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Progress or Problems?
My local newspaper recently ran an article detailing Georgia’s yearly public school progress, specifically showing progress from 2010 to 2011 in regards to No Child Left Behind.
Overall the state was down. Some of the reasoning points to the fact that the stakes were raised on the percentage of high schoolers graduating. It was set at 80% graduation rate and is now at 85%. I suspect it is really a mix of several problems. Some kids are just not good test takers. Some kids just can’t handle the abstract thinking required in some math problems or reading questions. Things like math vocabulary terms, math procedures, or inference questions give them trouble, thus they can’t understand the question let alone supply the correct answer. Some kids have not been taught to think or reason. Some kids have learning challenges that prevent them from excelling in testing situations (dyslexia, dysgraphia, CAPD…); they are special needs learners. Some kids can’t think under pressure or they are distracted by the various noises around them. Sadly, some kids just don’t care. Then there are teachers who truly consider their work as just a job, not an investment in the future. Some kids have no hope, no dreams, no support. Aren’t you glad you homeschool!!
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What does NCLB (No Child Left Behind) have to do with homeschooling? After all, homeschooling is exempt from NCLB. The regulations set forth by NCLB are all directly tied to federal funding and homeschools are not federally funded, so why should you care?
The pressure of the testing that is directly related to NCLB not only stresses out the kids, but it makes otherwise wonderful teachers virtually ineffective. They are pressed to "finish the book." They don't have time to stop at the teachable moments. And teaching to individual learning styles? Unless that learning style involves filling in a bubble with a #2 pencil, you may as well throw that out the window. It's not necessarily what teachers choose to do, it's just what they are left with.
Is it any wonder so many families are choosing to homeschool? Homeschoolers do what NCLB was designed, in principle, to do: Not leave any children behind. Homeschoolers teach a topic or a skill and you work on it until it is mastered. In 2003, it was estimated that 1.1 million children were homeschooled. That number is undoubtedly growing.
Evaluating progress is not, in itself, a bad thing. It's the manner in which it is occurring that is disturbing to me. NCLB wants parents to "know that their children are learning." But the testing doesn't test what they have learned. Take a look around this site to see what I mean: http://www.fairtest.org/facts/whatwron.htm. However, some states, such as Alaska require homeschooling students to take standards-based assessment tests. If these children are taking the same test that the public school children are taking, what is the difference? The difference lies in the fact that the homeschooled children have not been "taught the test." And parents, then, have an opportunity to see the results year to year and adjust to their individual child instead of having to make broad generalizations about children who won't even be learning with you the next school year.
Something many people are unaware of is the fact that there are not any federally recognized national standards. There are many organizations (such as the National Council of Teacher of English) who have written "voluntary" standards, but NCLB does not actually define what schools are supposed to be teaching. They just want schools to be held accountable for whatever it is that they are teaching. Nearly every state has a different assessment test. This is why: Each state lays out their own set of standards (often based on the recommended or voluntary standards of teaching organizations). And then, in many states, each district writes their own scope and sequence to meet those state standards.
So, what is the correlation then, between homeschooling and NCLB? Because in most states, some type of reporting to the state is required. Homeschools are already regulated under state law. While section 9506 of the NCLB Act protects the rights of homeschools, religious schools, and private schools, state officials often have to be reminded that this is the case. It is important that homeschooling parents, especially those just starting out are aware of their rights. How, then, do homeschoolers know that they are getting the "right" content to their children? Some don't follow any of that and prefer to let their child lead their own learning. Some, however, would like a little more structure, especially in states where there is no "homeschooling law" present. The best comprehensive guide I have found that covers all age groups (preschool-grade 12) can be found at http://www.worldbook.com/wb/Students?curriculum. But my best piece of advice would be to choose a curriculum that works for you and your homeschooler.
