Should parents be Should parents be encouraged to home school encouraged to home school their children?their children?

Valerie MeyersValerie MeyersJanelle MitchellJanelle MitchellKristin ThomasKristin Thomas

Definition of Home Definition of Home SchoolingSchooling

The instruction of a student in an The instruction of a student in an educational program outside of an educational program outside of an established school system, typically in established school system, typically in the home environmentthe home environment

History of Home History of Home SchoolingSchooling

1717thth-18-18thth century century American colonial period, majority of education was home schoolingAmerican colonial period, majority of education was home schooling Public schools taught trades, these schools were used by the Public schools taught trades, these schools were used by the

underprivilegedunderprivileged Private tutors were used by the wealthyPrivate tutors were used by the wealthy

1860s1860s States began enacting compulsory attendance lawsStates began enacting compulsory attendance laws

Requiring school attendance for all school age students by law of that Requiring school attendance for all school age students by law of that declared statedeclared state

By 1929, compulsory attendance laws existed in every stateBy 1929, compulsory attendance laws existed in every state 1919thth century century

Public schooling dominated, home schooling was not used at this timePublic schooling dominated, home schooling was not used at this time

History of Home History of Home SchoolingSchooling

19571957 Utah was the first state to recognize home schooling as an Utah was the first state to recognize home schooling as an

educational option to parentseducational option to parents Idea of home schooling started to reemerge in American Idea of home schooling started to reemerge in American

societysociety 1970s1970s

Home schooling was objected to by school administrators, Home schooling was objected to by school administrators, teachers, and teachers unionsteachers, and teachers unions

Recent history did not promote home schooling, though it was Recent history did not promote home schooling, though it was obvious that portions of the current population wanted this obvious that portions of the current population wanted this optionoption

Courts decided that children needed to be educated and states Courts decided that children needed to be educated and states had the right to require education but it was up to the parent to had the right to require education but it was up to the parent to decide the type of educational program for their childdecide the type of educational program for their child

19861986 All states adopted laws recognizing that parents had the option All states adopted laws recognizing that parents had the option

to home schoolto home school

Relevant Court Cases for Relevant Court Cases for Home SchoolingHome Schooling

1923 Meyer v. Nebraska1923 Meyer v. Nebraska A 10 year old was taught German, when the existing law A 10 year old was taught German, when the existing law

stated foreign language could not be taught until 8stated foreign language could not be taught until 8 thth gradegrade

Ruled that it is the right of the parent to give their child Ruled that it is the right of the parent to give their child the education they see suitablethe education they see suitable

1925 Pierce v. Society of Sisters1925 Pierce v. Society of Sisters Questioned the Compulsory Education Act, which Questioned the Compulsory Education Act, which

required school aged children to attend public school required school aged children to attend public school systemsystem

Ruled that this violates the rights of parents to direct the Ruled that this violates the rights of parents to direct the education of their children by enforcing a standardized education of their children by enforcing a standardized system whereby children are forced to be educated by system whereby children are forced to be educated by public teachers onlypublic teachers only

This case changed the state compulsory attendance This case changed the state compulsory attendance laws, requiring inclusion of both public and non-public laws, requiring inclusion of both public and non-public schoolsschools

Relevant Court Cases for Relevant Court Cases for Home SchoolingHome Schooling 1927 Farrington v. Tokushige1927 Farrington v. Tokushige

Legality of foreign language schools in Hawaii was questionedLegality of foreign language schools in Hawaii was questioned Ruled “The…parent has the right to direct the education of his Ruled “The…parent has the right to direct the education of his

own child without unreasonable restrictions; the Constitution own child without unreasonable restrictions; the Constitution protects him…”protects him…”

1972 Wisconsin v. Yoder1972 Wisconsin v. Yoder Amish families challenged the age listed in the Compulsory Amish families challenged the age listed in the Compulsory

Attendance laws Attendance laws They believed that sending their children to school beyond the They believed that sending their children to school beyond the

88thth grade level endangered the practices and ideals of their grade level endangered the practices and ideals of their religionreligion

Ruled that the First Amendment freedom of religion outweighed Ruled that the First Amendment freedom of religion outweighed the school attendance laws and if the parental interests were the school attendance laws and if the parental interests were religious, rather than personal or philosophical, children were religious, rather than personal or philosophical, children were exempt from the Compulsory Attendance law and did not have exempt from the Compulsory Attendance law and did not have to attend school for the required number of yearsto attend school for the required number of years

Relevant Court Cases for Relevant Court Cases for Home SchoolingHome Schooling

1998 Brunelle v. Lynne Public Schools1998 Brunelle v. Lynne Public Schools The school committee enforced a policy that The school committee enforced a policy that

included home visits by the superintendent or school included home visits by the superintendent or school representatives to observe and evaluate the home representatives to observe and evaluate the home schooling processschooling process

