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Home education, also called '''homeschooling''' or '''home school''', is an educational alternative in which children are educated at home by their parents, in contrast to the compulsory attendance which takes place in an institution with a campus such as a public school or private school. Home education methods are similar to those widely used before the popularization of compulsory attendance requirements in the 19th century. Before this time, the majority of education worldwide was provided at home by family and community members, with only the privileged attending privately-run schools or employing Tutor s, the only available alternatives at the time. In modern times, although there were American families living overseas who were already homeschooling their children, the first parents known to homeschool within the United States were Tom and Mary Bergman of Utah, 1971. Unknown to each other at the time, the second known family was Charles and Virginia Birt Baker of Texas, 1972. ''Homeschooling'' was sometimes erroneously called '' Unschooling '', but the latter was a curriculum-free philosophy coined in 1977 by American Educator John Holt in his alternative education magazine '' Growing Without Schooling ''. The terms homeschooling and home education also include instruction in the home by parents choosing to be under the supervision of correspondence schools, which are referred to as "umbrella schools" Christian Liberty Academy . In the United States, homeschooling is the focus of a substantial movement among parents who wish to provide their children with a custom or more complete education, which they feel is unattainable in most private schools or the government's public schools. While many families in the U.S. are educating their children at home, the vast majority still utilize the institutional setting for their children. Despite its popularity some people have concerns about the recent Renaissance of this traditional method of educating children. HISTORY The general historic foundations of home education originate with the informal education systems that existed in many parts of the world before the rise of publicly-run schools in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The usual situation in rural areas before 1860 was that most children were taught farm chores and rudimentary arithmetic and spelling. Reading and writing skills were not highly valued. Occasionally some families would pool and hire a traveling tutor, usually a young Yankee like Stephen Douglas . In exchange for room and board he would provide a few months schooling for the children in the group. In this fashion Abraham Lincoln acquired about 18 months of schooling. A few famous figures such as Abraham Lincoln , Theodore Roosevelt , Thomas Edison , and Woodrow Wilson might be considered to have been home-educated as they were self-educated or had Mentor s or tutors growing up, but received little formal education. Home schoolers often go on to college --Roosevelt went to Harvard and Wilson to Princeton. Today all colleges and universities accept home school applicants and one, Patrick Henry College in Virginia, appeals especially to home schooled youth with strongly conservative political and religious beliefs. Self education was heavily promoted in the early 20th century, and the University of Chicago for a while operated a distance education program. Students who paid tuition would receive a package of reading materials and a syllabus by mail, and have to return their lessons on a regular basis to be graded by staff at the university. The magazines of the 1880-1950 period are filled with ads for these programs, of which "LaSalle University" was the most omnipresent. In the United States, the "curriculum in a box", or All-in-one Curriculum , form of home education dates back to 1906 , when the Calvert Day School of Baltimore, Maryland made such materials available through a downtown Baltimore bookstore and a '' National Geographic '' advertisement. Within five years, nearly 300 children were making use of materials from Calvert's Home Instruction Department. In less than a century the materials had become the basis for lessons for more than 350,000 children annually in more than 90 countries. POPULARITY Australia & New Zealand About 26,500 children in Australia & New Zealand are involved in home schooling. {Link without Title} Canada As of 2001, it was estimated that 80,000 children are educated at home in Canada {Link without Title} ; however, that number continues to increase. United Kingdom An estimated 50,000 children are considered "home-educated" in the United Kingdom . {Link without Title} United States In the United States, homeschooling is the focus of a substantial movement among parents who wish to provide their children with a custom or more complete education, which they feel is unattainable in most Private School s or the state governments' Public School systems. In many instances one motivation is to provide religious education along with education on traditional subjects; religious education would not be available in a public school setting, and the available private schools may be too expensive for the family to afford, or may be of a different faith than that of the family. Home schooling is also considered an excellent alternative by groups whose job necesitates frequent moves, such as military families. While a growing number of families in the U.S. are educating their children at home, the vast majority