[From Spiegel forum]


I have some links for you.

First, http://oldfraser.lexi.net/publicati.../homeschool.pdf

The Fraser Institute paper above has more than enough data to satisfy the data arguements. Read it for yourself, but one little excerpt from a University of Maryland study:

“Those parents choosing to make a commit-
ment to home schooling are able to provide a very
successful academic environment.” For example,
“In every subject and at every grade level of the
[tests], home schooled students scored signifi-
cantly higher than their public and private school
counterparts.” Home schoolers’ average score fell
between the 82nd and the 92nd percentile in read-
ing and reached the 85th percentile in math. Over-
all, test scores for home schoolers fell between the
75th and 85th percentiles. Public school students
scored at the 50th percentile, while private school
students’ scores ranged from the 65th to the 75th
percentile.

And another quote from the same paper on socialization:

In 1992, Prof. Larry Shyers assessed whether or
not home schooled children suffer from retarded
social development. His research observed chil-
dren in free play and group interaction activities.
Shyers found that public school children had sig-
nificantly more problem behaviours than did the
home schooled. Possibly this is because the pri-
mary models of behaviour for the home schooled
are their parents, rather than their peers. Shyers
also concluded that there was no significant dif-
ference between home schooled and non-home
schooled children in terms of either self-concept
development or assertiveness (Shyers, 1992).
gomery (1989) found that home schooled stu-
de nt s ar e as i nvol ve d i n out - of - s c hool and
extracurricular activities that predict leadership
in adulthood as are those in the comparison pri-
vate school (who are more involved than those in
public schools).

There is so much more, please read it yourself.

A few more links for anyone out there:

1. National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) on the prevalence of homeschooling in the United States:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2006/homeschool/

2. Homeschooling in the United States: Trends and characteristics:
http://epaa.asu.edu/epaa/v10n26.html

Also, on you argument that the cases I cited have nothing to do with homeschooling: Both are landmark cases cited in homeschool cases, and I chose them for the legal precedence they offer. I chose U. S. Supreme Court cases for a reason, but will give you some State cases as well, that do specifically talk about homeschooling.

People v. Levisen, 404 Ill. 574, 90 N.E. 2d 213 (1950)
Texas Educational Agency, et al. v. Leeper, et al.. (893 S.W. 2d 432, 1994)
Commonwealth v. Roberts, 159 Mass. 372
Meyer v. Nebraska, 262 U.S. 390 (ok, another U.S. Supreme Court case)

I could go on and on with court case citations, but you get the point.

My question for people who want to deny parents the right to homeschool: what are you afraid of? Clearly, homeschooling turns out educated and well-adjusted children, so what is it?
Jennifer in OR is offline Reply With Quote

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