A question on home schooling....Should parents demonstrate some competency to be...

[jesswzmn]

...able to do so? Traditionally, the government has made it its business to protect certain things...such as life, property etc... Government has also made it its business to make sure that children are not abused or forced to work instead of being in school and learning etc.. Government has traditionally taken the position that it is in society's interests that children get educated and that society as a whole benefits if we make sure our children are educated. Teachers who teach in schools have to be certified to be able to do so. Do you think its right that states have some minimum standards that parents who want to home school their kids have to meet? For example, do you think Parents who homeschool should have to pass a test every two years to demonstrate proficiency to do so and get a license? Do you think children who are home schooled should have to pass a test every year that shows that they are at the same level or better as other children their age?
I would also be curious for you to describe the real motivations of why parents decide to home school. One gets the feeling that generally speaking its to shield their children from certain view points and influences in society at large....and I can't help to wonder if there is not a potential downside of children learning things in a cultish like environment where they are teaching them things like science is not good, things do not evolve, the earth is only 5000 years old...not to mention the inability of children to interact in a world and tolerate other people with other view points.
wow !! so some of you believe that parents who are high school dropouts and work at the local walmart have the right to home school their kids.

This is truly amazing. sigh !!...our country is really backsliding fast. Its almost like some sort of deevolution is going.

So you believe that instead of fixing schools and making them better, the solution is to do further damage to the schools by having unqualified people teach their kids with no requirments or tests or licences to demonstrate competency?

[Boss H]

Nope, but a harder state exam should be required for a diploma, or to be considered having been educated at all.

[fdm215]

It's not a bad idea. I do wonder about parents who opt for homeschooling. I'm sure most do it because they are concerned about the state of education in their area. Some do it for religious or health reasons.

I wonder about the average parent's ability to educate their child to minimal standard on ALL basic subjects. I mean, I think the average intelligent, educated parent could get by with very early schooling at home with proper supports. But, beyond that you really being to need specialized skills to properly teach the various subjects.

[Obama or Nader]

I think they should. It's unlikely two high school graduates will be able to teach their children about science and math.

[Jeff M]

Why do you want the Government to have free reign in every corner of your life?

Is this another example of how Liberals don't force their views on other peoples lives?

Your idea reminds me of a bad totaliarian government big brother movie. Like Logans Run.

[sociald]

Sure why not test them. I dont know that it needs to be every year if the kid has performed above average in consecutive years. But I think when they initially start the homeschooling they should be and and then the next year. If they are doing good maybe again when the move into a different tier of education like junior high age to highschool age.
But from the results ive seen, home schooled kids , on average, are scoring much better than public schooled kids when they do get around to testing them.

[ladyshondra]

it is my information from my friends who opted to home school that there are very strict guidelines and tests that have to be met before they are able to home school and get accreditation. home schooled children do very well on the required test, higher than the public school, to date.

why would one decide to home school? i imagine that each family has their own reasons for doing so and they are many and varied.

the main reason i have been given , is that the public schools are ove- crowded, understaffed, discipline problems and a failure to truly educate.

violence in public schools is rampant and it is difficult, if not impossible, to learn if a student is in fear of being beaten up for a pair of shoes or death.

<EDIT> anyone who can afford it sends their kids to private schools. that should tell you the state of our present educational system. the Obama's kids go to private school and i am sure Chelsie did too.

[Buttercup]

It must be working so far as Home-Schooled
children are way ahead of public school'd kids.
If it ain't broke...................don't fix it.

[whcwarrior_10]

Parents are responsible for their children, not the government. with all the "qualifications" of the liberal public education system, one would think that it would be doing so much better. maybe teaching reading writing, and arithmetic, is more important that reproductive rights, and condom distributions.

[brown9488@att.net]

Home schooling is about indoctrination, not education. Parents who are constantly at odds with the school system usually sabotage their own children's education in the process anyway.

At least by home schooling them they are out of everyones hair.