Brunelle argued that the home visits were in Brunelle argued that the home visits were in violation of his and his family’s rightsviolation of his and his family’s rights

Ruled that the government may not intrude Ruled that the government may not intrude unnecessarily on family affairsunnecessarily on family affairs

Home Schooling is DependeHome Schooling is Dependent Upon the Individual Statent Upon the Individual State Laws Laws

Criteria for home schooling varies across all the statesCriteria for home schooling varies across all the states States have the right to decide the:States have the right to decide the:

Minimum qualifications for the home instructorMinimum qualifications for the home instructor Curriculum requirementsCurriculum requirements Minimum amount of time spent on instruction (hours/day, days/year)Minimum amount of time spent on instruction (hours/day, days/year) Measurement of student progress Measurement of student progress

States range from having no regulations on home schooling States range from having no regulations on home schooling (besides compulsory school age) to having strict regulation (besides compulsory school age) to having strict regulation requirements for home schoolingrequirements for home schooling

Pennsylvania is a state with strict regulation requirements for Pennsylvania is a state with strict regulation requirements for home schoolinghome schooling

Pennsylvania Home Pennsylvania Home Education LawEducation Law

Compulsory school age: 8-17 yearsCompulsory school age: 8-17 years Attendance: 180 days/year (900 hrs elementary, 990 hrs secondary)Attendance: 180 days/year (900 hrs elementary, 990 hrs secondary) Parent must have a High School diplomaParent must have a High School diploma The parent must inform their local superintendent of their decision to The parent must inform their local superintendent of their decision to

home school their child/children by August 1home school their child/children by August 1stst

Curriculum:Curriculum: English: reading, writing, spelling, language, literature, speech, compositionEnglish: reading, writing, spelling, language, literature, speech, composition Math: general math, statistics, algebra, geometryMath: general math, statistics, algebra, geometry Science: basic science, biology, chemistryScience: basic science, biology, chemistry History: geography, US history, PA history, civics, social studies, world History: geography, US history, PA history, civics, social studies, world

history, economicshistory, economics Foreign language, music, art, physical education, health, safety, fire Foreign language, music, art, physical education, health, safety, fire

danger/preventiondanger/prevention Evaluation: portfolio of materials used, examples of work completed, Evaluation: portfolio of materials used, examples of work completed,

written evaluation by a teacher or administrator, and standardized tests written evaluation by a teacher or administrator, and standardized tests (submitted yearly)(submitted yearly)

Reasons for Home Reasons for Home SchoolingSchooling

Parent occupations involve extended stays Parent occupations involve extended stays outside of a school systemoutside of a school system

Families live in rural areas where the Families live in rural areas where the educational options are limited or not availableeducational options are limited or not available

Parent educational experience influenced their Parent educational experience influenced their decision to home school their kidsdecision to home school their kids

Political and/or religious beliefsPolitical and/or religious beliefs Belief that the “one-size-fits-all” concept used Belief that the “one-size-fits-all” concept used

in public schools is not beneficial to their in public schools is not beneficial to their childrenchildren

ADVANTAGESADVANTAGES

Of Home SchoolingOf Home Schooling

Main Advantages of Main Advantages of Home SchoolingHome Schooling

The main advantages of home The main advantages of home schooling involve a parent’s increased schooling involve a parent’s increased control & influence in the following control & influence in the following areas:areas:

Religious/Philosophical BeliefsReligious/Philosophical Beliefs SocializationSocialization AcademicsAcademics

As well as increasing a child’s “family As well as increasing a child’s “family time.”time.”

ReligionReligion Home schooling allows a family to weave their Home schooling allows a family to weave their

convictions into every aspect of their convictions into every aspect of their "curriculum." They are now in control of the "curriculum." They are now in control of the subject matter and in control of the topics. subject matter and in control of the topics.

Provides students with “proper” social, moral, Provides students with “proper” social, moral, and religious valuesand religious values Avoid “problem ridden” public schoolsAvoid “problem ridden” public schools Some parents are under the impression that public Some parents are under the impression that public

schools are crime-ridden, drug-filled, dangerous schools are crime-ridden, drug-filled, dangerous environmentsenvironments

This allows them to incorporate a religious basis to This allows them to incorporate a religious basis to the educational curriculumthe educational curriculum

Fastest growing group of home schoolers (2/3 of Fastest growing group of home schoolers (2/3 of families choose it for this reason)families choose it for this reason)

SocializationSocialization

Fewer behavioral problemsFewer behavioral problems Less negative influences from peers Less negative influences from peers More respectfulMore respectful

Removes them from confinement with their Removes them from confinement with their “age-mates.”“age-mates.” With students of the same age, opposed to students With students of the same age, opposed to students

at the same academic level.at the same academic level.

