Spunky Homeschool

Homeschooling and Accountability

Feb. 4, 2006 at 10:02 AM

Homeschooling

I had a conversation with a new homeschooler a while back. We were discussing how homeschooling has changed in the last 20 or so years. As we were chatting it became obvious that they were willing to let the state hold them accountable for their homeschooling; either through testing, registration, or some other means. "After all someone has to make sure that homeschoolers are doing what they are claiming to do." I have also received a few e-mails from readers who know people who claim to homeschool and yet are just trying to avoid truancy issues with the public schools. Claiming to homeschool provides "cover" for them.

So I have a few questions,

1. Who should homeschoolers be accountable to?

2. If you encounter someone who is failing to homeschool their children but claims to be what is the right response?

3. Do you think that homeschoolers need to "police their own" or face some sort of inevitable regulation?

10 Comments and Trackbacks

posted by on Feb. 4, 2006 at 10:47 AM

Your topic is one that home educators need to think deeply on. In Idaho a report was recently released via Boise State University (with a rebuttal from Brian Ray online) that implies that homeschooling is a cover for truency in many cases and that because our children are not "in the system" they are "missing" and experiencing "educational neglect."

Although I don't think it is prudent or necessary for home educators to "register" with the state or anyone else, I do think we need to realize we are accountable to others for the quality of education we provide our scholars. First, we are accountable to God as stewards of our children. Second, to our children. If we fail to provide them the skills they need to continue to educate themselves or to even provide for themselves and the families they create we hobble them and prevent them from reaching the potential God has given them. Third, our community/nation. Home education isn't about creating brain surgeons or rocket scientists specifically, but we are trying to impact our society through our children (spiritually and through citizenship) and grandchildren.

If we should find people who are "faking it" then we really need to prayfully consider what to do. Laws are made for the few who can not and do not have moral compass. I would be inclined to approach such people to straighten them out and would cautiously consider reporting them as they jepordize the rest of the homeschool community. (What would HSLDA sugget doing with such folks?)

Edited by akabain on Feb. 4, 2006 at 7:49 AM

posted by Pattycake on Feb. 4, 2006 at 10:57 AM

Failing to homeschool? I think homeschool would have to have a clear definition to say whether or not someone is failing to do it. Where does unschooling fall in that? If someone can come up with one standard definition of homeschooling, then we can begin testing to make sure we're all **conforming** and then -- you know what -- may as well send them to school.

I think the stats already show that in the states with little or no accountability, homeschoolers are doing as well as in the states with more accountability.

Homeschoolers are showing every year that they are making the grade. That is the accountability. Will some fall through a crack or two? I bet a much, much lesser amount than what is falling through the public school cracks. Who's accountable there? The public school fall through the cracks game is called "Pass the Buck."

posted by hsmom23boyz on Feb. 4, 2006 at 10:59 AM

This is such a tough one. One that is on my mind alot these days. I live in an area where ALOT of people say they're homeschooling, when they are not. This is not just my opinion, but a fact. It greatly concerns me, because people like this are the ones who make it appear neccessary to have some sort of control over homeschoolers.

I don't want the government in my homeschooling in any way what so ever. Most homeschoolers are legitimately educating their children, and much better than the government schools could ever do.

The problem is homeschooling has changed much over the years. It used to be just those that either were concerned about academics, or those who did it for religious reasons. Now, it has almost become a trendy thing, at least in my area. MANY families try it when their friends do, then give up when their friends do. My Pastors wife is a PS teacher, and she has many complaints of children who are behind, then the parents take them out to HS them, return them in a year even further behind. This is becomming all too common.

I don't think HSing should be an elite group, exclusive, or anything like that, but it HAS changed alot since I started nearly 10 years ago. The proof is in scheduling field trips. It used to be that organizations LOVED HSers and welcomed us. Now when I call to schedule an outing for my group, they demand payment up front, as I have been told HSers have been flakey in payment. Then I get tons of reminders on behaviour and controling the group. This was not an issue years ago. These places are starting to not be as welcoming of HSers, where once we were embraced.

I don't have any answers or even any ideas on how to handle these new problems. I still don't think we need, and I certainly don't WANT any government oversight of home education. But these people who don't really homeschool, yet say they are, are jeopardizing it for us all. They are making HSing look bad for us all.

I feel I should approach these people, but I am such a non-confrontational person and also I am not sure it is my place to tell someone else how to raise their children.

OK, this got way too long, and I am not sure it makes any sense. I know I didn't provide any answers or solutions. This is a topic heavy on my mind and heart these days. I look foward to seeing others responses.

If you don't mind, I'd like to add you to my friends list, so I can check back in easily.
Blessings
Tara B

posted by on Feb. 4, 2006 at 1:28 PM

Hmmm. I don't know the answers to these questions. Actually, if at all possible, I like to avoid questions like these because they inevitably take me thru the front doors of other people's homes...uninvited.

