Not Everyone Goes to School

1. Not Everyone Goes to School The Alternative Education Jennifer V. Nadia J.

2. Objectives What is home school? How does a home school education differ form a public school education? What are the benefits and drawbacks of each? Why do people choose to be home schooled? Do they follow a curriculum plan? How does home schooling affect a students social development? Are the people who teach home school qualified? Do colleges have a preference for public school students over home school students? Is home schooling more prevalent in certain geographical areas?

3. What is home school? Home schooling is a method of teaching where students are taught at home and are taught by their parents or tutors. They generally don’t go to school although some may go for certain activities or classes.

4. How does a home school education differ from public school education? • Public School • Not as many demands • Not as lonely • Distractions- friends • Easier curriculum • Home School • more demands • many distractions- such as the TV and the telephone. • More difficult curriculum We asked Kristi this question because she has experienced both public school and home school. This is what she told us.

5. What are the benefits and drawbacks of each? • Drawbacks • More socially isolated • Home schooling doesn’t always provide comprehensive education • More difficult to get involved in extra-curricular activities and school related sports. • A big commitment for parents along with students • Don’t focus on their education, get carried away with their interests. • Benefits • Focus more on individual needs of the student • Better test grades (SAT scores for home schooled students average at about 1100, while public schooled students only have an average of 1019) • Focus more on their interests • Gives another option “bad” public schools • Generally home schooled students are more patient, less competitive and more out-going.

6. Why do parents choose to home school their children? • Home school minimizes issues of child safety • It builds strong families • Overall test grades and GPA are higher • Many parents worry about the quality of education in schools • An illness or condition may interfere with regular schooling • The overall behavior is better They are generally less competitive and more patient. • Reduces self-consciousness.

7. Do they follow a curriculum plan? • Most home schooled students follow a curriculum designed by Internet courses or get a similar curriculum as a nearby school. 7% of home schooled students have no curriculum. They follow their own interests. • All schools are required to allow HS students participate in activities such as clubs or sports • Some of the most significant people in American history were home schooled. • Thomas Edison, • Andrew Carnegie, • Thomas Jefferson, • Woodrow Wilson, • Franklin D. Roosevelt • Theodore Roosevelt

8. How does home schooling affect a student’s social development? • On average, home schooled students are in 5.2 social activities outside their home. • Usually they are afternoon and weekend programs at their church or local school • They tend to interact with people of different ages. Kristi, a home schooled freshman is involved in many church activities that keep her busy throughout the week. In her spare time, she hangs out with friends and talks on the phone

9. Are the people who teach home schooling qualified? No always, generally the child’s parents teach their child with the aid of books, videos and specialized courses on the internet. Some districts allow the home schooled students to use their books and even participate in certain classes, part time. There is no U.S. Law that requires having a parent have a degree in teaching Other families use hire tutors who teach their children. They do this because they want to continue their career but still have their child receive this type of education

10. Do colleges have a preference for public school students over home schooled students? We emailed several colleges asking whether they had a preference with public school students or home schooled students. They all replied with a similar answer. It doesn't matter how the student had been previously schooled, as long as they met or exceeded their high school requirements. Every students has to provide the same information and take either the ACT or SAT. We also asked about how much of the students on campus have been home schooled in the past, but most colleges do not keep track of that data. • Colleges that responded • UIUC • UIS • COD • NWU • MU • Carthage • MIT • NIU • Valparaiso

11. Is home schooling more prevalent in certain geographical areas? Home schooling goes on all around the US but it is more prevalent in rural areas and sparely populated areas such as Alaska. Also military families teach at home because they do not always stay in one place. Fact: the exact number of home schooled students is not known, but an estimated 700,000-1.2 million students are home schooled. This is only 1-2% of the US school population.

12. Bibliography • Www.abekaacademy.org/dvdvhsvideo/default.html • www.cse.org/imformed/38.html • www.elibrary.com/s/edumark/getdo.6@orn:bigchalk:us;lib&dtype=0~0dinst=o.html • www.indiana.edu/~eric_rec/ieo/digests/d94.html • infoweb6.newsbank.com/bin/gate.e...0DB71A80E50A5835&RGD=19990302&PROD=APIL • www.Internethomeschool.com/index3.html • Time Magazine, August 27, 2001-HOME SWEET SCHOOL • web1.infotrac.galegroup.com/itw/..._______&dyn=3!sln_0+0+0?sw_aep=rbrookhs • web1.infotrac.galegroup.com/itw/...J52995026&dyn=17ar_fmt?sw_aep=rbrookhs • web1.infotrac.galegroup.com/itw/...J5402575&dyn=10!ar_fmt?sw_aep=rbrookhs