Crystal Pratt is a writer and content contributor for LessonPathways.com, an innovative new product that maps online educational resources into ready to teach units. Article Source
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This morning on the Toronto Sun News they were speaking of the liberties of people being taken from them by the State. I thought it was something from America, because surely this didn't happen in Canada! Well, it did and it has. A Quebec family were ordered by the court to place their 3 and 5 year old children out of homeschooling into daycare. The parents have no charges of neglect or abuse. There was a picture of the desk the children sat at to learn, with books neatly by the side. The family is in shock. The reason the court gave was that the children were not getting 'socialization'. Now, what astounds me is that these children are not even supposed to be in the school system until they are 6. Does this mean that the government has the right to go into our homes and take our children from us, giving them over to the government to teach before 6? Why?
The HSLDA (Home School Legal Defence Association) is asking for help to fund the fighting of this case. It is all very scary. This is why I'm asking for homeschoolers to be more present and unite and stand for what they believe in. If we remain complacent and expect everyone else to stand for us, the battle will already be lost.
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A homeschool mom in Georgia asked me whether she needed to have an “accreditation counselor” or whether she could do it all herself. The answer depends a lot on individual state law. From a “national” perspective; however, colleges get applicants from everywhere – from schools they know and a lot of schools they don’t know. Not all public schools or private schools are accredited. Colleges don’t always know which public or private school applicants are from accredited schools and which are not. Usually, they look at homeschoolers the same as they do applicants from an unfamiliar high school. That’s one of the reasons why they look at SAT and ACT scores, transcripts and essays.
In my experience, it’s almost always the public high schools who are most concerned about accreditation. I almost NEVER hear colleges talking about accreditation. Colleges see kids every day, who have good grades from accredited schools, yet who come to college without being able to read and write well. Did you know that 30 percent of children admitted to college – including those from accredited schools – are considered “remedial?” Colleges know that accreditation isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.
Meanwhile, accrediting homeschoolers has become quite a racket. There are organizations that make loads of money by accrediting homeschoolers when they don’t need to be accredited. Some parents feel pressured into it and end up spending a lot of money unnecessarily.
Parents know their students best. Each parent can make the decision about accreditation for themselves. Some people choose to go that route, and that’s fine. I just don’t want people to seek accreditation because they fear they “have to.” I was NOT accredited. My children were admitted to every college they applied to, got good scholarships, and both won full-tuition scholarships to their first choice university. You do NOT have to have an accredited transcript in order to go to college or get scholarships.
You may need to pursue these accreditation counselors if your state law requires it. If your state law does NOT require it, then it’s completely optional, and the right answer will depend on you and your family situation. My job is to help you feel confident that you can do it yourself. Then no matter what you choose to do, you didn’t make the choice based on fear.
Need help homeschooling high school? Lee Binz, The HomeScholar is an expert in free high school homeschooling and maintains a website that talks about whether you need to be an accredited homeschool. Find out more at http://www.TheHomeScholar.com. Article Source
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I'm so very happy to find a web site like this one. My two daughters were born at home, the first in 1979. When she was ready for school in 1984-1985, I was not legally able to home school her. The state of Illinois required one parent to have a Masters degree. Times have changed for the better. Our children benefit greatly from home schooling and we give them their outside group associations other ways. Congrats to all you parents who have chosen this venue.
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Traditionally, homeschool families regularly include civics coursework as part of their curriculum. This is evidenced by voting records of 96% or better for adults who were once homeschooled. One key component in the studies is understanding the US Constitution and other foundational documents of the time.
Friday, September 17, 2010 marks the fifth anniversary of a federal mandate (Public Law 108-77) for each educational institution that receives Federal funds to hold an educational program on the United States Constitution on September 17 of each year for the students served by the Educational institution. This date is the 223rd anniversary of the signing of the Constitution of the United States of America.
Although the homeschool families don't need a law to compel them, nor do they receive federal funds which could be cut off for non-compliance, helpful resources for studying the structure and beginnings of the United States are always in demand. A unit study could be a one-day discussion of some of the materials suggested, or it could be done more in-depth over the course of the full school year. These suggestions are merely starters and not a comprehensive list.
Books
Miracle at Philadelphia
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