But I do agree that they are questions that need answering...at least if we are going to try to love our neighbor as we love ourselves.

I'll be thinking on it.

And meanwhile...thank you for your article in The Old Schoolhouse. I just really liked what you had to say. Especially this part...or maybe this part is just the nutshell summarization of some really good thoughts and excellent communication:

"Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it. -Psalm 127:1.

Don't expect homeschooling to do what homeschooling was not designed to do."

This is an excellent reminder for those who realized this in the first place. It's an excellent teaching point for those who have never even considered it.

Thank you.

Edited by OreoSouza on Feb. 4, 2006 at 10:29 AM

posted by sagerats on Feb. 4, 2006 at 2:07 PM

Homeschooling has changed in many ways over the last 20 years. It started out with parents who were totally committed to the education of their children. I've only been homeschooling for eleven years and in that time I have noticed a huge change.

In my third year of homeschooling I became a support group coordinator and I received so many questions on how to homeschool, and questions on curriculum, meetings, fiels trips and newsletters. 5 years later as a support group coordinator in another state, the calls I received were parents asking only for information on support group meetings and newsletters. They didn't want to discuss curriculum, field trips, or how to homeschool. I'm sure much of this is due to the availability of information on the internet. Still, out of those that called, maybe 1 out of 50 would actually show up to any support group meetings.

I know a family that uses homeschooling strictly as a way to avoid truancy. In this case I think CPS should step in and take the children away, as there are other obvious signs of neglect. Which is exactly what not giving your child an education in one way or another is, neglect. Many may argue that unschooling would fall into this catagory, I do not. I don't unschool myself but I do know that it works for some parents. They are still providing an education for their children by taking them to the library, buying them books and workbooks, and discussing things. Those that are hiding behind the "homeschool law" do nothing and provide nothing for their children. Each state already has in place laws to protect children that are abused or neglected.

The question is, who is going to report them if they have not teachers seeing them on a regular basis, usually no church family, and not even other homeschoolers by way of field trips and meetings. Sometimes grandparents or aunts and uncles, even neighbors need to do what is hard and report them.

This bothers many people because homeschoolers already have CPS breathing down thier necks due to someone who is totally against homeschooling reporting them. HSLDA is there to defend those that can prove they are not negligent, including unschoolers. It doesn't take a lot of proof. Still, the only other solution would be state mandated testing. Those that hide behind the HS law are generally not Christians or at the very least believe that lying isn't a sin, and no matter what another homeschooler says to them, they will only agree with you to your face and do the other once you are gone. Either that or tell you to mind your own business.

Quite frankly I think the DOE is using the truly truant cases as an excuse to regulate homeschoolers all together. I don't believe they're nearly as concerned about these truants as they make out. If they were, why didn't they take care of them before their parents hid behind the H.S. law? The excuse comes from a wolf in sheep's clothing.

Abiding in the Vine!

posted by Anonymous on Feb. 4, 2006 at 3:25 PM

I have been a homeschool supporter for 10 years and an actual homeschooler for 3 years. The issue of using homeschooling as a "cover" is a taboo topic in most homeschooling circles. I am glad you brought it up! This topic reminds me of the discussion about Christianity in general. Many people profess their belief in Christ yet there is little fruit being produced in their lives. I see many families homeschooling and most produce "fruit" of all kinds, not just academic excellence. Then there are a few that profess to homeschool yet there is no fruit evident. Instead I see a chaotic home, misbehaving children, a lack of basic skills in all academic areas, etc. It is very depressing to watch. The face of homeschooling has changed in the past 10 years. While most homeschoolers do excel, there seems to be a small but growing population of schoolers that are not successful. More disturbing still, I have not seen a homeschooling organization address this problem (HSLDA, CHEA, etc.). Yet, how we can help those who are unsuccessful if we do not acknowledge they are out there?

I do think there shoud be some accountability but to whom? Perhaps homeschoolers can chose to be under an organization? A private ISP checking curriculum, etc. at the least? I do not know what the answer is. I understand the concerns many have in regards to the government regulating homeschoolers in any fashion. On the other hand, I am worried about the growing population of those who homeschool in name only. How do we as a society watch quietly as children are left uneducated in even the most basic skills?

Great topic Spunky =-)
Laurie in CA

posted by Pattycake on Feb. 4, 2006 at 3:56 PM

One more thing ... the beauty of homeschooling is the individual family doing things the way that suits their family. Just look around HSB. All types of homeschooling going on here. What is homeschooling to one may look like neglect to another.

Furthermore, there was somebody I was aware of who took their child out of school because school was really bad for him. It was not working. One year later the family went through a divorce, and was devastated. Even more so, he (15 year old boy) could not handle public school and all it's bad. The mom had to go back to work full time, and the kid was on his own, left with his books and basically no accountability. It was absolutely a flailing home, but public school was not the answer. He limped along not really doing any formal school, until he was old enough to begin classes at a community college. He did great with those classes. How awful if someone had reported them. There were no really good answers for that situation, and public school was not working out was not the answer.

