(Source)
Posted in the Chicago Tribune on Feb. 18, 2016, is this personal commentary by David McGrath, emeritus English professor at the College of DuPage:
A 10-year-old girl lies in bed with a fever of 104 and a flaming rash on her head and neck. But instead of driving her to the emergency room or even calling a physician, her parents pray at her bedside for a cure.
Most states still consider such “treatment” by the parents as a religious right protected by the First Amendment, even though it is perceived by most physicians and lawyers, as well as the American Medical Association, as parental neglect or even abuse.
When I was a high school English teacher in Chicago, I viewed homeschooling the same way, as a kind of educational abuse, or, at best, neglect.
That is because keeping a child out of school deprives him of his essential right to a quality education, including access to tax-funded resources, highly trained teachers and specialists in each discipline, as well as intramural and extracurricular enrichment activities.
There is little oversight of homeschooled students in half of all states, including Illinois, where they never even have to take a standardized test.
(Creative Commons)
I felt that the most important benefits missed by stay-at-home kids are socialization from peer group interaction, and the critical thinking and communication skills learned from small- and large-group dynamics in the classroom.
I recall arguing these points with a parent of a home-schooled child, who countered that her son was safer and more closely monitored, had access to social activities with cousins and peers on a weekly basis, and availed himself of books and materials pooled by a club composed of local parents who home-schooled their kids.
No, she admitted. But she offered that someone in her club probably knows.
That, I felt, was my gotcha moment, because it exposed the main problem of a parent playing teacher at the kitchen table.
Paradigm Shift On the Homeschooled
All that changed when I started teaching at the college level, on an evening when I came home from work, slipped off my shoes, collapsed into the recliner and announced to my wife that the best student in my college composition class had been homeschooled.
An 18-year-old only child, who had been educated by her parents for all 12 grades, chose a seat in the front row on the first day of class.
The following 16 weeks, she maintained eye contact throughout lectures and discussions, listened intently to me and her classmates, raised her hand to offer an observation, an answer or to ask a question when no one else would, followed instructions to the letter, communicated verbally and in writing more clearly than everyone else and received the highest grade on every assignment.
She was the first student to arrive, had perfect attendance the entire semester and was a catalyst for every lesson I ventured.
Other teachers know the experience, of feeling the entire weight of the class’ resistance to an activity or a concept, and often trying to stand and lift that weight and steer it in a positive direction. It can wear down a teacher’s sensibilities. But my homeschooler’s ebullience and sincerity erased the group’s negativity.
When I tried to will the class to be excited about author Raymond Carver, for whose story we were doing a critical analysis, she inferred my intent and mirrored it for the class first with body language and then a verbal barrage.
She was an ideal learner for, I assumed, the following reasons:
First, she had escaped the collateral damage from 12 years of conventional schooling. I’m thinking of my own lost years in elementary school, as a bored-out-of-my-gourd pupil in a classroom of 48 or more students doing busywork most of the day.
So the schoolroom was still a novelty for her.
Secondly, she applied her experience of one-on-one learning to the classroom format, as though she were the only one sitting in front of me. This led to plentiful and uninhibited conversation, and other students followed suit.
Third, having been the only person to be called on for 12 years, she did not use the group’s mass as camouflage, or a barrier, but accepted every question, suggestion, lesson and instruction as her own responsibility.
Fourth, in home school she had daily conversations with one parent or the other about a myriad of subjects, whereas her texting, video-gaming, ear-bud-wearing classmates too often skated, side-stepped or escaped adult interaction much of their short lives.
If every student in my classroom were a radio, my homeschooled student was the one whose switch was turned on.
In the past 15 years, I’ve known of over a dozen homeschooled students in my college freshman and sophomore classes. All were competent in social interaction, and all had already developed their own methods of inquiry for independent learning.
While my experiences are anecdotal, clinical studies have arrived at similar conclusions, such as the one conducted by Dr. Brian Ray of the National Home Education Research Institute. His study of 11,000 homeschooled students found they scored higher, on average, than public school students on national standardized tests by a whopping 37 percentile points. (for more, visit: Gen2 Survey: A Spiritual and Educational Survey on Christian Millennials)
An estimated 1.8 million students are homeschooled in the United States, often for religious reasons, or for insulation from schoolyard problems such as bullying. But the best reason may be that they get a better education.
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David McGrath, emeritus English professor at the College of DuPage, lives and teaches in Florida. He is author of “The Territory.”
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Thanks for reading!
Emily says
This is a great perspective. I went to a private school and then homeschooled for several years, including all of my high school years. My fellow-homeschoolers and I were lightyears ahead of our peers in college academically, but mostly socially. I feel so blessed to have escaped the hamster wheel that is public schooling.
Jacqueline says
Well said, Emily,…that hamster wheel is what we want to avoid at all costs! Blessings!
