Homeschooling

[topdog98]

A recent study suggests that homeschooled students are actually more politically tolerant than publicly schooled children. A Brief Review of Does Homeschooling or Private Schooling Promote Political Intolerance? Evidence from a Christian University by Albert Cheng | NHERI News | Research

Quotes from the article: "...none of those persons proactively oppositional to homeschooling or promoting significant state control over homeschooling offer any empirically based evidence that home education is bad for the children, families, neighborhoods, or the collective good."

"...this study adds new insight into the political tolerance outcomes of homeschooled children—a topic that, to the best of my knowledge, has not been empirically investigated until now. Specifically, … those [college students] with more exposure to homeschooling relative to public schooling tend to be more politically tolerant.”

[sklineho]

Let's not forget that there is at least some (still not enough) accountability in public schools. There is none in homeschooling. Sure kids still have to take tests but if they fail, who gets held accountable?And by then it's too late.

Look public schools are a mess but instead of abandoning them we should make them better.

[sklineho]

Without reading the study in-depth as I don't have time right now, what constitutes "politically tolerant"?

[topdog98]

Without reading the study in-depth as I don't have time right now, what constitutes "politically tolerant"?

Quoted from the article from nheri.org:

Cheng used an instrument (e.g., a questionnaire) called the “content-controlled political tolerance scale.” In its first of two parts, the “… scale provides the respondent with a list of popular social and political groups, such as Republicans, gay-rights activists, or fundamentalist Christians. The respondent is asked to select the group with beliefs that he opposes the most … The second part of the political tolerance scale measures the respondent’s willingness to extend basic civil liberties to members of his least-liked group” (p. 55). Participants were asked to respond to items such as the following:
1. “The government should be able to tap the phones of [the least-liked group].”
2. “Books that are written by members of the [the least-liked group] should be banned from the public library.”
3. “I would allow members of [the least-liked group] to live in my neighborhood.” (p. 60)

[Leebo]

Never mind, misread.

[pasmith]

I noticed there are a lot of people on this forum who either homeschool their kids, were homeschooled, or advocate homeschooling.

I was thinking about it and realized I don't think I've ever talked to someone who was homeschooled.

What reasons did you have for choosing it?

In answer to the original question:
Our reasons for homeschooling are mainly for academic reasons. We weren't satisfied with the level of academics in both the public and private schools in our area. Even the highly rated schools fell short of our expectations. Additionally, we like the ability to fully explore topics and to be able to accelerate or slow down as needed in order to ensure that the children fully mastered concepts before moving on. Using the best and most appropriate curriculum that suits our needs is also, IMO, a huge plus. We are not religious and never have been so that has nothing whatsoever to do with our homeschooling. We do not see homeschooling as a way to limit social interactions. On the contrary, we find homeschooling has made it possible for the children to be more involved than the average institutionally schooled child. The various volunteer programs and college dual-enrollment that our children take advantage of give them ample opportunity to meet and appreciate a variety of cultures and situations. I've met some ultra-religious homeschoolers but they aren't the norm now. Homeschooling is growing and a lot of that has to do with the academics and issues concerning bullying and safety in schools. As school violence escalates and the schools bounce around trying new and potentially disastrous curriculums (i.e....new math), more parents are making the choice to homeschool or explore other options like charters etc. The stereotype of the homeschooler as a rabidly religious, plain dressing oddball is certainly no longer the norm.

[Leebo]

"Cheng also cautioned the reader that cause-and-effect (e.g., between school type and political tolerance) cannot necessarily be established from this study."

So, basically it's a case of remembering that correlation does not equal causation. I would also be curious to see how the students were selected and whatnot.

Hoping that moving to the next page won't prevent people from seeing my science/history question.

[Kintsukuroi]

Oh, one question I had...

If you've got a young Earth creationist family, are they allowed to just chuck things out from history and science they don't want to cover? Or are they required to teach it, but just explain to their kids that it's not true and they only have to remember it for the grade?

In Texas you are not required to teach any science or history to your kids. We do it anyway but the homeschool regulations don't require it. Public schools do not teach *all* science. The teach a fraction of science that falls into the mainstream. Public schools do not teach *all* history. They teach a fraction of history and in this country they teach it with an American bias (just as each country teaches with their own bias). I tell my kids regarding *anything* they are taught in school - you don't have to believe it but you have you learn it to pass the test.

[pasmith]

Let's not forget that there is at least some (still not enough) accountability in public schools. There is none in homeschooling. Sure kids still have to take tests but if they fail, who gets held accountable?And by then it's too late.

Look public schools are a mess but instead of abandoning them we should make them better.

Actually there is a system of accountability. In my state, we have to do an annual testing or be evaluated by a state certified teacher. Some states more lenient but honestly, the whole argument regarding accountability is riddled with pitfalls. The "accountability" that public schools have still allows a good percentage of students to graduate without basic reading and math skills. Colleges are increasingly forced to remediate incoming high schoolers to get the up to speed in basic skills. How is that accountability working?!

[Leebo]

In Texas you are not required to teach any science or history to your kids.

Holy cow.

Public schools do not teach *all* science. The teach a fraction of science that falls into the mainstream.

Clearly, due to time constraints, not every topic known to man can be covered. But I hope you're not suggesting pseudoscience should be taught.