I have mixed emotions concerning home schooling. On one side, home schooling bothers me. I spent four years getting an undergraduate degree and my teaching credentials. I spent another 3 years getting my masters in educational administration and got 29 hours into my PhD when I decided that I did not want to be an administrator. I spend numerous hours each year going to workshops to keep up with the latest ideas in education. My goal is to be the best teacher I can and it bothers me when someone with no educational training thinks they can do it better at home.
Most of the time when I get a student in my class who has been home schooled, I find they are ill-equipped to handle the rigors of my class. They sometimes are socially awkward and lack social skills to interact with other students.
On the other hand, if a parent has a problem with the education their child is receiving, they should have the right to take them to a place where they will receive the desired education they need and deserve. If a parent is knowledgeable and experienced enough to serve as a teacher, then they should be allowed to teach their own child.
One of the problems I have with home schooling is that very few parents have the knowledge, education, time, and experience to serve as a teacher for anyone.
Look at the diversity of classes offered and required to graduate from school. Who can teach all of those courses? Not many people, I am willing to bet.
My lovely spouse and I are both certified teachers. Between the two of us, who have two masters degrees, two bachelors degrees, with teaching credentials in mathematics, physical science, computer literacy, physical education, history, English, speech and drama.
I feel we are highly qualified to teach our daughter at home. You asked why we did not? Well for one, we didn't have the time. Second, how could we do the job of seven teachers in one year? We could not.
I feel many people home school their children for legitimate reasons. However, there are many more that use that as an excuse to pull their children out of school, keep them home, and hold class for perhaps one hour a day and call that school. Many of these cannot or will not function in the school and cause problems in the school setting.
I have many more opinions concerning the positive and negative aspects of home schooling. Way to many ideas and opinions to expound on them here tonight. I will go into them further at a later time.
Pleas feel free to post your thoughts on this specific ruling and home schooling in general. I welcome all comments.
"Teaching is the profession that teaches all the other professions." - Author Unknown
