ARTKids Debate

Debate #1

CLICK HERE FOR LINKS ON THE WEB FOR THIS SUBJECT

It wasn't that long ago, that the average child did not attended any form of public schooling. Usually they were needed to work at home or in the family business. Those that did attend school either went to a one room school house in their community, or were taught at home. There's an astonishing list of successful adults that never attended what we now call "public school".

Today, technology and the advancement of societies in general have seen the growing importance of a solid education for our youth. No one can dispute every individuals need to understand the fundamental elements of education. Literacy and math skills are at the top of the list. Unfortunately, school rooms have become over-crowded and teachers are over-worked and under-paid.

Some parents feel that our current education system has developed in to a "one size fits all" or "cookie cutter" factory, where the individual child is not considered. Some educators feel that there is a lack of parent/family involvement in the education of the individual child, leaving the entire responsibility of education up to an already spent system. There are just not enough resources and not enough time to spend on each child individually.

With recent tragic events, many parents and schools are being forced to take a closer look at our present schooling structure. Everyone is looking for reasons as to why our children are either part of, or in a defensive position of this social chaos. The result of this chaos? Gangs, guns, drugs, a high rate of teen-pregnancy and even terrorism. More and more parents are removing their children from public school and beginning home schooling.

When it comes down to it, we all want what's best for our children or students. Some parents have taken an initiative and are teaching their children at home. Some parents have chosen to pay high tuition for their children to attend private schools. Others feel confident about the public school system. It has come to our attention that this issue is an important topic and so we begin our new feature, ARTKids Debate.

VALUABLE LINKS TO MORE INFORMATION

Home Schooling and Socialization of Children
A list of studies and discussions on the pros and cons of home schooling

Home School Legal Defense Association
Many resources. State by State laws and links. Data and reports.

Supplementary Schooling
The informal education bibliography.

Home Schooling 101

Home School Used Books and Curriculum Exchange

Welcome to HSC

The American Homeschool Association (AHA)
A free service organization supporting the continued growth of the homeschooling movement.

The Holt Associates Growing Without Schooling website
a source of good learning materials.

Home Education Magazine
Homeschooling news, information, support and encouragement.

HEM Networking & Discussion Boards
Previously found only in America Online's HEM forum, now available on the net.

The Drinking Gourd
"dedicated to builders, tinkers, and independent thinkers." Resources for self-directed learning.

Family Unschooling Network
Support for unschoolers, homeschoolers, and self-directed learners.

The Genius Tribe
Grace Llewellyn's site - author of The Teenage Liberation Handbook. An unusual catalog for independent thinkers of all ages.

Homefires
Networking information and resources, links to educational sites.

The Homeschooling Zone
Resources for homeschoolers, educators, and families.

Jon's Homeschool Resource Page
Extensive homeschooling resource site.

Learn in Freedom
Karl Bunday "School Is Dead - Learn in Freedom" site - taking responsibility for your own learning. Huge resource lists.

The Mining Co. Guide to Homeschooling
Information, essays, resources and links.

Raymond and Dorothy Moore
Authors of Better Late Than Early and other popular books.

OHEN
The Oregon Home Education Network.

Religious Homeschooling Sites

Catholic Homeschooling Forum
Message board format addressing a number of issues related to Catholic education.

The Eclectic Homeschooler (Christian)
Articles, resources, discussion and website links, with eclectic orientation.

Homeschooling Today (Christian)
Articles, reviews, calendar of events, resources, and weblinks.

Homeschooling Daily
Educational weblinks.

Homeschool Headlines
Reports from columnists Ruth Beechick, Cathy Duffy, Mary Hood (the Relaxed Homeschooler) and The Rutherford Institute.

Homeschool World (Mary Pride)
Articles, reviews, resources, and weblinks.

Jewish
FAQs, and links to related websites.

LDS Homeschooling Page
Articles, reviews, links to related websites.

Islamic Educational
and
Muslim Homeschool Resources
Essays, resources, conference announcements, and links to related websites.

Unitarian Universalist

"HUUH Homeschooling Unitarian Universalists, Humanists & those on other roads less travelled."