Increased interactions w/ parents (adults)Increased interactions w/ parents (adults) Promotes more mature and poised youthPromotes more mature and poised youth

AcademicsAcademics(A)(A) Custom-Designed Curriculum Custom-Designed Curriculum Flexible schedule to teach desired curriculum.Flexible schedule to teach desired curriculum.

Follow interests with a passion, which provides a profound love Follow interests with a passion, which provides a profound love of learningof learning Foreign languagesForeign languages MusicMusic Other special skills/academic interestsOther special skills/academic interests

Spend as little or as much time on a desired subjectSpend as little or as much time on a desired subject Learn things when readyLearn things when ready

Encourages & strengthens a child’s individual potentialEncourages & strengthens a child’s individual potential

(B) Children can learn at their own pace.(B) Children can learn at their own pace. Move as fast or as slow as neededMove as fast or as slow as needed

Encourages self-motivationEncourages self-motivation Encourages thinking for themselvesEncourages thinking for themselves

AcademicsAcademics

(C) Working with the Child’s Learning Style(C) Working with the Child’s Learning Style Many parents are under the impression that public Many parents are under the impression that public

schools are graduating illiterate students who are schools are graduating illiterate students who are unprepared for the work force due to a lack of unprepared for the work force due to a lack of individualized attentionindividualized attention

Students of average ability, who are able to input & Students of average ability, who are able to input & process information according to their natural process information according to their natural learning style, become great learners learning style, become great learners a parent is better able to discover the child's a parent is better able to discover the child's

learning stylelearning style The traditional classroom is teacher-driven, whereas The traditional classroom is teacher-driven, whereas

the home school can be student-driven, and the child the home school can be student-driven, and the child allowed to master areas in the best way at the best allowed to master areas in the best way at the best time for the best resultstime for the best results

Do home schooled children Do home schooled children actually do better than actually do better than public school children?public school children? On most academic measures, home schooled students On most academic measures, home schooled students

outperform public school students on standardized tests.outperform public school students on standardized tests. The largest study so far, authorized for the Home School The largest study so far, authorized for the Home School

Legal Defense Association, by University of Maryland Legal Defense Association, by University of Maryland statistician Lawrence M. Rudner, examined 20,000 home statistician Lawrence M. Rudner, examined 20,000 home schooled students from 50 states.schooled students from 50 states. The data gathered in this study is consistent with information The data gathered in this study is consistent with information

found in the Education Policy Analysis Archives.found in the Education Policy Analysis Archives. These students scored higher on standardized tests than These students scored higher on standardized tests than

public and private school students in every subject and public and private school students in every subject and at every grade level.at every grade level. The longer their parents had home schooled them, the better The longer their parents had home schooled them, the better

they did.they did.

ResultsResults

Standardized national tests of skills & achievement:Standardized national tests of skills & achievement: Home schoolers scored better than 70-80% of all test takersHome schoolers scored better than 70-80% of all test takers

By 8By 8thth grade, the median performance of home school grade, the median performance of home school students is almost 4 grade levels above that of students students is almost 4 grade levels above that of students nationwide.nationwide.

By 12By 12thth grade, home schooled students scored in 92 grade, home schooled students scored in 92ndnd percentile in reading.percentile in reading.

In 1999, when the SATs began tracking its scores, home In 1999, when the SATs began tracking its scores, home schooled students scored an average of 1083, 67 points schooled students scored an average of 1083, 67 points above the national averageabove the national average They also scored an average of 22.7 on the ACT, which is They also scored an average of 22.7 on the ACT, which is

higher than the national average of 21.higher than the national average of 21.

Home Schooled Students Home Schooled Students Attending CollegeAttending College

69% of home schoolers go on to college69% of home schoolers go on to college Parents put together portfolios w/ samples of Parents put together portfolios w/ samples of

work & lists of accomplishmentswork & lists of accomplishments More then 2/3 of American colleges now accept More then 2/3 of American colleges now accept

such transcriptssuch transcripts If other standardized tests are required, students If other standardized tests are required, students

simply take them simply take them

Harvard, for example, accepts approximately Harvard, for example, accepts approximately 10 each year10 each year

Home Schooled Students Home Schooled Students Attending CollegeAttending College Home schooled students do well in college, after the initial Home schooled students do well in college, after the initial

adjustmentadjustment A 1997 study reports that home school students are in fact A 1997 study reports that home school students are in fact

academically, emotionally, & socially prepared to excel in academically, emotionally, & socially prepared to excel in college.college.

Also in 1997, for example, a four-year study of students at Also in 1997, for example, a four-year study of students at Bob Jones University found home schooled children Bob Jones University found home schooled children scored higher in campus leadership activities than scored higher in campus leadership activities than students from either the public school system or private students from either the public school system or private schools.schools.

