No, I'm not talking about a secret recipe!

Over a year ago, I came across two articles in the Philippine Daily Inquirer by Dr. Queena Lee-Chua which talked about how & why public school students excel.  Just in case you have no idea who Dr. Queena Lee-Chua is, click the links below. 

http://www.globalpinoy.com/v2007/sections/achievers/?details&id=14
A Day in the Life of Scott Lee-Chua

In 2005, Dr. Queena Lee-Chua spearheaded a study on how achieving public school students in Marikina and Bulacan excel.  The abovementioned articles, entitled "What Makes Public School Kids Excel in School" & "Families of Achieving Students Use 5 Strategies, Study Shows", summarized the results of Dr. Chua's study.

So why did these articles catch the attention of a homeschooling mom like me?  This excerpt from the first article was what caught my eye.

“What is the secret of their success? The answer is family.
"Education, it is said, begins at home. Many Filipino families view education as the key to a brighter future. Students in the private schools, with adequate resources and well-trained teachers, may be said to have an academic edge.
"However, in the past few years, I have happily observed that several children from low-income families manage not only to stay in school but also to excel. Sometimes, in college and in competitions, they even surpass their private school counterparts.
"Poverty can be a hindrance, but it can be overcome. But how?”

See what I mean?

Homeschooling, in itself, is NOT EASY.  Many times, especially when I'm talking to curious parents who are seriously considering homeschooling their own kids, I whisper to myself that I need to temper my eagerness in convincing others to join our "bandwagon".   Misleading others, especially about something as wonderful & life-changing as homeschooling, defeats the whole purpose of encouraging them to undertake it.  What I WILL say is this:  Homeschooling is NOT EASY, but then again, so is anything that is worthwhile doing.

Having said that, I have to admit:  those may be wise words, but there are many, many times when I don't FEEL wise.  And it's when I start FEELING weak, inadequate or even incompetent that I need encouragement and affirmation.  Our good Lord is so gracious that He affirmed my choice to obey His call to homeschool my children through these articles.

According to Dr. Chua, the study shows that parents of achieving public school students make use of five strategies, namely "discipline, goal-setting, self-reliance, strong family bonds and a conducive home environment".  Hmmm...sounds very familiar to me!  Here are some interesting excerpts:

“Discipline is the first step to success, for it fosters a sense of responsibility.”  How true!  Generally speaking, the ultimate goal of our children's home education is character development resulting from an  unwavering love of our Lord Jesus Christ.  As we grow in love with Jesus, we bear fruit, which includes discipline, among other things.

“These parents have high expectations of their children—and just as important, their children are aware of such expectations.”  Totally!  However, I would take it up a notch - our kids learn that much is expected of them, not just by us, their parents, but more importantly, by our heavenly Father.  Our children become aware of these expectations because parents should communicate it to them clearly and in no uncertain terms.  Effective communications is a skill that can be learned through practice.  What better way is there to practice communications by actually doing it everyday?  Homeschool families can develop these communication skills because they spend more time together, as opposed to families where parents and children are physically apart from each other because of work and school.

“Most of the families in our survey believe that success is achieved through hard work, not luck or fate. They believe in God, but they also know that God helps those who help themselves.”  More than self-reliance, it is dependence on God that is key for our children.  Total dependence on God doesn't mean He does everything for us.  What it does mean is that we do what He expects of us, whatever is within our control, then surrender the rest to Him.  So what does He expect of our kids?  The best of what they can be.  Our children can become the best of what they can be.  It will be hard work, but it can be done!

“Most of the parents in our survey were the first and primary teachers of their children.  They did not complete college or sometimes even high school, but this does not stop them from tutoring their children in the early years and monitoring their homework until they are responsible enough to do so on their own.”  The first line of this paragraph says it all.  These parents acknowledged that they are the primary teachers of their children.  Cool!  What's cooler even is the fact that they “produced” achieving children despite the absence of a diploma, be it high school or college.  I don't know about you, but to me, that says a lot about these parents' individual character.  Seeing that kind of character in action is probably the best education any child, or person, can get.

“The parents supervise homework, provide guidance, do exam reviews, look for references (mostly secondhand books or those on sale) and try as best they can to financially provide for school.” Except for the homework, which is non-existent in homeschooling, this statement aptly describes a homeschooling parent as well.

The majority of the families of achievers are close-knit.  The parents are the primary caregivers of the chidren...Family bonds are strengthened through regular activities (which need not be expensive), such as cooking meals together, playing scrabble, or celebrating at a local fast-food chain.  Ditto for homeschooling families!

Based on current news reports, the public education system in the Philippines is at an all-time low.  But Dr. Chua's study shows that there still is hope.  Moreover, given these results and the onslaught of dismal test scores, scarcity of classrooms & the exodus of teachers especially, I believe that it also shows that, at the very least, homeschooling can be a highly viable alternative that should be explored by the government.  Personally, I believe that home education should be the rule, and not the exception, but I also don't wear rose-colored glasses.  Home educating our children is a calling that only parents can respond to individually.  Our government will do well in empowering parents who choose to answer that call, in order to maximize the family as the secret to success in education.