How quickly things change. Not long ago, the
educational establishment derided the idea of
homeschooling, claiming that mere parents couldn't
teach kids adequately -- after all, education is for
professionals. But now, after homeschool students
swept this year's national spelling bee, the
education elites are objecting that these kids are
TOO well-educated.
So what's it going to be? The defenders of America's
failed education policies can't seem to make up their
minds.
A homeschooler first won the national spelling bee in
1997. But this year first, second, and third places
ALL went to homeschoolers. When the results were
broadcast, the establishment circled the wagons:
"These kids are not socialized," they cried. "They
spend too much time studying."
Really? Well, this year's winner, 12 year-old George
Thampy -- who also placed in the National Geography
Bee -- wrote an excellent article about his education
for the WALL STREET JOURNAL. In it, young Mr. Thampy
soundly refuted many of the mischaracterizations of
homeschooling.
In addition to taking trips and classes with other
homeschoolers, he says, he participates in sports and
Boy Scouts, and has friends in his youth group,
neighborhood, and from competitions like the spelling
bee. The socialization objection is specious on its
face.
One of homeschooling's greatest strengths is the
quality of learning it provides. Since homeschool
kids don't spend hours in sensitivity-training, or
putting condoms on bananas in sex-ed class, they're
free to learn in ways public-school kids cannot.
Moreover, as Helen Cordes writes for SALON Internet
magazine, homeschooling allows parents to tailor
education to their kids. Easy material can be taught
quickly, but difficult material can be given all the
time it deserves. A tailored education allows
students to visit museums, learn a musical
instrument, and devote themselves to things they're
passionate about.
And it's not just Christian kids who homeschool these
days. An episode of the ultra-hip teen drama "Buffy
the Vampire Slayer" even showed Buffy asking her
mother to consider homeschooling. After all, Buffy
reasoned, "it's not just for scary religious people
anymore." Well, even these unflattering remarks
reveal that the stigma is disappearing, as 1.7
million homeschool kids are entering the mainstream.
Homeschoolers are having phenomenal success getting
into top universities. According to Cordes,
homeschoolers are accepted to Stanford at "twice the
rate of schoolers."
Now spelling bees and college admissions don't
necessarily prove that home-schooled kids are better
educated -- but they certainly illustrate the
importance of educational options.
Some public schools do a great job. Others don't. And
homeschooling isn't for everyone. Some parents lack
the training, temperament, or time to teach kids. But
the principle is clear. Bureaucrats ought not to be
the ones deciding how we educate our children. And
that's why we need school choice and vouchers, to
allow parents to send their kids to schools that are
best for those kids.
Education isn't something we can compromise on. It's
the vehicle for transmitting our intellectual
heritage to our children.
Homeschooling's recent successes ought to serve to
remind us that educating our kids -- not propping up
a failed bureaucracy -- is what really counts.
BreakPoint with Charles Colson
Commentary #000615 - 06/15/2000
Not Just for Scary Religious People: Homeschooling Goes Mainstream
How quickly things change. Not long ago, the
educational establishment derided the idea of
homeschooling, claiming that mere parents couldn't
teach kids adequately -- after all, education is for
professionals. But now, after homeschool students
swept this year's national spelling bee, the
education elites are objecting that these kids are
TOO well-educated.
So what's it going to be? The defenders of America's
failed education policies can't seem to make up their
minds.
A homeschooler first won the national spelling bee in
1997. But this year first, second, and third places
ALL went to homeschoolers. When the results were
broadcast, the establishment circled the wagons:
"These kids are not socialized," they cried. "They
spend too much time studying."
Really? Well, this year's winner, 12 year-old George
Thampy -- who also placed in the National Geography
Bee -- wrote an excellent article about his education
for the WALL STREET JOURNAL. In it, young Mr. Thampy
soundly refuted many of the mischaracterizations of
homeschooling.
In addition to taking trips and classes with other
homeschoolers, he says, he participates in sports and
Boy Scouts, and has friends in his youth group,
neighborhood, and from competitions like the spelling
bee. The socialization objection is specious on its
face.
One of homeschooling's greatest strengths is the
quality of learning it provides. Since homeschool
kids don't spend hours in sensitivity-training, or
putting condoms on bananas in sex-ed class, they're
free to learn in ways public-school kids cannot.
Moreover, as Helen Cordes writes for SALON Internet
magazine, homeschooling allows parents to tailor
education to their kids. Easy material can be taught
quickly, but difficult material can be given all the
time it deserves. A tailored education allows
students to visit museums, learn a musical
instrument, and devote themselves to things they're
passionate about.
And it's not just Christian kids who homeschool these
days. An episode of the ultra-hip teen drama "Buffy
the Vampire Slayer" even showed Buffy asking her
mother to consider homeschooling. After all, Buffy
reasoned, "it's not just for scary religious people
anymore." Well, even these unflattering remarks
reveal that the stigma is disappearing, as 1.7
million homeschool kids are entering the mainstream.
Homeschoolers are having phenomenal success getting
into top universities. According to Cordes,
homeschoolers are accepted to Stanford at "twice the
rate of schoolers."
Now spelling bees and college admissions don't
necessarily prove that home-schooled kids are better
educated -- but they certainly illustrate the
importance of educational options.
Some public schools do a great job. Others don't. And
homeschooling isn't for everyone. Some parents lack
the training, temperament, or time to teach kids. But
the principle is clear. Bureaucrats ought not to be
the ones deciding how we educate our children. And
that's why we need school choice and vouchers, to
allow parents to send their kids to schools that are
best for those kids.
Education isn't something we can compromise on. It's
the vehicle for transmitting our intellectual
heritage to our children.
Homeschooling's recent successes ought to serve to
remind us that educating our kids -- not propping up
a failed bureaucracy -- is what really counts.