Are these parents truly coming under the guise of homeschooling just to avoid the truant officer? Do they have no vision or plans for their children? Do they want to be taking care of them when they are 40 something? I don't believe that -- or I find it hard to believe. Maybe some of them find public school to be very lacking, and homeschool some sort of answer even if they don't do it like some feel it should be done. I am not an unschooler, but have some structure and some free learning. I am reading John Holt's "How Children Fail" right now and it is very enlightening.

I will say that I went for a few years back in the late 90's where my formal school went into total chaos and disarray -- because my mom was dying for 15 months. During that time I had a baby, and then right after that time I had another baby. It was all pretty paralyzing. Should I have put the kids in public school at that time? I don't think so ... but I can tell you, "school" didn't get done in our home during that time. But somehow they learned, and did fine on the annual tests ... how'd that happen anyhow? Hmmm.

We've had flailing years, and better years. This year I have a graduate. I received a high compliment from the man who interviewed her for a job recently (see my blog). My daughter is a sharp girl, and friendly, and courteous. I wonder ... did that happen because I did such a great job homeschooling her ... or because I kept her from a place where she might have been dumbed down, and learned rudeness? I know I didn't do a great job homeschooling her, but we did have materials around the house where she could learn from. She knows how to learn.

Maybe there are some bad parents out there in the homeschool community -- I bet there are. But I don't want to begin deciding who is and who isn't. Maybe they have a different idea of how it's supposed to happen. And maybe their idea is OK too.

posted by ronandjess on Feb. 6, 2006 at 6:12 AM

In the state of MD it is different county to county. I know homeschooler 10 mile away who have not been reviewed for over a year. I get it twice a year, they worry more about handwriting, pe and the arts than academics. I like to focus on raising Godly children. The state can not begin to regulate HSers appropriately because they haven't figured out how to do it with PSers. Not when a senior in public school can graduate(get a state diploma) and not know how to read. With all things there are success stories and failures, we need to keep ourselves accountable to God and my husband helps me too. Beyond that I think there should be no standard for HSers.

posted by Brandon on Feb. 9, 2006 at 8:56 AM

I have read an article that states the importance in public schools and the importance in home schooling. This article also talked about the weaknesses of both. After reading the entire article, I immediatiely connected the two school systems. Why not have parents teach their children at home while they are going to a public school.

They are many fish in the oceans that need another type of fish to be with them in order to survive. Sharks have these little fish that cling to them that helps them out. I will let you do the research on this for more information on the subject. For now I will stick with the idea of both public school and home schooling working together. The biggest problem I have seen with children is that parents do not want to be parents.

What I mean is this: If parents did their jobs properly, then there would be no reason for censorship in movies and television. What would be replacing it would be what I call "parenthood." I strongly believe tha parenthood is a whole lot better then a one or two letters with a number to tell what children should or should not watch on the movies or television. When children have their parents a part of their lives, then they can ask questions on why this is bad for them.

The biggest issues with sexual immorality on the media is the lack of education from parents. The human body in itself is not immoral. It is how it is being presented. Ethics and morals needs to be taught with learning about the human body. The school does not do this nor cannot. Parents are given to children for a reason. The schools have their responsibilities and so do the parents for their children. If everyone does their jobs right for the children of today, then we can have a better tomorrow.


Sky high, seek peace,
Brandon Bowers

posted by on Feb. 9, 2006 at 9:14 AM

Interesting comments Brandon. I have a few questions about what you said, I have quoted you and then asked or commented beneath it in sections.

" Why not have parents teach their children at home while they are going to a public school."

How is this accomplished practically? Who would get the child when and who is the determiner of the curriculum?

"The biggest problem I have seen with children is that parents do not want to be parents. "

I wrote an article called outsourcinng parenthood you may find it worth reading. It's on my sidebar. I have said much the same thing there.

" Ethics and morals needs to be taught with learning about the human body"

Whose ethics and whose morals. There is no longer an agreed upon idea of what is moral and ethical. Whose ethics and morals should we use?

"Parents are given to children for a reason. The schools have their responsibilities and so do the parents for their children. If everyone does their jobs right for the children of today, then we can have a better tomorrow. "

Who is the higher authority in this relationship. Does the parent submit to the authority of the parent or the school to the parent? This utopian idea while sounding great in theory cannot work in practice. I didn't marry the schoos nor did they give birth to my children. What responsibility they have is only because we give it to them. However, in practice they have taken what was given and now have become the parent. Believing they have a responsibility higher than that of the parent. That is because the values of the state are determined by what is best for the state. That is not what is best for my chilren. Thus in education we will always be at odds. And any idea that we could work together is a false notion. It would only work for those that completely agreed with the values of the state. Because the state has the power of law to enforce its ideas. The parent is powerless against that. That is why homeschooling must be kept separate from interference from the state.







Edited by spunkyhomeschool on Feb. 9, 2006 at 6:17 AM

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