I have always been a little skeptical of the idea of home schooling. I believe there is a reason teachers need to go through certain education in order to get certified. A parent, having little understanding of the curriculum or best instructional methods, as a teacher is one of the many issues I see with home school. Many other issues come from the lack of social interaction the children would get. However, the idea of unschooling “without curriculum, schedules, tests, or grades” seems to me completely ineffective (107). I like the idea of school being child centered, but with a lack of any sort of structure or assessment, children will not be prepared for the real world.
Another concept I have some issues with is the idea of charter schools. I have heard of this type of education, but I did not realize it contained so many variations. I like the idea that charter schools “organize the delivery of education in a specialized way that is thought to enhance student learning” (102). I am a believer that all children learn differently, but I believe a way to approach that as a teacher is to incorporate many different teaching styles. By removing students completely to learn in a unique way seems to be counter productive. Not only will students leave school with inconsistent educations, they will miss out on many valuable skills. Separating at risk youth, gifted students, or future leaders will cause schools to be less enriching environments (103). Having gifted students helps those who are lower academically by giving them someone more advanced to work with. Creating a school of leaders is useless if they have no one to lead. I believe these aspects that they teach in charter schools are valuable, but they lose their value when they become a completely separate entity.
Discussion Question: Do you think home schooling or charter schools have enough advantages to outweigh the disadvantages?
Hi Michelle,
ReplyDeleteI was homeschooled for three years. I was homeschooled because I was being viciously bullied in junior high. I think it's a little harsh to assume that homeschooled children will not be prepared for the real world. It's not just a mishmash of whatever the parent feels like teaching as some texts will imply. Homeschooling requires routines and lesson planning just as any public school does. A lot of the time, it's fun, creative, and teaches independence, instills confidence and teaches critical thinking skills - all things I could not learn while I suffered from being tormented in school. My mom was awesome! She made it so fun to do math. I socialized by being invited to school dances and fundraisers even though I was being homeschooled. I believe a child has a right to education, no matter what form that is - be that public, home or private school - as long as a child can learn in a safe, nurturing environment. A parent should not require a degree to teach their child(ren). I took provincial tests and exams to make sure I was learning what the province required me to know (all the benchmark stuff).
I hope this opens up your perspective! Homeschooling is not bad! :)
Krista