Introduction
The last few decades have witnessed a massive increase in the incidences of homeschooling in the United States. This is a deviation from earlier years throughout the 19th Century where many students received their education in formal learning institutions. In fact, up to the 1970’s, almost all the students in the United States received their education in schools. This trend however started changing, and homes became popular education locus where parents elected to educate their children at home rather than take them to school. Current data seems to suggest that almost 3% of all students in the United States are homeschooled. This totals to about 2 million children which is over a 30% increase since the last decade. Due to this massive rise in the number of homeschooled students, immense literature has been conducted on the subject. The literature on homeschooling has helped to indicate the trends of this type of education dissemination. Literature has also sought to compare this type of education with the formal education system. Another aspect that literature on homeschooling has helped to shed light on is the advantages and disadvantages of this type of education as well as the challenges that are often faced when it comes to homeschooling.
Ray, B. D. (2004). Homeschoolers on to College: What Research Shows Us. Journal of College
Admission, 185, 5-11.
In this article, Ray Brian argues that homeschooling is bound to continue expanding in the United States. He argues that very soon, colleges will experience a surge in the number of admissions as the student who have been homeschooled reach the age of going to college. Using data derived from a wide range of studies, Brian further contends that there is increased evidence suggesting that homeschooled students usually have high success rates once they reach adulthood. In addition, these students who have been educated out of the mainstream education institutions perform exemplary in college when compared to their peers. Brian’s conclusion in general is that with this observed trend, homeschooled students are bound to bring at a higher rate some positive and distinctive traits at colleges that neither the administrators nor the professors have seen in a while.
In my personal view, Ray is very right on this issue. It is clear to see why the outcomes of homeschooled individuals would be higher and why they would be successful once they acquire adulthood. Unlike their compatriots who study at formal learning institutions, homeschooled students have the highest form of discipline. At home, the timetable for learning is usually very strict. Homeschooling also means that the interaction with the instructor is one of one and, therefore, utmost attention is given to the material being studies or the information being disseminated. From the onset, the homeschooled student learns to be always discipline, and to give full attention and focus on education. In college, these students continue with the same amount of discipline of focus, and this is the reason why they are successful. The discipline does not stop with education. Even in life, this focus and discipline are maintained, and this is the primary reason why the students have been found to have a high level of success. Their compatriots on the other hand who have to go through formal learning institutions do not receive the sole focus and attention of one instructor and, therefore, lose focus quite easily, In addition, formal learning institutions are characterized by a host of distractions.
Although Ray argues that homeschooled students have high success rates in adulthood, he fails to explore the effects that homeschooling has on the social success of students rather than just their education success, formal learning institutions enable students to come together and interact with each therefore improving their overall social skills. Unfortunately, homeschooled students may not ever acquire the social skills that their peers have and may, therefore, end up leading isolated lives. Therefore, Brian should not just explore the success rates of homeschooled students in terms of education but should also look at other aspects such as social life.
Therefore, in regards to Brian’s work, I conclude that although the success rates of homeschooled students may be high education wise, success should not be simply measured on the basis of education but should incorporate other aspects as well.Lubienski, C. (2000). Whither the common good? A critique of homeschooling. Peabody Journal
of Education, 75(1-2), 207-232.
In this article, Chris Lubienski suggests homeschooling is essentially a way of elevating the interests of the private over those of the public. He contends that the home schooling discourse essentially centers on the issues of private benefits and individual rights rather the public good. This is in spite of the fact that the general public has great interest in education because education possesses some unavoidable aspects that essentially make it a public good.Lubieski’s article is not just an opinion piece. According to Lubienski, therefore, home school serves the role of denying this public interest. It undermines common good. He uses credible data to show how, for example, homeschooling has led to the decline of public schools. Homeschooling withdraws children as well as social capital from formal public schools and undermines the public education’s ability to improve and at the same time become more responsive as a democratic institution. Lubienski’s conclusion, therefore, is that homeschooling should be abolished because it diminishes public education’s potential to serve or disseminate common good in a democracy that is vibrant.Personally, I do not agree with Lubienski as I hold the belief that everyone has the right and freedom to chose how to be about how he or she should be educated. Educations is a basic right, and everyone must be educated. However, the way that one chooses to be education to be left to individual’s discretion.
Although Lubienski might argue and indeed show that homeschooling may have contributed to a decline in formal and publication education, he however fails to take into consideration other factors that have led to a decline in the publication education system in terms of performance. For instance, decrease emphasis on education skills and increased emphasis on innovation and creativity that inadvertently contributes to the de-prioritizing of education among students.
Therefore, I conclude that although homeschooling may be against the interests the public, it is nevertheless a matter of personal choice for a parent and their children.
Ray, B. D. (2013). Homeschooling associated with beneficial learner and societal outcomes but
educators do not promote it. Peabody Journal of Education, 88(3), 324-341.
In this article, the author reviews research in the homeschool learner outcomes and evaluates the opposition advanced towards homeschooling. The author suggests that most of the proactive oppositions towards homeschooling do not offer any true evidence that homeschooling is bad or destructive for students or that it enhances collective good. The author argues that the suggested harms of home school education are more philosophical in nature and generally push for the government to be in ultimate control in both the education as well as the upbringing of children so that the children will acquire worldviews that are consistent with those of the government or the state.
In my own view, Ray is right because as shown, there is no empirical evidence that shows that home school is bad. In many instances, the said defects are usually theoretical in nature and cannot be empirically proven. Therefore, it is very likely that the opponents of homeschooling simply want children to go to school so that they can acquire a worldview that similar to their own.
My conclusion is, therefore that until the negative aspects of homeschooling are empirically proven, opposition towards it is essentially irrelevant.Gathercole, R. (2007). The well-adjusted child: The social benefits of homeschooling. Mapletree
Publishing Company.
In this book, Gathercole argues that socialization is the most important aspect of education in the modern day. She argues that negative trends such as high rates of drug abuse parental divorce, alcoholism, teen promiscuity youth violence necessitate the use of education as a means of teaching young people to lead a healthy life that is different from the one being experienced in the modern day. She argues that homeschooling gives an opportunity for one to teach their kids about the culture of healthy living. The modern young people need to be provided with the options of healthy, rich and fulfilling lives; something that formal public education does not offer.
Personally, I think Gathercole is right because research has already shown how destructive modern institutions are. They are characterized by all the mentioned aspects that include drug abuse, promiscuity, alcoholism, youth violence amongst others. Homeschooling enables young people to be kept from such virtues and be taught ways of proper living.
The only thing lacking in Gathercole literature is the acknowledgment that although students may be taught healthy ways of living via home schooling, they may at the same time be denied the element of social interaction that is so crucial in life.
I conclude that Gathercole’s assertions accentuate my beliefs that homeschooling is indeed a very preferable option for students as it equips them with skills of healthy living.
References
Gathercole, R. (2007). The well-adjusted child: The social benefits of homeschooling. Mapletree Publishing Company.
Lubienski, C. (2000). Whither the common good? A critique of home schooling. Peabody Journal of Education, 75(1-2), 207-232.
Ray, B. D. (2013). Homeschooling associated with beneficial learner and societal outcomes but educators do not promote it. Peabody Journal of Education, 88(3), 324-341.
Ray, B. D. (2004). Homeschoolers on to College: What Research Shows Us. Journal of College Admission, 185, 5-11.