Home School
Versus
Private or Public School

Debate beginning JANUARY 2000

Responses to this debate may be edited to maintain our "kid-safe" environment.
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DEBATE

This is a very good subject right now. I cannot think of any cons unless it would be an unqualified parent, but I think home schooling has to pass the same tests as public school. I did speak with a mother of two young actors about her home schooling them and she said it was practical, as they were always working during regular class time. Many people think socialization is a problem, I think there is too much socialization in public schools, and aside from that, I believe it is not a valid complaint.

Kids with the extra high IQ, school is boring for them, and the teachers cannot take the time to enhance one or two kids because she cannot turn her back for a second on the other 29 kids in the class. I am a burned out substitute teacher in a school where I have known the kids and watched them grow from first to fifth grades. The kids whose parents have worked with them succeed and are not a problem, the others with really screwed up home life and no parental attention offer nothing but trouble. I honestly believe parents who home school should be paid by our gov't.

Jeanne Wolf

Oh boy... you've really chosen a controversial subject, and one that is surely to invite lots of participants! I feel so strongly about this topic.

The decision on whether or not to home school your children has a great many outside influences. In general I am wholeheartedly opposed to home schooling except under certain individual circumstances. I believe that a child who is home schooled will become socially handicapped due to the lack of interaction with his/her peers from various socioeconomic groups, from various cultures, etc., and the fellowship and camaraderie of other students. My husband, a tutor with the literacy council, frequently encounters so called "home schooled" adolescents who have only a very feeble grasp on the basics of a good education. Well meaning parents rarely are qualified to provide the learning experiences that a child needs in order to have a well rounded education. How can the knowledge and experiences of one or two parent-teachers compare with the varied knowledge and experience of many instructors, each an expert in their own field?

The reason most often given by parents who choose to home school their children is that the parents want to shield the child from the "ugly" side of life that might be encountered while mingling with other students in public schools -- i.e., drug abuse, the use of profanity, sex, etc. Unfortunately these home schooled children are often thrust into adulthood with no preparation for dealing with such temptations, which they will surely encounter at some point in their lives. Moreover, they are often treated as outcasts by the other children who do attend public schools and have limited opportunities for being included in group activities of their peers.

Religion tends to play a big part in the choice to home school also. Again, this is just an effort to shield the child from what he/she will most certainly encounter later in life. In summary, if the public schools in one's district are inferior I would much prefer to see a child enrolled in a private school which will afford a somewhat controlled environment while still allowing the child the benefits of social interaction with his peers.

Kay Robbins

My son has an IQ of 154 (he has even been tested at 164) yet, he fails half of his classes? I think that there is more of a focus on attitude, behavior and dress, while academics fall a far 4th in the list of "shoulds and should nots" in public schools. I'm not saying all teachers work under these guidelines, there are a few that know how to work with the gifted child. Like in every field you have people who love and are good at what they do, and others that are just there for the position/title and the paycheck. There is still an attitude in society left over from past generations, that a child is of less importance than an adult. That they should speak only when spoken to, that they should always address adults in a respectful manner (no matter how the adult addresses them), and their thoughts and "feelings" have little to no value. I was always allowed to speak out at home growing up, and this is the way I am bringing up my son. At this point (like myself as a child) he is a square peg in a round hole. I am tired of trying to hammer my little peg in to the schools round hole.

My son has a high IQ because of genes and home environment. Not because of any influence in the public school system. I can't sit by while his bored antics are labeled "bad" and "disruptive", to see him finally believe what they tell him he "is" over and over, eventually gravitating over to the "bad" elements. No, I am nipping this in the bud. I am going to home teach my son.

We are both weary of the negative approach to his education. In my school, my son will be allowed to dress as he chooses when he comes to class. When he acts "silly" or disruptive" I will say to myself..."oh, oh, he's bored..." and I will be able to focus on each subject and make it interesting for him. No one has a larger interest in his success than myself. I am intelligent enough to guide my child's education, more so than many of the so called professionals in charge of his life for 6 hours a day. At this point public school is failing him, and I intend to change this. I am a single parent and cannot afford a private school. But I am also self employed, so I can schedule my work around my sons needs. It's perfect for us.

Anonymous

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