Charlotte Moore says
I totally agree. I worked in the school system for over 24 years. No way a child gets as much one on one at a school as they can at home. A teacher just can’t provide that with a roomful plus so many problems with students. A parent has to be dedicated to home school though. You can’t expect a child to get a good education if not.
Peggy says
We are launching our 4th son into the college world in 2017. Currently we are visiting and researching schools. Our other children did well in college even though their first semester was difficult as they saw what the world was like with apathetic kids, drugs, sex etc. Our 4th child went to a college he would like to attend for a visit. He said that the science labs had everything he would ever dream of in a science lab–like not just 1 mass spectrometer but 4. Usually in the regional/national science fair, he is the one with homemade and home designed equipment for we do not have a lot of money. At the other school in the same city though , he noticed that the kids went outside of themselves and looked after and helped homeless people and looked after each other—serving one another. He has a way of seeing past what most see. He has learned these things at home. He has learned these things not by hanging out with peers all the time playing games and avoiding work, but working hard, doing online classes for college early, by having a few volunteer jobs. Happy that God will look out for him in college, but I believe he will be a fine student where ever he chooses.
Jacqueline says
Praise God for your son, Peggy! I am thankful there are still families that are seeking God to guide their lives. May the Lord open the doors to your children that would bring the most glory to God! Blessings, dear Mama!!
Mark Bjorklund says
My wife and I (mostly my wife) homeschooled our eight children for their K-12 education. There is an 11-year age span from the oldest to the youngest. Although we were unsure about our ability to give them the ‘best’ possible education academically (neither of us had 4-year degrees) we were convinced that we could instill better values, pass on our Christian convictions and help them learn how to be learners. Now, with our youngest in her first year of higher education, we are happy with our choice to homeschool. We definitely had some struggles. We found help with an occasional tutor, a homeschool co-op and finally added some online classes.
All of our children have gone on to higher education and done well. More importantly, in the job market (where it really matters) they have excelled! Companies that have employed one of our children have hired a second virtually sight unseen. And the normal rules have not necessarily been followed in their hiring.
As an example, our fifth (a daughter) decided to work in Spain immediately after completing her senior year. She used her savings to move and get established there, made an income by offering English as a Second Language tutoring in the colleges there, and spent 2 years there, coming back very able to speak the language (she knew no Spanish when she left home). When she returned home, she got a holiday job at a national retail store. (when she went in to apply, the secretary informed her that they had no openings, but after a brief conversation with the manager, a job was ‘found’ for her. She was to be there every morning at 4:30 to update price tags on the shelves. After six weeks, because of her efforts and attitudes, she was given a promotion to Department Manager over Jewelry and Shoes with 10 employees reporting to her! All of her employees had more tenure than she, and typically a college degree is a requirement for their Manager positions. She worked there about a year until she decided to pursue more schooling.
Most importantly, however, is the fact that all of our children our walking with the Lord and they still love to spend time with each other! We are very blessed indeed…
Jacqueline says
Thank you, Mark, for sharing your story with us here! Possibly home-education is not for everyone, but I know many parents who set out with great trepidation and are now so thankful they chose this path. You’ve done an excellent job and your children are evidence of your care and attention! “What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?” ~Mark 8:36
God bless your family and your young people’s endeavors!
Sue Conant says
Great article and wonderful stories and comments. I homeschooled our son for most of his school years. He was not an academic student and knew this would be the only way to get him through school. He excelled with not having to deal with the every day life of public schools. He was well socialized, he was in Scouts, active at church, we were in homeschool groups and had lots of friends. He could communicate to everyone, age was never a problem. For his last year in high school we took a 5 month history trip around the US in our motorhome. We never knew just how much he and a friend were taking in, but years later they would comment on what they really saw and remembered it much better than anything a book. Since he wasn’t an academic student he had no interest in a 4 year college, so he went to a trade school. He’s now in his 30’s and doing well. It’s not for everybody, but it sure worked for us. I commend everyone who takes up this challenge
Jacqueline says
Thank you so much for sharing your experience, Sue! Your words are so encouraging 🙂
Emily Lemmon says
Thanks for your article David, and to you Jacqueline for posting this. I am a former homeschooler myself (from 2nd grade through high school–pulled out of the public school system for quarantining due to a case of scarlet fever). Now I am a scientist and tenured faculty member at a Research 1 institution. My husband (also a tenured scientist at the same institution) and I are now homeschooling our three kids (6yrs, 4yrs, and 21 months). The older two learned how to read this past Fall (yes, the middle one was only 3yrs at the time). The great thing about homeschooling is that students receive focused attention from the people who love them most in the world, and that inspires them to do their best. Homeschooling builds family life and teaches children true socialization–they are able to interact with more than just their peer group; instead they learn to socialize with babies, smaller and older children, and adults in a healthy manner. The kids can learn at their own pace without feeling they are abnormally slow or fast and without being constantly compared to the class average. We are extremely satisfied so far with the effects of homeschooling on our own children. Moreover, I concur with your observations: the homeschooled college students that I have had in my courses are hard working, enthusiastic, and still retain the wonder of learning about the natural world that I try my best to inspire in the public schooled-students. Thank you for taking the time to write this article.
