challenged to accomodate the special needs and often exceptional circumstances of their students and they are-in my humble opinion-doing an admirable job. And I've met students from this part of the province who attend school and students who are home-schooled-and they're equally great young people doing great things.
听听听听听听听听听听听 In an ideal world, everyone would have a stellar school experience, but unfortunately, not everyone thrives in the classroom. As long as curriculum standards are met and monitored, this is just another educational option that will help students succeed.
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Home schooling: only if you鈥檙e sure you can
By Kelly Running
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 This week Lynne and I brainstormed and came up with a topic. We couldn鈥檛 really decide what we thought about it, but decided home schooling is a topic that could be debated.
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 As I began researching why people decide to home school, I came across arguments against home schooling, which I鈥檓 arguing this week.
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Home schooling used to be for reasons such as religion and wasn鈥檛 the norm for just anyone to choose to do. Now, however, many Canadian families are choosing to home school for a variety of other reasons.
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 One of the very first warnings an online home schooling reference guide stated was that unless you are a teacher, you won鈥檛 be able to be able to teach as efficiently as a professional teacher.
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Stress can also develop when you鈥檙e with your child constantly day in and day out it can strain family relationships. A parent is in charge of preparing all of the lessons for each of the subjects to the point that you feel comfortable answering any questions your child might ask. If a child begins to struggle they may come to blame the teacher, which in this case is you, the parent.
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Home school is a full time job for a parent and this would mean dedicating yourself to the education of your child. Do you have the time and resources to be able to properly educate your child? For many this makes home schooling financially irresponsible as it eliminates income from a job the parent held outside of the home.
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 An even larger concern however is the socialization that a school setting can afford a youth. Organized sports, recreational activities, group projects, playing together at recess, and much more is offered at schools. If they don鈥檛 interact with peers then they could be socially underdeveloped, although school does pose many challenges for some students and families that home schooling can aid in.
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Within a Canadian study done many who home school still believe in the public education system saying that school is actually the best place for their child, but the parent blames teachers and their unions for why the public school model doesn鈥檛 work the way they wish it would.
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Overall many of whom home school have favourable opinions about public school, but see certain aspects of how it is facilitated and therefore choose to home school.
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Homeschooling is a lifestyle and if your life or your ability to home school your child is in question, then it isn鈥檛 feasible because despite wanting to do it, risking your livelihood, your relationship with your kid, and their education are at stake.
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 However, if you鈥檙e confident in your abilities to teach, to maintain a healthy relationship with your child despite being a source of frustration as their teacher, and you have the financial means to home school then if you鈥檙e thinking about it, give it a try.
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 However, risking your child鈥檚 education if you鈥檙e unsure about this is likely going to lead you down a troublesome path, so make sure you鈥檙e both ready for it before committing to it.
