Davis: Homeschooling just makes cents

University Daily.net

http://www.universitydaily.net/vnews/display.v/ART/2005/04/15/425f39c865322

by Will Davis
April 15, 2005

Look around your classroom and try to spot the nearest homeschooler. If you instinctively focus on the weirdo sitting in the front row, wearing a fully-equipped fanny pack with matching "Star Wars" lightsaber, you're probably looking in the wrong direction.

Granted, there are some of "those people," but far from the unsocialized, ill-equipped stereotype, children who are homeschooled are not just average, they are above average - and in every area of life, for that matter.

For years, critics of homeschooling have mischaracterized what has become the fastest-growing educational movement of our time. Mostly citing sociability concerns or broad, for-the-greater-good arguments, they attempt to point to the benefits only state-run schooling can offer. But when these arguments are put to the test, homeschooling outperforms public schooling every time.

At present, there are an estimated 1.3 million homeschooled children in America, and this number is expected to double in a few short years, according to a report from the National Home Education Research Institute.

Although it is difficult to believe, homeschooling was banned, except in special cases, in all 50 states as late as 1983, according to the Home School Legal Defense Association Web site. Because of this, you and I represent the first generation truly affected by the modern homeschooling movement. As such, the children who were part of this initial movement now compete with us both in the classroom and in the work force. And more often than not, they have the upper hand in both arenas.

Increasingly, universities across the country are discovering what has been known for years: students educated at home tend to do better academically than students who were not. Moreover, home-educated students consistently score higher on their college entrance exams, both the SAT and ACT, than students who were not.

This is not surprising, since numerous studies, whether measuring academic achievement or socialization, show children who are homeschooled consistently rank higher than their peers in public education.

In a study of more than 5,400 students, Brian Ray found homeschool students consistently rank 20 to 30 percent higher in reading, language and math skills. This is a significant achievement, especially when you take into account this is true across the board, regardless of race, socioeconomic background, amount of government oversight within the state or amount of education obtained by the parents. It seems homeschooling levels the playing field.

In other research, Ray found adults who were once homeschooled are more civic minded and active in their community. In sharp contrast to the criticism that homeschooling hurts society, Ray found only 4 percent of homeschoolers thought politics and government were "too complicated or too hard to understand," compared to 35 percent of adults who were not educated at home.

Far from creating isolated oddballs, families who homeschool consistently turn out well-rounded and better-prepared individuals because simply taking a child out of the classroom does not necessarily mean excluding them from society or their peers.

Homeschool support groups are growing rapidly, providing field trips, teaching co-ops, advanced tutoring, social activities and fine arts programs. As a result, like-minded parents are providing a safer, more liberating learning environment than any public school could hope to offer.

Additionally, contrary to popular belief, all this can be done at a fraction of the cost of public schooling. According to the U.S. Department of Education, the average annual cost per student in a public school is about $5,300.

This is enormous when compared to the average annual amount needed to educate a child at home, $540. In another study, it was estimated homeschooling likely saves taxpayers more than $10 billion per year.

At a time when our government is throwing money at the growing problem of public education, increasing spending by billions of dollars annually, families all across America are educating their own children on a shoestring budget and getting better results at the same time.

And while homeschooling is not favorable or practical to all, it is clear that for those who can make the sacrifice, it just makes cents.