The Wall Street Journal's OpinionJournal web site reports a neat story that most of the press, predictably, missed. Homeschoolers, who tend to dominate national spelling bees and math bees, have recently won a courtroom trial competition called the National High School Mock Trial Championship. The competition, which simulates a courtroom with legal teams on both sides arguing a case, is held in different cities each year. This year, a fabulous group of Home Schoolers took the prize.
Whenever you hear someone criticize homeschooling...
...they almost invariably bring up the notion that homeschooled kids will probably lack the "social skills" of institutionally-educated kids. There's never been much evidence to support this assumption, but hey, let's cut the establishmentarians some slack: home schooled kids tend to breeze past institutionally-educated kids on math, spelling, history, geography, and most other standard subjects. They had to come up with something to criticize.
But now, even in a national competittion that tests almost nothing but social skills (communicating effectively, thinking on your feet, verbal dexterity, the ability to win over an audience) the home schooled kids opened up a can of whoop-ass. Which only surprises people who've never met any home-schooled kids. Those of us who have know they tend to be bright, happy, very sociable creatures who deal very well with adults and other kids.
It's about time we asked an obvious question: why on Earth would forcing kids to sit in regimented rows of desks, staring at a teacher and a blackboard all day, help develop social skills? Or are we supposed to believe that recess and lunch hour work some amazing magic on our ability to interact with other human beings?
We've only been locking our kids into classrooms to "develop social skills" for the last hundred years or so. Do we suppose that in the 10,000 years of recorded human history, most people lacked social skills? That the public school movement of the 19th century wrought a miraculous change in people's ability to get along? Does that even make sense?
Here's something else I've noticed: any time I've gotten to know someone with poor social skills, they went to traditional schools as a kid. Every one of them that I've asked has admitted that school was hell for them. Many will admit that one of their recurrent nightmares is that they find themselves stuck in school again.
Home schooling is a growing movement, and it's no surprise, given the sorry state of so many of our public schools--which has its roots in the almost complete lack of accountability to parents. What bothers me so much is that home schooling is one of the most truly progressive movements of our day. It bugs me that so many activists on the political left either oppose it or are sarcastic and mean-spirited about it. But I suppose it goes back to something I've said many times before: I no longer believe that most segments of the left are liberal or progressive at all; I think they are the establishment reactionaries of the 21st century.
Thank you for your support of homeschoolers. My son, 11, just took the ITBS. A public school teacher had commented that he probably wouldn't do very well "considering his education." Well, my homeschooled 11 year old 5th grader scored most of his subjects in the 12th grade level! The other subjects were in the 10th and 11th grade. He is active in homeschool band, gym class, choir, Boy Scouts, soccer, tennis and boxing. No social life they say? Give me a break!! He also is very active with neighborhood friends and other kids in town in more unstructured activites. He is as comfortable conversing with professional adults as he is with youth of his own age.
I commend you for your insight and your willingness to support us publicly.
Dee Ann
No problem, DeeAnn.
My wife and I would love to homeschool our son. Unfortunately, we don't have the financial means to do that right now. Doubly unfortunately, we live in one of the worst school districts in our state. In the fall we're putting him into kindergarten because that seems harmless. After that, hopefully our finances will be such that we can afford to put him into a local parochial school, or re-investigate homeschooling.
God knows the education establishment fights tooth and nail against any real reform of the education system (that's what passes for "progressivism" these days) so it seems as if private schools and homeschooling are the only viable option for us--and financially, right now both look very difficult indeed. (If you're wondering how I manage to run this site, it's on due to the good graces of a generous friend.)
We'll see what we see. Any way, best of luck to you and those of you who can afford this option. You deserve praise for your parenting.
Dean,
I personally believe our public schools are headed in the wrong direction. The only thing I cannot determine is whether it by accident or by design.
One development causing poor test scoring has to be the addition of non-traditional, or non-academic classes to the public school curriculum. I cannot get reconcile why certain classes are called "education." Growing up we had to take physical "education," health "education," sex "education," and driver's "education." Now kids are taught death "education" in public schools. Do you notice how the most non-academic courses are called "education?" How in the world do you educate somebody in health, gym, or death? We used to call THOSE "educators" parents when I grew up.
When was the last time you heard of chemistry education, algebra education, English education or physics education? If no need exists to name these academic classes "education" in their title then there surely exists no reason to call those other classes "education" in their title either.