of families still utilize the Institution al setting for their children. In 2003 about 1.1 million children (up 29% from 850,000 in 1999) were home-educated on the United States {Link without Title} . A desire to provide or illnesses; allowing the introduction of more non-traditional studies, such as Latin and agriculture, focusing more on a child's unique gifts, such as art or mathematics; and providing more hands-on methods of learning such as Unschooling . As Educational Choices become abundant through a vast array of educational products and services available, computers, and the internet, the idea of homeschooling in the U.S. is expanding in popularity and acceptance. Some state governments, like those in Alaska, California, Pennsylvania, Utah, and Kansas, sponsor home-education "virtual" Charter School s and/or reimburse parents who purchase curricula approved by the state. {Link without Title} {Link without Title} CHARACTERISTICS OF FAMILIES Families that homeschool are quite different demographically. 99% are white (non-Hispanic) or Asian (compared to 71% nationwide). 97% of parents are currently married. (compared to 72%) 62% have 3 or more children (compared to 20%). Nearly all the mothers are stay-at-home housewives. 58% are Fundamentalist, Baptist or Charismatic in religion (compared to about 10%) 64% of fathers have college or postgraduate degrees (compared to 24%) Average income was $52,000 in 1997, (compared to $36,000) Thus the profile is a group of well educated, high income white parents with numerous children and a strong commitment to fundamentalist religion. (Rudner 1999) (Peer Review) MOTIVATIONS Individual motivations to home-educate, home education methods, and academic and social results of home education are varied, and are the source of vibrant debate. Proponents of this educational alternative invoke parental responsibility and the classical liberal arguments for personal freedom from government intrusion. Some proponents advocate that home education should be the dominant educational policy. Most home education advocates are wary of the established educational institutions for various reasons. Some feel that they can more effectively tailor a curriculum to suit an individual student's academic strengths and weaknesses, especially children who are Gifted or have Learning Disabilities . Others are religious conservatives who see non-religious education as contrary to their moral or religious systems. Still others feel that the negative social pressures of schools, such as Bullying , Drugs , School Violence , and other school-related problems, are detrimental to a child's development. Many parents simply like the idea of teaching their own children rather than letting someone else do so. In the United States , reasons for homeschooling vary; religious concerns are an important, though not overwhelming, factor. According to a 2003 U.S. Census survey, the parents of 33% of homeschooled children cited religion as a factor in their choice, 30% felt the regular school had a poor learning environment, 14% objected to what the school teaches, 11% felt their children weren't being challenged at school, and 9% cited morality In 2003, the reasons most frequently reported by parents for homeschooling were: concerns about the school environment (85%); a desire to provide religious or moral instruction (72%); and dissatisfaction with academic instruction (68%)[http://nces.ed.gov/fastfacts/display.asp?id=91 . Options which make home education attractive to some families also include:
METHODS has made information more accessible than ever.]] There is a wide variety of home education methods and materials. Many home education families base their work on a particular educational philosophy such as:
Others use a broad combination of ideas or allow the child to develop their own motivation, through what is known as Unschooling . Because home education laws vary widely according to individual government statutes, official curriculum requirements vary. {Link without Title} Unit studies Unit studies teach most subjects in the context of a central theme. For example, a unit study of , like how different tribes live now, and lived prior to colonization; Art , such as making Native American clothing; History of Native Americans In The U.S. ); Reading from a special reading list; and the Science of plants used by Native Americans. The following unit-study subject could change to some other broad topic of study. Supporters say unit studies make excellent use of student time by combining several fields into one study time, and permit students to follow personal interests. Unit studies also permit children of different ages to study together. For example, in a Native American unit, a 10th-grade student might make a deer-skin coat for an art project, while a 1st-grade student might make construction-paper Tipi s. Home educators often purchase unit-study guides that suggest materials, projects and shopping lists, and supplement them with specialized curricula for maths, and sometimes reading and writing. Special materials Special materials focus on skill-building. Individual subject materials usually consist of workbooks, sometimes with textbooks, and an instructional guide. Many specialized subjects are only available in this form. Special materials are frequently used for math and Primary Reading . Critics say that some parents over-focus on skills while excluding Social Studies , Science , Art , History and other fields that help children learn their place in the