ADVERTISMENT
SPECIAL REPORT: Texas leads nation in homeschooling
32 Comments
POSTED: Wednesday, November 28, 2012 - 7:36pm
UPDATED: Monday, April 15, 2013 - 4:23pm
The number of homeschooled children in the U.S. has grown dramatically over the past four decades.
The numbers are even more telling for those children in the lone star state ... and even right here in East Texas. .
Tyler mom Kelly Hall homeschools all three of her children: 9-year-old Josh, 12-year-old Joey, and 17-year-old Katy.
The hall's are just one example of the more than 2 million students in the country who now go to school at home.
"I just think it fits the needs of people better," said Kelly Hall. "And people enjoy being with their family."
The increase may be for good reason.
The Texas Homeschool Coalition reports when it comes to testing, home school students score 30-35 points above national averages.
Hall believes part of that success comes from the freedom to choose how and when.
"Things that are good for good for one kid are not good for another kid," Hall said. "They are not cookie cutters."
Texas leads the nation in this growing trend, with more than 300,000 homeschooled students statewide.
It's a popular option for East Texans, too.
The THSC estimates roughly 2,200 students are homeschooled here.
"I think a lot of curriculum our public schools choose is not what always promotes Christian or conservative values, and I think that has a lot to do with it," Hall said.
Many of those students come here to Calvary Baptist Church in Tyler.
The homeschool ministry here partners with East Texas families to not only offer classes outside of the house, but to also serve as a home base for extra curricular activities as well.
"We have families from Van, Mineola, Hawkins, Big Sandy, Henderson, Canton, Fruitvale, Jacksonville," Hall said.
Wendy Baker is the director of Venture at Calvary Baptist, one of the many co-op programs for homeschoolers in East Texas.
Through co-ops, parents can pay for students to take certain classes they might not be comfortable teaching at home.
A typical Wednesday night at the church is a haven of sorts for homeschooled families.
"We're trying to unite the homeschool community so one day a week, they have a place they can go that's beyond what we can provide at home," Baker said.
The span of classes available is vast ... from computer robotics, to choir, sports and everything in between.
Bill Beggs and his wife Gina homeschool all seven of their children.
When his boys grew out of pee wee athletics, he started the Tyler HEAT, a Christian sports program specifically designed for homeschooled East Texans.
"It gives them the opportunity to participate in a competitive team sport where they get the experience of working with someone," Beggs said.
It's one of the many local outlets Beggs says, that helps homeschoolers socialize, interact and thrive just like any regular kid.
Which brings us to one misconception you might say these families want to set straight.
"A lot of people think that homeschoolers are lazy, and we just stay home in our pajamas all day or we don't have friends," said Katy Hall.
"My kids ... I have a hard time staying home," Kelly Hall said.
Comments News Comments
Think back to your school class: how many children "failed?" Some of these children may in fact have become successful adults, but they "failed" in "schoolwork." Maybe they weren't developmentally ready for the lessons. Maybe they had learning disabilities. Maybe they were gifted and bored to stupor. Homeschooling offers flexibility so that each child can reach his/her potential, from the gifted to the challenged. Education shouldn't be a weed-out program.
Tonks, I am interested to know exactly what your agenda might be. You are certainly vocal, and clearly opposed to homeschooling, however you do not bother to cite one single source to support your statements. That, in itself, is enough to dismiss your discussion as being a diatribe for your self agenda. You have contributed little to no useful data regarding the realities of homeschooling. Rather, you have put forth your personal opinion, and put down any parents who chooses to home school.
No, it's not. The Columbine shooters went to public school so by your reasoning...we should close down all public schools because they produce killers?
I was responding to the argument, put forth by homeschooling advocates on this page, that public school are full of violence. My point is that there is violence in homeschooling situations; either by the parent or the homeschooled student.
The success of any child and their education rests on the support they're given. Many children do well whether it's a public education or a private one. BUT, not all children have a guardian who cares, therefore neither option is viable. So for the children who do well in "homeschool" that's great, but not all parents are good parents.
I know a few families that are "homeschooling" their children. The latter of the two hasn't provided education to her daughter at all this school year. The mother withdrew her daughter from Whitehouse school under the pretense of home schooling VIA Texas Virtual Academy and has yet to even enroll her. This isn't about what's best for this child, but about the mother being able to lay up all day and out all night. Unfortunately, this child will be another casualty on our entitlement nation.
I'm not sure why you bring this up here....This isn't an article about neglect. It's an article about homeschooling...which according to you is not occuring in the situation you are describing. As a former foster parent and adoptive mother to a child from the foster care system, I completely agree that what you are describing is wrong, but again, until you research the test scores and personally know more than one "homeschooler" you are just unaware of the realities of actual home education.
I think you are unaware of the realities of home education. You are relying on studies supported by the HSLDA which are notoriously flawed. You need to apply some critical thinking skills to these studies. Everyone in your homeschool coop might be outstanding educators, and I'm sure in their minds they are. Shopping at Target for an "economics" lesson or touring a glass making factory might be great for stay at home parents, but they have little educational value for the kids.
For every successful, dedicated homeschooling parent,and there are a few, there are 50 that "homeschool" because they cannot or will not meet a school's attendance policy. They can't get the kids to school on time or at all so they "homeschool". There curriculum consists of "ya'll go outside and play" and the occasional worksheet printed off the internet. Yoy are fooling yourself if you think homeschool is the answer, or if you think most folks are successful at it.
