Makes sense to me, if you want to substitute homeschooling for school, the "teacher" at home should have to be just as qualified.

That said I don't really support the current form of state mandated education, which is an entirely separate issue.

It's not that simple. We homeschool our daughter because she's way ahead of the curve and flounders in our "least common denominator" public school system here. She's ahead of her grade level in every subject - way ahead in some. She easily passes the annual testing requirements and could probably test a grade or two higher without extra effort.

I am not a credentialled teacher, nor is my wife. Yet I am certain we're doing a better job of schooling our daughter than the overburdened, resource-starved public school system here in WV could do.

Should we be forced to put her back in the school system? We can't afford private school or private tutoring from credentialled teachers.

I can understand penalizing homeschoolers who are not performing up to the annual objectives - but there is already a test for that (the same one to which the public school kids are subjected). In our state if you don't meet the basic annual objectives you lose the right to homeschool, which is perfectly fair as far as I'm concerned. But don't mess with the rest of us please.

I agree completely, actually, that's a very convincing argument, especially with regards to the annual test (I was not aware of that). Seems if such a system were in place there's no reason at all to have a law like this - obviously hardly anyone who homeschool's their children has this credential and even if they wanted to get it, they would have to send their child to public school for five years while they got it. Terrible law.

edit: I've observed that teaching experience doesn't generally make you better at TEACHING it makes you better at classroom management - something that is not an issue with one's own child (hopefully). The difference between homeschooling ones child and teaching a class are similar to the difference between tutoring someone and teaching a class. One doesn't need nearly the credentials to tutor that one needs to teach the class.

Yep. One of the things that becomes painfully obvious once you start homeschooling is just how much time must be wasted in the school environment - it really takes almost no time at all to get through the subjects each day when you only have to worry about one student. It's also incredible how kids respond when a) you're teaching exactly at their level and b) you're able to adjust quickly on the fly when things are going really well or really poorly. Most kids in school are probably tuning out a lot because of boredom at one end or teaching over their heads at the other.

A side bonus of homeschooling is that we can vacation whenever we want, so we're not bound to traveling at the times when everyone else is out of school (Spring Break, etc.) - so we can avoid crowds and higher prices at peak times. This winter we were even able to do some homeschooling in Puerto Rico!

I think instead of looking at method and qualifications, we should look at results. The state should fund a study that compares the education homeschoolers receive to their traditionally schooled counterparts. If they find a significant negative correlation between homeschooling and education quality, then take appropriate action from there.

I personally believe they would find positive correlation in that study. I know many, many homeschooling families and the vast majority of them either have kids in college or are planning to send them to one. Sure, there's a few that slip through the cracks, but I would argue that it probably happens more in public school than homeshcool.

Neither my mom nor dad have a college degree, but they legally homeschooled us K-12. I never set foot in a classroom through my entire childhood. Now my brothers (one of which has a learning disability) and I are all in college and getting good grades. In my experience, we are the rule, not the exception in homeschooling.

We are definitely either homeschooling or home-supplementing our (thus-far imaginary) child's education. I want my kid(s) to be able to read, write, think for themselves. I don't want them to be professional test takers!

Until we get vouchers, some parents want to be able to assure themselves of their offsprings' futures.

To say a parent has no rights regarding their child's education, especially when the parents are striving for 'better than', is a slap to all parents.

Most public schools seem to be a glorified day care center so the parents can both work to afford the lifestyle the government demands of them.

And then there's the people who do this for religious reasons. That's a whole other can of worms.

My other concern would be for my child's safety, as the government cannot and will not guarantee it. And for those who say, "but don't you want your kids to socialize?", I say, "Not with the apparent criminals who go to some of these schools!" Although it's not so much of a problem for me personally, as the schools near me are really highly rated, but still...

In order to homeschool 'before', parents were held to a HIGHER level of testing and qualification than most schools here require of the teachers. And the number of pedophiles caught working at schools is scary as well!

Maybe this is a 'plot' to get more teachers? If the parents have to and want to qualify in the same manner as teachers, how long before the school districts begin begging the parents to come to work!

But then, remember, every citizen is an unconvicted felon. The more you try to obey, the worse things become.

Schools aren't really for making kids smart, it's for making them all the same. Get them used to the daily grind, dealing with a boss, prepare them to be drones....

I agree with almost all of what you said. The only thing I don't agree with is the vouchers. I don't believe that they are a good idea.

That's ridiculous. I was homeschooled all the way up until college and I was always a straight A student. In college I have been near the top of all my classes. And my mom, who taught me at home, was never trained as a teacher.
I agree with what bcgrote said about schools being made to make kids all the same. With homeschooling I was able to learn at my own pace and get ahead.
If anything I think homeschooling is more effective. Not that it's for everyone, because there are many parents who don't have the time or ability. But for those who do, even if they don't have teaching experience, they should be allowed to!

f**k this s**t!
Now we parents have to be registered through the government in order to raise their children academically? How absolutely pretentious! How much control do they need?

It's obviously not because it's a problem.
Homeschoolers were statistically smarter, and happier.


I'm not going to start about discrimination.

I was homeschooled. When I came to college, I adapted much faster than any of my public/private school counterparts. I jumped in with a 4.0.
I've gotten lazy over time and dropped to a 3.4.
The only shock I had to deal with was the absolute stupidity I saw when I took classes at a community college.

This infuriates me to no end.
I say this as a CA resident: f**k California.