world. All-in-one curricula "All-in-one" curricula, sometimes called "school in a box", are comprehensive packages covering many subjects, usually an entire year's worth. They contain all needed books and materials, including pencils and writing paper. Most such curricula were developed for isolated families who lack access to public schools, libraries and shops, or are overseas. These materials typically recreate the school environment in the home, and are typically based on the same subject-area expectations as publicly-run schools, allowing an easy transition into school if desired. They are among the most expensive options for the home-educated, but are easy to use and require minimal preparation. The instructional guides are usually extensive, with step-by-step instructions. These programs may include Standardized Test s, and remote examinations to yield an accredited privately-run school diploma. Student-paced learning Similar to All-in-one curricula are learner paced curriculum packages. Often times called paces, these workbooks allow the student to progress at an individualized speed. They allow the student to master concepts before moving on to the next subject, instead of being held back by the speed of the teacher and other students or rushing forward for the same reasons. Prices vary widely depending upon the publisher. Community resources Home educators take advantage of educational programs at Museum s, Community Center s, athletic clubs, after-school programs, Church es, science preserves, Park s, and other community resources. Secondary school level students often take classes at Community College s, which typically have open admission policies. Eclectic curricula The majority of today's home-educated use an eclectic mix of materials. For instance, they might use a pre-designed program for language, arts or mathematics, and fill in history with reading and field trips, art with classes at a community center, science through a homeschool science club, Physical Education with membership in local sports teams, and so on. Unschooling Unschooling is an area in which students are not directly instructed but encouraged to learn through exploring their interests. Also known as interest-led or child-led learning, unschooling attempts to provide opportunities with games and real life problems where a child will learn without coercion. An unschooled child may choose to use texts or classroom instruction, but it is never considered central to education. Advocates for unschooling claim that children learn best by learning from doing. A child may learn reading and math skills from playing card games, better Spelling and other writing skills because he's inspired to write a Science Fiction story for publication, or local history by following a Zoning or historical-status dispute. SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT A common concern voiced about home-educated children is they lack the social interaction with Peer s that a school environment provides. Many home-education families address these concerns by joining numerous organizations, including home-education Cooperative s, Independent Study programs and specialized enrichment groups for physical education, art, Music , and Debate . Most are also active in community groups. Home-educated children generally socialize with other children the same way that school children do: outside of school, via personal visits and through sports teams, clubs, and religious groups. Most home education proponents have argued that their alternative actually enhances the student's social development. They argue that the school years are the only time in a person's life that he or she will be artificially segregated into chronologically-determined groups. These advocates assert that home-educated children have a more normal interaction with persons across the age spectrum. This, in turn, results in more influence on the child from adults, and less from other children, leading to more mature young citizens. Social concerns Opponents of home education offer criticisms concerning socialization, pointing out that not all home-education families participate sufficiently in community activities. Some of the concerns offered include:
Some people oppose home education because they fear that children will be exposed to an extremely narrow set of view-points and will lack the broad range of experiences gained through interaction in a larger group setting. COST Home education may have a financial impact on families. In addition to purchasing school supplies and curriculum materials, parents often cut back or refrain from employment outside the home in order to supervise the child's education. This may have long-term career consequences in addition to the more immediate concerns of reduced family income. However, many such parents say that one unique benefit is the additional time they get to spend with their children. Further, in most jurisdictions the family still must pay property taxes to the local district (even if school vouchers are offered they are rarely available to homeschooling families). Conversely, families may see a financial benefit. Families may save unspent money on the costs of tuition outside the home, such as: school fees; levies; uniforms; compulsory books and extra curricular activities, such as school sports teams or clubs. Of course home education can be expensive if a full curriculum is purchased and many costly activities are attended. It can also be very inexpensive by using free resources, taking