Homeschooling – Is Standardized Education Effective?
By Mimi Rothschild
Schools have long existed on the dogma that it is necessary to have a homogenous method of teaching and testing students at the same level of education to ensure acceptable literacy standards. Never have students been more numbered, ranked, sorted, and estranged on their true learning capabilities and interests than they are today. If every student is an individual and their pace of learning is unique, how can we facilitate a standard learning curriculum that fits all of them?
The education system has been quick to divide students into two stark categories: the ones who are more academically inclined, and the students who are deemed slower and less educable and may therefore be forced down vocational paths at an early age. Conventional schools veer toward testing students and teachers to measure their performances. Because of this, there are not many opportunities for students to pursue their main interests and have their interest in non-school subjects piqued. Teachers and students alike are more concerned with the results produced than the true essence of education, which is the process of learning. Many teachers also believe that standardization is anti-educational.
Academics aside, standardized education can fail to instill in students the moral values necessary for them to grow into productive and responsible members of society. Although students are tucked in a classroom for 6 hours a day learning academic subjects, very little emphasis is placed on teaching them civics and moral values. Interaction with the teacher is usually only confined to the classroom and classroom ethics. There is minimal chance for teachers to impart the wisdom of what they experience outside of the classroom.
One of the solutions some parents find for this age-old problem is homeschooling. Homeschooling is flexible and diverse, and is becoming an increasingly popular alternative to standard public education today. The approach to homeschooling can be as unique as the students themselves. Children are permitted to work at their own learning pace, rather than at the level of a graded curriculum that public schools offer. Academic programs can be drafted according to the student’s level of understanding of a subject and their learning style, as opposed to students having to conform to the teacher’s “teaching style” which can be detrimental to the students’ progress at school. Students can also take up any preferred subject combination, rather than be restricted to following what is offered by the public institution. Students can study subjects they are interested in, be involved more often in community work, or take up sports or activities that they like and which schools might not be able to offer. Studies have shown that students that have been homeschooled score an average of 20 to 30 percentage points higher than public school students.
At home, parents are able to guide their children in more ways than just academically. Time spent with family can foster a greater sense of integrity and compassion, and helps children develop the ability to differentiate right from wrong. These are things that are harder to learn from friends of the same age or teachers whose job ends when they leave the school compound. True, there is much that can be learned from friends and exceptional teachers, but homeschooled children have a wide choice of friends, and their teachers can come from all walks of life, not just the classroom.
Reasons why parents might opt for homeschooling for their children vary. Some parents believe that public schools are a breeding ground for vices such as drugs and alcohol, and can be dangerous places full of violence and immorality. When children are at a young and impressionable age, their parents are still the best candidates to teach moral values and install positive behavior patterns. Many parents think that the school’s education curriculum may not be in the best interest of their children, while others just believe that their children should not be forced into a standard of education that they may not be able to cope with. The whole notion of faster learning is becoming obsolete in today’s modern society. The main concern should be to encourage students to seek self-fulfillment that comes from doing a job they enjoy and excel in. Although homeschooling might not be an option for some people due to their unique circumstances, many students can benefit from the freedom and concentrated teaching from parents.
As has been said before countless of times, the world is our classroom. When standardized education limits horizons – homeschooling may provide the key to unlock the doors.
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