Stop Saying Homeschoolers Are Brilliant, Essay Example

Introduction

If you could help your child achieve academic success by simply spending more time with them, would you do it? While many parents would answer “yes” to this question, very few of them are aware of the resources necessary to achieve this. Many studies have shown that parent involvement positively contribute to the academic achievements of their children. In fact, children learn many basic skills, such as reading, writing, and talking from their parents. Therefore, it may be reasonable for parents to continue to be involved in their children’s learning by providing them with homeschooling.

Many parents are highly concerned about the level of achievement that their children will receive in school due to the uncertainty of existing variables. Parents often have no knowledge of the teacher’s expertise or the learning environment that their children are subject to on a daily basis. Furthermore, many parents spend a lot of time with their children completing homework assignments to ensure that they are ready for the next day of class. Some parents argue that homeschooling is the most effective way to ensure that their children are able to succeed. In this manner, parents are able to become involved with various aspects of their child’s abilities and needs for improvement in a manner that is not possible in the school setting (Anne, 2013).

Overall, there are many advantages and disadvantages associated with homeschooling. It is necessary for parents who wish to make the switch from classroom learning to understand the various implications associated with this decision. It is important for parents to thoroughly consider the personality of their child in addition to their own abilities and the options available for home schooling. Furthermore, it is important to consider that the homeschool environment requires a significant time investment on the behalf of the parent and the child will need to become involved in social activities. On the other hand, children who are homeschooled are often said to be the brightest and most capable students as a consequence of the personalized learning experienced they receive (Bowen, 2014).

Issue

Some parents believe that home schooling allows children to develop a better understanding of academic material. On the other hand, some parents believe that providing students with a traditional classroom education can more effectively contribute to student learning. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, “Approximately 3 percent of the school-age population was homeschooled in the 2011–12 school year. Among children who were homeschooled, a higher percentage were White (83 percent) than Black (5 percent), Hispanic (7 percent), or Asian or Pacific Islander (2 percent).

Parents gave a number of different reasons for homeschooling their children. In the 2011–12 school year, 91 percent of homeschooled students had parents who said that a concern about the environment of other schools was an important reason for homeschooling their child, which was a higher percentage than other reasons listed” (National Center for Education Statistics, 2015).

It is therefore apparent that parents from different socioeconomic backgrounds have different opinions and options and it pertains to homeschooling. A majority of children that forgo traditional classroom learning opportunities are white. In addition, parents who chose to homeschool their children are concerned with the school environment. In some cases, this could relate to the safety and performance of the schools. Occasionally, parents are unable to choose between desirable schooling options for their children, so opt for homeschooling instead. In other instances, parents simply don’t trust schools with the care of their children and therefore prefer to be directly responsible for the learning themselves (National Center for Education Statistics, 2015).

Research studies conducted to gain a better understanding of the impact of homeschooling on academic performance have shown that homeschooled individuals tend to perform better on academic tasks than their peers. In particular, “The home-educated typically score 15 to 30 percentile points above public-school students on standardized academic achievement tests” (Ray, 2015). Furthermore, it was found that the education experience of the parent is not relevant to contribute towards this success. In fact, individuals who come from low socioeconomic backgrounds were found to perform as well in a homeschooled environment compared to their wealthier peers. Because of their enhanced academic performance, children who are homeschooled are being actively recruited by colleges. These individuals also have a better chance of being accepted into college of their choice because they have higher ACT and SAT scores (Ray, 2015).

Critics of the claim that home-schooled students tend to perform better academically state that studies that have attempted to determine whether this phenomenon is truth have been flawed. Many of these studies are biased towards homeschooling and therefore are created in order to support this growing trend. “We simply can’t draw any conclusions about the academic performance of the “average homeschooler,” because none of the studies so often cited employ random samples representing the full range of homeschoolers” (Anne, 2013). It is therefore important to consider the meaning of the data that is generated and determine what this means for members of the general population.

Analysis

 In spite of the benefits and criticisms of homeschooling that have been discussed, it is important to understand that both homeschooling and traditional classroom learning are associated with benefits. Individuals that are homeschooled are provided with individualized attention and are therefore able to develop specific skills that are targeted to help them academically (Bowen, 2014). Furthermore, these individuals are in a safe learning environment and students are able to strengthen bonds with their family members as a part of this process (Raise Smart Kid, n.d.). Last, homeschooling is particularly advantageous for children with special needs because they will be provided with exclusive focus. On the other hand, traditional classroom learners are able to benefit from the social environment that is inherent of the classroom. These individuals are more likely to develop a social intelligence due to their required interactions with their classmates (Bowen, 2014).