Jacqueline says
Thank YOU for sharing your life experience here with our readers, Emily! Homeschool parents rock! LOL
Catherine Howie says
Wonderful perspective! I taught my two sons at home K-12 and they both excelled in college.
Although I enjoyed the article, I’m wondering if my English lessons with my sons missed something. I’m quite sure these are errors– in an article written by an English prof!
“I recall arguing these points with a parent of a homeschooled, who….” “Homeschooled” is an adjective which requires a noun. Or maybe the original contains a misspelling and should read “homeschooler”? Either way, this sentence has a problem.
“I asked her, referring to a key algebraic principle introduced in regular schools as early as seventh grade. No, she admitted. But she offered that someone in her club probably knows.” Either I am missing something, or the first sentence is. Perhaps it should read, “I asked her A QUESTION, referring…”?
There were also several comma errors, it seems to me, throughout the article.
I’m honestly wondering if there are some grammar conventions I missed, if the article was not proofed, or if maybe the article was copied and pasted in pieces resulting in the errors. I actually laughed out loud at the examples above– at the irony of an English professor being corrected (humbly) by a homeschool mom and teacher!
Jacqueline says
Haha!! Thanks for the heads up, Catherine 🙂 It may have gotten messed up cutting and pasting…
T.J. says
Inspiring to hear these comments from those who have stuck with it! Our oldest is graduating from homeschool this May, but it doesn’t seem to get easier to “stay the course”. Today I was just thinking, ” I don’t think I have it in me to do this anymore. (with planning next year for my younger 2). Thanks for the encouraging post!
Jacqueline says
Aww… you can do it, T.J. 🙂 The Lord will give you the resources and the strength to persevere! I felt the very same way as you…
Praying for you right now, sister!
Jennifer says
So very encouraging Jacqueline, thank you!
janice Wald says
Hi Jacqueline,
I’m an English teacher too.
I agree with you. I was asked to home school; I said no.
Thanks for bringing your post to the Blogger’s Pit Stop
Janice, Pit Stop Crew
Kathleen says
Hi Jacqueline,
This post has been chosen to be featured in the next Blogger’s Pit Stop on Friday.
This should give help and courage to all those who do homeschool or who are contemplating it.
Kitty says
I homeschooled my daughter until she was in eighth grade and my son until he was in fifth grade. Homeschooling was a wonderful, terrible time for me (just keeping it real), but I don’t regret any of it! My son is my mini-me, but 150% more, and as he got older, homeschooling him got a lot harder. In fact, my husband and I prayed about it and decided that if my son and I were going to have any kind of relationship, he needed to answer to someone else as far as schooling. We enrolled them in a private Christian school where they both excelled. He will graduate from college in December and my daughter graduated from college in 2012, is married and is a youth director at her church and a private art teacher.
I have actually started writing an essay (or book) about our experiences tentatively titled “I Homeschooled and Didn’t Get Sent to Prison (Because I didn’t Kill My Son!). Don’t get me wrong, I dearly love my children, I mostly loved homeschooling, but it is not for the faint of heart! Whatever God calls you to do: homeschool, private school, charter school or public school-you must be involved and invested 100%!
My kids did well in college because of many of the reasons the professor cited in his article. I encourage all of you beginning to homeschool, in the midst of it or at the end of it-:rely on the Lord;take it a year at a time (and commit to the entire year); and don’t worry if you change your method of schooling–it’s between you and your spouse and the Lord, with input from your child!
God bless you all on your school journeys!
Katharine says
For us, the decision was based on academics and bullying. It is embarrassing to admit we did not at first also see the moral/Christian factors.
The article is right: There is no way one person can provide well for 20 to 30 children at once. I’d add that it is especially true if the children are not well-trained and the teacher has almost no means of controlling them, of forcing them to learn when they are naturally as prone to play, as anything.
Our children excelled in college, attending on earned scholarships and are all happily and gainfully employed, now. And moral Christians, I am happy to relate.
Mark says
While a quality teacher has an interest in educating all of the children that pass through their classes, it pales in comparison to the vested interest that a good parent has in the education and well-being of their children. This, among other things, is a major difference maker in the equation.
Amanda says
Excellent and encouraging article; as a homeschool graduate who is now homeschooling my own children, I love to see this kind of thing! This time of year, as I hear the comments of people preparing to send their kids “off” to school, I am keenly aware of the hidden advantages of school at home. We are able to focus our money, time, and energy on shaping our WHOLE child and their education.