РефератыИностранный языкGrGroup Essay Research Paper In addition to

Group Essay Research Paper In addition to

Group Essay, Research Paper


In addition to the help


they get from each other, there are many tools and services available that enhance and


enrich children’s learning experience. For example, various on-line services are available


on the world wide web, which include interactive classes and virtual libraries. Also,


educational CD-ROMS, workbooks, and magazines are good sources that provide the


parent with information on new educational tools (Wingert and Kantrowitz 3).


Furthermore, support can be found at public schools (Hawkins 1). In Des Moines,


Iowa, a program was developed that allowed home schoolers to use school computers,


books and teacher’s guides, and provided biweekly supervision from a teacher that


records the child’s progress and offers advice. Parents and their children are also


allowed to participate in extra curricular and group activities, as well as field trips


(Wagner 2). Similarly, in Oregon, home schooled students are allowed to take different


classes of their choice at different schools (Wingert and Kantrowitz 3). Although these


advantages are not available in every state, parents who chose to take education into


their own hands will work to hard to use what is available, regardless of their own


educational degrees. This is illustrated well in a recent report from the Departement of


Education (DOE), which states that “student achievement in a home school has little to


do with the level of education of the parent…it is consistent with tutoring studies that


indicate the education level of a tutor has little to do with achievement of a tutored child.”


(qtd. in Wagner 4). Several studies have been conducted that show that homeschooled


students are reaching close and sometimes higher achievement to their peers, proving


that parents are doing their job well. One example is a study that showed home


schoolers performed better than 79 percent of other students on reading on the Iowa


Tests of Basic Skills (Hawkins 3). Also, home schooled children score above the 60th


percentile in math, science, and verbal skills on the Stanford Achievement Test when


compared to the average of other students (Latham 2). Another study in Washington


found SAT scores of home schooled children to be higher than average (Lyman, “What’s


behind” 9). In more than 65 other studies, the results show that home schooled children


perform better or average in comparison to traditionaly schooled children (Hawkins 2).


All this scientific research is genuine evidence that verifies that parents can teach and help


their children achieve high educational levels. Another major argument against home


schooling is that confinement to a home environment where children have little or no


contact with their peers will deprive them of social skills necessary in their development


(Wingert and Kantrowitz 2). However, there are many ways homeschooled children can


get involved in social activities. For example, home schooled children that join support


groups engage in sports matches, field trips, scouting trips, church or part-time


employment (Lyman, “What’s behind” 7). Also, those who take classes and join extrra


circular activities in public schools and other learning centres interact with peers (Wingert


and Kantrowitz 3). Even if some children do not have contact with people of the same


age because of the

small size of a suport group, they are still gaining a lot of social skills.


For example, the oldest learns leadership when speaking to or guiding younger children.


The youngest learns to respect elders. This offers the same or even more self-esteem and


social understanding than a traditional school environment would provide (Wagner 2).


Scientific research also supports the fact that homeschooled children are not socially


deprived. One study at the University of Florida was conducted in which eight to ten


year old children, some of them home schooled, were taped on video while playing.


Professional counselors, who were unaware of which children were home schooled,


watched the video and found no difference between the home schooled children and the


others. Social development tests showed that the children rated closely in self-concept


and assertion (Lyman, “What’s behind” 7). Another test showed that home schooled


children scored higher on self-concept than public school students (Latham 1). To study


long term effects of home schooling on socialization, a different study was conducted


with 53 adults of the first generation of home schoolers. The researcher, Gary J.


Knowles of the University of Michigan, states that he has “found no evidence that these


adults were even moderately disadvantaged…Two-thirds of them were married, the


norm for adults their age, and none were unemployed or any on any form of welfare


assistance. More than three-quarters felt that being taught at home had actually helped


them to interact with people from different levels of society.” (Lyman, “What’s behind”


9). The studies and research so far shows that home schooling is not disadvantageous in


comparison to normal schooling. I believe that there is still no strong evidence that


verifies that home schooling is more beneficial to children than public schooling. Perhaps


the new generation of homeschoolers will reveal that this is not so, but that remains to be


found. In the meantime, as long as parents have the time and patience, can provide their


children with social exposure, and have access to educational tools, there is no reason


why they cannot home school their children. However, this is where the government


comes in. If home schooling is legalized, then there should be services and schools to


support home schoolers. Parents can teach their children efficiently, it they have other


homeschoolers to help them and if services are available. Research on test scores proves


that parents are succeeding. Support groups, public schools and other services help


children acquire social skills, and research again confirms that they do not lack in social


skills. Home schooling rates closely to public schooling in the overall educational and


social experience of the child. And yet it is still quite a surprise that a parent can raise a


child to be president. Perhaps it is the opportunity home schooling gives youngsters to


follow their interests, beliefs, and dreams that may be pulled away in school years before


they are even discovered. Or perhaps it is the bond created between the mother when


for the first time she watches her child write his name. Whatever the case may be, things


would have probably been reallly different if Washington, Roosevelt, and Edison were


watched over by the high school principal, instead of their parents.

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