advantage of free facilities, such as public libraries, art galleries, parks, and gardens, and resources available on the Internet. PUBLIC OPINION Opposition to home education comes from varied sources, including organizations of teachers and school districts. One example is the . Gallup Poll s of American voters have shown a significant change in attitude in the last twenty years, from 73% opposed to home education in 1985 to 54% opposed in 2001 {Link without Title} . Opponents view home-educating parents as sheltering their children and denying them opportunities that are their children's right, reducing the amount of government funds publicly-run schools would receive if more children were attending the publicly-run school, and providing an unfair advantage to home-educated children over students whose parents lack the time or money for home education. Two recent studies by the Home School Legal Defense Association , a home education advocacy group in the United States, dispute the claim that the academic quality of home education programs is substandard. {Link without Title} {Link without Title} LEGALITY Home education exists legally in many parts of the world. Countries with the most prevalent home education movements include the United States , the United Kingdom , and Australia . Some countries have highly regulated home education programs which are actually an extension of the compulsory school system, while others have outlawed it entirely. In many other countries, while not restricted by law, home education is not socially acceptable and, therefore, virtually non-existent. In many countries where home education does not exist legally, Underground Movement s flourish where children are kept out of the compulsory school system and educated at, sometimes, considerable risk. Still, in other countries, while the practice is illegal, the governments do not have the resources to police and prosecute offenders and, as such, it takes place largely in the open. Home education in the United States is governed by each individual state and therefore regulations vary greatly from one state to another. See Also: Legality of homeschooling in the United States RESULTS Academic findings The academic effectiveness of home education is largely a settled issue. Numerous studies have confirmed the academic integrity of home education programs, demonstrating that on average, home-educated students outperform their publicly-run school peers by 30 to 37 percentile points across all subjects. Moreover, the performance gaps between minorities and gender that plague publicly-run schools are virtually non-existent amongst home-educated students. {Link without Title} Some critics argue that while home-educated students generally do extremely well on standardized tests {Link without Title} , such students are a self-selected group whose parents care strongly about their education and would also do well in a conventional school environment. Some opponents argue that parents with little training in education are less effective in teaching. However, some studies do indicate that parental income and education level affect home-educated student performance on standardized tests very little. Home-educated student curricula often include many subjects not included in traditional curricula. Some colleges find this an advantage in creating a more academically diverse Student Body , and proponents argue this creates a more well-rounded and self-sufficient adult. Increasingly, colleges are recruiting home-educated students; many colleges accept Equivalency Diplomas as well as parent statements and portfolios of student work as admission criteria; others also require SAT s or other Standardized Test s. Some opponents argue that home education curricula often excludes critical subjects and isolates the student from the rest of society, or presents them with Ideological world views, especially religious ones. The results of home education with Gifted and Learning-disabled children have not been as thoroughly studied. Social findings In 2003, the National Home Education Research Institute (NHERI) conducted a survey of over 7,300 U.S. adults who had been home-educated (over 5,000 for more than seven years). Their findings included:
The Education Resources Information Center (ERIC), a U.S. government agengy, has published multiple articles on home education. Here are excerpts from one which examined several studies on home-educated children socialization: :According to the findings, children who were educated at home "gained the necessary skills, knowledge, and attitudes needed to function in society...at a rate similar to that of conventionally schooled children. and; :The researcher found no difference in the Self Concept of children in the two groups, and maintains that "insofar as self concept is a reflector of socialization, it would appear that few home-schooled children are socially deprived, and that there may be sufficient evidence to indicate that some home-schooled children have a higher self concept than conventionally schooled children." {Link without Title} Proponents argue further that the social environment of traditional schools:
and that socialization in the wider community:
NOTABLE HOME-EDUCATED INDIVIDUALS
QUOTES Opinions relevant to education are those of the authors of the quotes:
SEE ALSO
REFERENCES Advocacy books
Academic studies
EXTERNAL LINKS USA / UK / France / New Zealand General
Research
Legalities
UK
France
New Zealand
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