Having been in education for a number of years, perhaps I can offer some insight. (My wife is an educater too) I am sure that some parents "Home Scool" their children with much success. However, much too often (Typically), we get the results of home schooling dumped back into the school system. Most times these children are way behind in their studies, and we, as educators, are required to do the fixing, with children that are hopelessly behind. Then the shool may suffer in standardised testing.
Tonks, your attitude is ever so foolish. You don't like home schooling. We understand. just as you feel there are failed homeschooling examples, there are scores more in the public schools. I bet gangs don't run rampant through homeschool hallways. When the kids do get out of control, the "teachers and administration" have the "parents" complete support in the discipline of the children whereas in public schools, parents circumvent discipline. The parents have the fortitude others lack.
I'm sure the superintendent at Sandy Hook ISD would look to discuss how home-schooled student Adam Lanza shot his way into the school and killed a bunch of five year olds. Adam's mom decided to home-school him because the school district wanted Adam to see a psychologist. His mommy thought they were being meanies to her special snowflake. Her homeschool curriculum consisted of shooting lessons and unlimited violent video-game playing. We could ask her about it, but alas, he killed her first.
They are probably sought after as pages by tea party representatives, because they know how obedient they are and are really good at fetching things. That's something to be proud of.
Maybe Andrea Yates, another famed homicidal homeschooler, would be available for an interview to discuss her curriculum and homeschooling methods. I'm sure she has lots of great advice for homeschooling parents.
My daughter is homeschooled and she scored the second highest score on her sats in the district. So people need to get facts straight before putting it down.y son is home schooled because he has bipolar and the schooled couldn't handle him. So I had no choice. My daughter missed 27 days and made the highest score on her sats, but because of the 27 days they took her credits and said she had to repeat the 9th grade. It's all about the money not wether our children are getting a education.
Bravo, Butterfly03! Public school DOES seem to be about the money in many school districts all across the country. And altogether too many people chime in on this issue because of a predilection to statist ideology without realizing that state-controlled schooling is one of the pivotal planks in the Communist Manifesto. Those parents who submit their children to the brainwashing of federally-mandated philosophy without question will, in turn, see them one day become "good communists".
This ranks right up there with the moon landing conspiracy theory, evil flouride in the water conspiracy, and basically every kook theory you can find in the forwarded-emails from people with too much time on their hands. Which is to say it's fairly meaningless. It's clear to me that you have not stepped foot in a public school classroom in 50 years, if ever. Turn off fox news, get in your car, and drive north of the loop sometime.
PS Homeschooled kids always beat the ACT/SAT exam scores. Google it, Mr.Skeptical
They are sought after as Congressional pages ETC>
I know many parents who are certified teachers who are horrified at the values, comportment & lack of discipline in the Public School' sothey homeschool for that reason alone!!
But me.
All I would have to see is a 3rd grade COMPULSORY book "Heather Has 2 Mommys" promoting lesbianism as OK or a lack of programs for exceptional students along with any student armed who is dealt with in a blase way.
..I would be gone.
I
The "Texas Homeschool Coalition " is not exactly an objective source of information.
Homeschooled students usually perform poorly on any kind of math test, and they have trouble completing projects or tests within a certain amount of time. This is because their parents are not able to teach them math, and because every assessment is untimed.
We originally started in private Christian schools K4-2nd grade of my oldest son's schooling. He started on August 20, actually turning the age of 4 August 31. The school used Abeka which is an advanced curriculum. He was advanced in his reading so was put in an advanced reading class in K5. They did cursive, spelling, creative writing, etc. in K5 & Abeka also has timed math drills, every day or it used to! Don't judge all by few!!! We use different curriculum, there are many!
And the fact that America is like 23rd in the World in math scores is evidence that our public school system and union teachers are doing SUCH A GREAT JOB.
Next straw man?
Public ed curriculum doesn't promote Christian or conservative values? It's not supposed to. What happened to the concept of separation of church and state?
How many of the parents are certified, trained teachers? I am going to guess that very few of them are certified to teach. Teaching others' kids has got to be hard, but teaching your own - doubly hard.
And these kids are scoring above nat'l avg on ACT, SAT exams? I am struggling to accept that as fact.
Sorry - consider me skeptical.
So your struggle to accept = enough to form your opinion?
How scientific.
It's about as scientific as relying on the HSLDA for any type of objective statistic regarding a comparison between public and private schools.
Consider Winston Churchill who was taught @ home after attending a boarding school which was not right for him, consider Tesla who invented the Tesla Coil which changed the world.These people were taught @ their own pace. They knew when education 4 the masses no longer was a good fit. A student who excells n Math, etc, can move as fast as he/she can move without being held back by the rest of the class and, potentially, loosing interest. The individualized education is best but often not doable.
Wow. You mean we are all individuals? You mean kids learn at different paces and in different ways and not all like a herd of cattle slurping at the trough of knowledge the state decides is dumbed down enough that no one feels stupid?
What a thought! The collectivists will come straighten you out one day soon.
I don't think a mother or father have to be trained teachers in order to teach their children. When a parent decides to home school their kids they do all the research and get all the teaching tools that they can. It doesn't have to do with teaching Christian values in schools as much as it is about spending time with your family. Nobody can care for a child as much as a parent, and because of that I believe the best teacher for a child is their parent.
I wonder why the article did not interview Dee Anna Laney, famed East Texas homicidal homeschooler.
Post new Comment
ADVERTISMENT
Special Features
Special Reports