Overall, it appears that homeschooling is a beneficial practice for families that are able to dedicate time to their children in addition to helping them maintain a healthy balance between schoolwork and their social lives (MaryEllen, 2002). Providing homeschooled children with the opportunity to interact with other children after school is a necessary experience. On the other hand, children that attend school in a traditional setting may require additional help from a parent or tutor after school to ensure that they are able to master the material if it had not been presented to them in a manner that allows them to understand it. It is apparent that both homeschooling and traditional classroom learning have associated advantages and disadvantages and it is necessary for parents to determine which type of learning would be more beneficial for their own children (Bowen, 2014).

Synthesis

The specific demographics that children fall into are likely to predict their likelihood to be a homeschooled student. Research has indicated that white children are most likely to be homeschooled, followed by Hispanic children (National Center for Education Statistics, 2015). Furthermore, parents that come from high socioeconomic backgrounds are more likely to promote homeschooling for their children because they have an enhanced ability to spend the necessary time with them to ensure they are able to learn. Parents from low socioeconomic backgrounds will have a higher degree of difficulty in accomplishing this due to their need to work longer hours (National Center for Education Statistics, 2015).

There is a high degree of disagreement as to whether homeschooling is a beneficial practice. Some professionals argue that homeschooling is effective if parents utilized a structured format in the learning process. According to these individuals, personalized attention will not positively impact the child’s learning if parents do not approach lessons using a clear plan (Bowen, 2014). Other professionals argue that homeschooled children are more intelligent because of the personalized learning they receive. As a consequence, these individuals are able to achieve higher test scores (Raise Smart Kid, n.d.). Critics of homeschooling studies argue that there is not a comprehensive understanding of the benefits of homeschooling. Specifically, the statistical analyses of these students tend to be biased and target only the individuals whose parents are able to purchase diagnostic tests for reporting purposes (Anne, 2013).

Studies have indicated that students that attend traditional schooling are more likely to have social intelligence. While parents of homeschooled children can reasonably compensate for the lack of interaction that their children receive on a daily basis by enrolling them in after school programs, other professionals argue that the school environment is the best for teaching social skills. The literature indicates that the degree of success that parents have in teaching their children social skills is independent of the schooling method and pertains more greatly to their overall opportunities to interact with individuals their age in addition to adults (MaryEllen, 2012).

Conclusion

The literature has no conclusive statements regarding the value of homeschooling over traditional classroom learning. Based on the broad understanding presented, however, statistics claim that homeschooled studies achieve higher academic success. Critics of homeschooling claim that these statistics are not reliable. Furthermore, many individuals believe that homeschooled students lack the socialization that traditional classroom learners receive. While the data is not conclusive, it is important for parents to determine which method of schooling would be best for their children. If they are special needs or gifted and talented, it may be preferable to provide them a homeschool experience to more specifically meet their needs. On the other hand, if they need to develop social skills, traditional classroom learning would be preferable. It is important to consider that each child is unique and it is thus necessary for parents to make the homeschooling versus traditional classroom learning decision with care. Furthermore, it is essential to understand the parent’s personal capability for conducting lessons in terms of time, organization, and general knowledge. It is apparent that the same learning methods do not work for each student, so it is important to customize the learning process in a manner that is best suited to the student. However, this could be made possible both for homeschooled individuals and traditional classroom learners. Overall, it is important to use the techniques that will help boost the success of the individual student.

References

Anne, L. (2013). Stop Saying Homeschoolers Are Brilliant! Retrieved from

Bowen, R. (2014). Why Homeschool Kids Are Smarter Than Kids Who Go to Public School. Retrieved from http://www.brighthubeducation.com/homeschool-methodologies/126403-why-homeschooled-kids-are-smarter/

MaryEllen. (2012). Homeschool vs. Public School: Who’s Better Socialized? Retrieved from

National Center for Education Statistics. (2015). Homeschooling in the United States: 2012 (forthcoming NCES2015-019).

Raise Smart Kid. (n.d.). Benefits of Homeschooling: How It Could Make Kids Smarter.

Retrieved from http://www.raisesmartkid.com/6-to-10-years-old/5-articles/50-benefits-of-homeschooling-how-it-could-make-kids-smarter

Ray, B.D. (2015). Research Facts on Homeschooling. Retrieved from http://www.nheri.org/research/research-facts-on-homeschooling.html