Parents have a variety of options in which to educate their children. Of course, public school is the most popular means of education but many parents choose to send their children to a private or parochial school or even take on the task of home schooling.
According to the National Home Education Research Institute, home schooling is growing at a rate of 7 to 15 percent per year. Currently, in the United States, there are 1.3 to 1.7 million children in grades K-12 that are home educated.
Parents choose home education for various reasons. Many simply wish to have an active roll in their childrens lives and education.
"It gives me more time to spend with my children and get to know who they are," said Terri Sikole, home school parent. "We have chosen a Christian curriculum."
Sikole has home schooled her children, ages 12 and 15 for the past nine years. The Sikoles, like many other home school families, are members of a local home school group.
"I think public school can offer a more diverse setting and broader educational opportunities than home or private schools," said Andrew Tolbert, superintendent of Warren Public School in Warren, Arkansas.
According to Sikole, her children have seen many parts of society that they would have missed in public or private school. Each time a home school law is up for a vote, the Sikoles head to the legislative sessions and watch the committees in action.
Sikole tells her children that taking an active part in the government and letting opinions be know will make a difference.
Many people feel that homeschooled and privately schooled children are missing social interaction with other children. However, there are many resources available to homeschooled children.
According to Tolberts opinion, homeschooled children miss out on team sports/activities that teach teamwork, responsibility, discipline, sharing and a sense of belonging and dealing with a diverse population.
According to Patricia Lines of the U.S. Department of Education, home educated families have not turned their backs on the broader social contract as understood at the time of the Founding of America.
Home schoolers are asserting their historic individual rights so that they may form a more meaningful bond with family and community. They are affirming the American agreement.
On average, home-schooled students in grades one through four perform one grade level in public/private school peers on achievement tests, according to the Home School Legal Defense Association.
"We are not anti-public school; it just didnt work for us," Sikole explained. "If your child is in public school and is doing well, then that is where they should be."
Home schooling takes a lot of discipline on both parents and childs parts. Some parents feel that home school is not an option but would like to have an alternative to public education.
Parochial or private school may be an option. Many of the private schools offer a Christian based curriculum in a smaller, one-on-one setting.
"Patrons have the right to choose which educational opportunities are best for their children," Tolbert said. "I feel that public education provides the best well-rounded education in regards to developing social interaction skills and offering school curriculum that are diverse in meeting the needs of students and providing them with marketable skills to be successful in society."
Parents choosing to home school must first check with the superintendents office in their school district. Each state has its own guidelines and laws regarding homeschooling.
Second, a curriculum must be chosen to best suit the needs of the child. A few curricula that are used are Abeka, Bob Jones and Saxon. These are also used in many parochial schools.
The third most important item is setting up discipline in the home school environment.
Parents may also check out local home school groups in their area. For more information, contact the local district or the states education department.
First published in the Pine Bluff Commercial, 2000.  |
