Update on Homeschooling Trend

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(Excerpts from AP article)

Study: 850,000 Children Are Home-Schooled

By GREG TOPPO .c The Associated Press

WASHINGTON (Aug. 2) - About 850,000 of the nation's 50 million children are being taught at home rather than in schools, mostly by parents who are well-educated and live in cities, a new government study estimates.

The report, released this week by the Education Department, calculates that 1.7 percent of American children were homeschooled in 1999, resulting in a total estimate higher than in the past.

''The number of parents taking direct responsibility for teaching their children through homeschooling is approaching a million, and we expect the next report on homeschooling will reflect growth in the population and new homeschooling opportunities,'' said Education Secretary Rod Paige.

The new figures come from an Education Department telephone survey of 57,278 households conducted from January through May 1999.

Previous attempts to count the number of homeschoolers, both by the Education Department and the U.S. Census Bureau, have produced widely different results. In 1994, the Census Bureau estimated that 360,000 children were homeschooled, while in 1996 the Education Department put the number at 640,000 homeschoolers.

The new report says the number of homeschoolers could be as high as 992,000 or as low as 709,000. The 850,000 takes the average of the two.

It also paints a clear portrait of the average homeschooler, finding that they are more likely than other students to live with two or more siblings in a two-parent family, with only one parent working outside the home.

Parents of homeschoolers are, on average, better-educated than other parents - a greater percentage have college degrees - though their income is about the same. Like most parents, the vast majority of those who homeschool their children earn less than $50,000, and many earn less than $25,000.

''These are families that have one income, and have sacrificed to live on one income,'' said Laura Derrick, of Austin, Texas, the parent of two homeschoolers and president of the Home Education Network.

Most say they homeschool their children to give them a better education and not necessarily out of religious beliefs, although religion was second on a list of reasons.

The survey found that about 18 percent of homeschoolers were enrolled in schools part-time, with about 11 percent saying they used books or materials from a public school. About 8 percent said they used a public school curriculum, and about 6 percent participated in extracurricular activities.

Derrick said relationships between homeschoolers and public schools vary widely, with some states and districts opening their arms wide while others ignore them. But most, she said, have begun accepting that homeschoolers are here to stay.

''Today, it's the rule, rather than the exception that there's a good relationship between the public school students and homeschoolers,'' she said.

AP-NY-08-02-01 1759EDT

-- Ken S. in WC TN (scharabo@aol.com), August 03, 2001

Answers

It is great news to hear that so many parents have recognized what an awesome responsibility they have to educate their children. My husband and I home-educated our three and they show an amazing maturity among their peers in so many areas. For those who are concerned about "socialization skills", our children are able to have very meaningful conversations with their elders, but are also able to keep a two-year-old entertained. So many people forget to realize that after 'Government schooling" no one is ever in a situation where all the people around them are NOT the same age. There is an area to raise concern however. My youngest graduated in 2000 and in the last few years we saw an alarming situation forming in Tennessee. Perhaps it is an isolated incident, perhaps not. Several parents, angry at criticism from their childrens' teachers or the local school board and thinking they could get by, began taking their children out of government schools to homeschool them. The only problem is that when they found out it took some time and sacrifice, they didn't school them. They were leaving the children to 'fend' for themselves. I don't know about you but when I was a child and I was not supervised, I did some off-the-wall stuff. That is what is happening. What the parents don't realize, though, is how they are hurting their children and the future of homeschooling. When wind of what is happening gets to "authorities", of course, they will have to regulate. If you are thinking about homeschooling then be prepared to take the time to teach because even though we are all natural learns, children must be guided by someone or else they will have a difficult time in later in life.

-- Melle Jan (janado@msn.com), August 03, 2001.

Very well said! I'm homeschooling my two girls (ages 11 and 4) and I was surprised to find that in KS there is no testing done by the state school board with homeschoolers. As for my girls, I'm fine with that - I don't have to put up with the bureaucracy! But it's sad to think of the kids who have been yanked out of public school, and are left on their own with no education or no supervision! Our family falls right into "the norm" for homeschoolers - two parents, one working, one staying at home - crappy income, but definitely worth the sacrifice! :-) I mean, what is more important - having more money, or having great, well adjusted children? Easy answer! I wish more parents would consider the option, and put the effort into homeschooling that is necessary. It's the most rewarding thing we've ever done!

-- Cheryl in KS (cherylmccoy@rocketmail.com), August 03, 2001.

Also, consider this for the crappy incomed! Many of the inner city schools have had pilot programs that allowed children to start their own businesses as a way of getting them involved in the learning process; ie, math, reading, spelling, communication skills, etc.

Home based businesses employing children/family members allow for some great deductions. So you might want to consider combining the learning process with a little business venture. Might also turn out some great entreprenuers.

-- stephanie nosacek (pospossum@earthlink.net), August 03, 2001.


Synchronicity? A lot of what's been said here is addressing a lot of the same general social issues I tried to address in the thread which started out labelled "Guns as Homestead Protection".

-- Don Armstrong (darmst@yahoo.com.au), August 03, 2001.

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