Home school graduates average a 3.3 GPA their freshman Home school graduates average a 3.3 GPA their freshman year, compared to the average 3.12 GPA received by year, compared to the average 3.12 GPA received by public school graduatespublic school graduates "Home schoolers bring certain skills -- motivation, curiosity, "Home schoolers bring certain skills -- motivation, curiosity,

the capacity to be responsible for their education -- that the capacity to be responsible for their education -- that high schools don't induce very well," says Jon Reider, high schools don't induce very well," says Jon Reider, Stanford's senior associate director of admissions.Stanford's senior associate director of admissions.

““Family Time”Family Time” Brings families closer together.Brings families closer together. Parents feel that children need to learn from Parents feel that children need to learn from

people who care deeply about them.people who care deeply about them. After a child enters the public school system, After a child enters the public school system,

they begin spending more awake time with they begin spending more awake time with peers than parents.peers than parents. Less emphasis on parent-child relationshipLess emphasis on parent-child relationship

Parents become the main role-model in a home Parents become the main role-model in a home schooling environment.schooling environment. Easier to instill values & moralsEasier to instill values & morals Improved language developmentImproved language development Minimizes friction between teens & parentsMinimizes friction between teens & parents

What Can Public Schools What Can Public Schools Do?Do?

In a study conducted in Kentucky in In a study conducted in Kentucky in 1998, the question, “What can public 1998, the question, “What can public schools do to re-attract families who schools do to re-attract families who home school their children?” was asked.home school their children?” was asked.

The #1 answer received was:The #1 answer received was: ““Infuse religion into the practices and Infuse religion into the practices and

curriculum of the public schools.”curriculum of the public schools.”

Five Main Disadvantages Five Main Disadvantages of Home Schoolingof Home Schooling

Time and EffortTime and Effort Limits of the TeacherLimits of the Teacher Lack of RecognitionLack of Recognition FinancialFinancial SocializationSocialization

Time and EffortTime and Effort

Time consuming for parentsTime consuming for parents Designing the curriculumDesigning the curriculum Getting the materialsGetting the materials Teaching the curriculumTeaching the curriculum

EffortEffort Energy to stay informedEnergy to stay informed

Limits of the TeacherLimits of the Teacher

Feel inadequate to teach subject in coherent Feel inadequate to teach subject in coherent and skillful manner.and skillful manner.

SciencesSciences LanguagesLanguages Multicultural awarenessMulticultural awareness

Lack of resourcesLack of resources Enrichment activitiesEnrichment activities Books Books Fundamental MaterialsFundamental Materials

Lack of Recognition from Lack of Recognition from Public/CommunityPublic/Community

AcademicallyAcademically SAT scoresSAT scores Spelling BeesSpelling Bees

AthleticsAthletics

FinancialFinancial

School DistrictsSchool Districts They are funded by the number of students They are funded by the number of students

enrolled. When students are pulled out, the enrolled. When students are pulled out, the school loses that funding.school loses that funding.

Without funding, other effects could happenWithout funding, other effects could happen Extra curricular programs like sports, music, and arts.Extra curricular programs like sports, music, and arts.

FinancialFinancial

Parents/FamilyParents/Family They have to buy the materials They have to buy the materials Provide transportation for field tripsProvide transportation for field trips Lost of income since one parent stays home.Lost of income since one parent stays home.

SocializationSocialization

Diversity Diversity Not exposed to diversity Not exposed to diversity

Religious views Religious views CulturesCultures CustomsCustoms LanguagesLanguages PoliticalPolitical

SocializationSocialization

Becky Martin, 17, stated:Becky Martin, 17, stated: ““I feel the school setting is providing a ground for I feel the school setting is providing a ground for

what lies ahead.” what lies ahead.” She was home schooled, went to catholic school, She was home schooled, went to catholic school,

then home schooled again because she couldn’t then home schooled again because she couldn’t conform to the teacher’s method of teaching. conform to the teacher’s method of teaching.

Group’s ConclusionGroup’s Conclusion

As a group, we feel that parents should As a group, we feel that parents should not be encouraged to home school their not be encouraged to home school their children; however, we do acknowledge children; however, we do acknowledge that home schooling is a viable option for that home schooling is a viable option for parents. parents.

Questions?Questions?

ResourcesResources

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ResourcesResources

http://www.city-journal.org/html/http://www.city-journal.org/html/10_3_an_a_for_home.html 10_3_an_a_for_home.html 

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/1999/01/29/NB66774.D.htmlchronicle/archive/1999/01/29/NB66774.D.html

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printtech.cgi/pubs/pas/pa-294.htmlprinttech.cgi/pubs/pas/pa-294.html Homeschooling: Parents’ ReactionsHomeschooling: Parents’ Reactions by: by:

Margaret MartinMargaret Martin