I looked at a few of the textbooks used by Gwinnett County Public Schools. They looked to me to be years below grade level and filled with trivial, inaccurate information. Gwinnett County is the eleventh largest school system in the U.S. with over 116,00 students.
The geometry book contained 400 pages of very large print and very large pictures with almost polysyllabalic words. The geography book contained numerous watercolors on each page with bullet points next to each watercolor. Again, I found no polysyllybalic words. The geography textbook was a cross between geography and history trivia questions.
I find it more and more difficult to have intelligent conversations with people these days. They appear less and less informed to me; they also read less and less.
I do not know how to make people read. I know nobody personally who has read one single book on the Middle East (ME). Discussing current events with them leaves me very unfulfilled. They understand very little about the Middle East and the world around them.
America is still a weak foreign language-studying nation even though we are the fourth largest Spanish speaking country in the world. No language requirement exists in public schools anywhere that I know of.
I seriously wonder whether this is a legacy of our public schools where academics is less important than when I grew up.
Respectfully,
Kevin Brehmer
Hey Dean!
'Member me? Gretchen Birgells, used to go out with Bill Sonntag...
My sister Rachel was home-schooled and she is brilliant, so rah-rah, another living proof example.
I really came here to get in touch with you and say hi. E-mail me when you get a chance. I'd love to hear what's been going on with you...
I'm a programmer by profession, but a Sunday school teacher for 11th Graders by choice.
I for one have seen a BIG difference between the ability to learn embued in Home Schoolers versus the vapid stares of kids in our public skoulz.
Thanks for the links.
I was happy to hear your support on homeschooling. I have met the finest parents & students with high regard for education. I also like the time the parent has to spend with their child in home. The homeschoolers are done by early afternoon, sometimes before noon & are out in the world enjoying themselves with other kids and using their time in a more valuable way.
I went to a seminar for homeschooling at least fifteen years ago hoping to homeschool my youngest son since both, my oldest son & daughter had such a rough time in school. Both of them were extremely bright & very intelligent but the peer pressure was really hard on them. Thank God they both survived their rough times at school & I am happy to say they are both doing great in their chosen fields of careers.
My youngest also is doing well even though I was not able to homeschool him. He wanted the homeschooling which I think is important to bring up as well. You would be surprised to find out given a child a choice of homeschooling & the school system I feel your child would chose homeschooling. They are finished early, can get involved in many activites of their choice with the help of the parents.
I was really impressed with this article Dean & wish we could see more of this in main stream media. I guarantee every homeschool parent & student has a tremendous story to tell us & articles like yours help bring attention to this greatest of schooling for our children.
I was unable to teach the youngest child & he like my other two children are doing well, very well all of them. I do hope you find a way in time to homeschool in the future. You sound like a real concerned parent and we need more like you. Thanks again for putting a light on this great way of schooling!
I was home schooled, and it was the worst time of my life. I was always wondering what it was like to go to public school and wishing I went. I hated my parents and their beliefs and still do.
When my parents finally decided to put me and my brothers in public school we were so behind our studies that had to go to special programs to keep up with school. We had been so deprived from social life that when we finally had contact with the "outside world" we went crazy. We wanted to try everything there was to try good and bad. I blame my brothers cocaine addiction on home schooling.If we had not been deprived from SOCIAL LIFE he wouldn't had wanted to try everything once we were released in the world.
I am tired of hearing stories on how smart home school children are compared to public ones. How about posting stories of students who did not benefit from home school? I hate when people hide the truth about home schooling.
I'm sure everyone has their own experiences, but most of the studies bear out that most homeschoolers do better. It therefore strikes me that the real thing you have an issue with is your parents and their beliefs, whatever those are, rather than anything else.
I went to public school and I hated it. So, everyone has their issues I guess. But I somehow doubt that homeschooling caused your brother's cocaine problem.
I would just like to comment on your desire to homeschool your son. I don't know your financial situation, but if you believe it is the best and right thing to to do for your son, then do it! It can be straining going from a two-income home to a one -income home, but scarifices can be made. Take a good look at your budget, what are true necessities, and how much it is actually costing your wife to work, and I bet you will see a possibility. Between child care expenses, car costs, gas, work clothes, eating out, lunches,etc, you would be surprised at home much it costs (assuming she is not bringing in an unearthly amount...)
Even if she is, though, if you feel strongly about it, you can work it out!!!! I wouldn't trad the time I have with my kids for all the money in the world.
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