Should home-schooling parents be required to have a degree or training?

Toni - posted on 03/10/2011

Ladies,

I'm going to lock this thread due to it being inactive for over 6 months. If you wish to continue debating this topic please start a new thread.

Thanks
Toni
Mod

Emily - posted on 03/10/2011

Any parent dedicated to the education of their own child is perfectly capable of educating that child well above the current government school standards. The special education given to teachers is nothing more than a set of crowd-control techniques. They know no more about the subject at hand, and often less, than your average parent. In addition, anyone with access to the internet has, within easy reach, all of the information required to teach every subject in every grade. Couple that with the access to pre-written curricula and prepared lab kits, et cetera, and you have potential to educated the future leaders of the nation, in your own living room.



My own little ones, ages 7 and 9, have already finished an 8th grade biology course, minus the dissection part, which they will be completing in a few months. They finished a college course on taxonomy, and are currently learning classical latin. They read and understand Shakespeare. They adore memorizing Tennyson and other poets' works. They are several years ahead in math, (How many government taught 9 year olds do algebra?) and already understand more history than a high-school teacher of the subject. All this, and far more, taught by a mother who never even got her high-school diploma.



Do you really suppose my children would benefit from my taking precious time away from them to take some "training course"? What on earth could you teach me that would improve upon what we're already doing? Do you imagine our family is an anomaly? I assure you, it is not. Anyone devoted to their children is going to do the best possible job of educating them. As long as you are not illiterate, you are capable of learning right alongside your child. Dedication and willingness to learn is all that is required, and no test or training course (or degree, for that matter) will ever take the place of those two.

Emily - posted on 03/10/2011

Any parent dedicated to the education of their own child is perfectly capable of educating that child well above the current government school standards. The special education given to teachers is nothing more than set of crowd-control techniques. They know no more about the subject at hand, and often less, than your average parent. In addition, anyone with access to the internet has, within easy reach, all of the information required to teach every subject in every grade. Couple that with the access to pre-written curricula and prepared lab kits, et cetera, and you have potential to educated the future leaders of the nation, in your own living room.

My own little ones, ages 7 and 9, have already finished an 8th grade biology course, minus the dissection part, which they will be completing in a few months. They finished a college course on taxonomy, and are currently learning classical latin. They read and understand Shakespeare. They adore memorizing Tennyson and other poets' works. They are several years ahead in math, (How many government taught 9 year olds do algebra?) and already understand more history than a high-school teacher of the subject. All this, and far more, taught by a mother who never even got her high-school diploma.

Do you really suppose my children would benefit from my taking precious time away from them to take some "training course"? What on earth could you teach me that would improve upon what we're already doing? Do you imagine our family is an anomaly? I assure you, it is not. Anyone devoted to their children is going to do the best possible job of educating them. As long as you are not illiterate, you are capable of learning right alongside your child. Dedication and willingness to learn is all that is required, and no test or training course (or degree, for that matter) will ever take the place of those two.

Lyndsay - posted on 04/02/2010

I think that parents who wish to home school their kids should have some training. If you are expecting the parent to teach the set curriculum, I think they should at least have a basic understanding of it themselves.

Wanda - posted on 04/02/2010

My BF homeschools her 3 kids (ages 11, 8 and 6). At the beginning of each school year she gets a ciriculum that she has to follow and at the end of the school year her kids are tested to insure that they know it. She enrolled in French classes to brush up on her French so she'd be able to teach the French requirement in the ciriculum. She does an amazing job teaching her kids, they're bright kids.

As for the social aspect, her kids are on sports teams in the community and she also belongs to a group for homeschooling parents. They get together and do different things, allowing moms and kids to get social interaction.

I've never looked into homeschooling (it's not for me) but from what my friend tells me I'd have to say that government is already involved. She had to file papers stating that she was homeschooling and why, she has a set ciriculum to follow, and the kids are tested yearly. The only diffenece is her kids aren't in a building with a few hundred other kids.

LaCi - posted on 04/02/2010

LoL at the assessment tests involved with homeschooling.

My homeschool friend in high school (indiana) were allowed to take open book exams to make sure they were on track.

Kelli - posted on 04/02/2010

I am planning to homeschool and as I've been reading EVERYTHING I can get my hands on to ensure successfulness (I have four years to prepare!), a parent is THE most qualified to teach their child. Who better knows whata childs strengths and weaknesses are, but you? And the child DOES still have to go to a CERTIFIED teacher to take FCAT to ensure that child is learning. So no, I do not believe they should have to, however, I would GLADLY take one in order to homeschoool my kids. Let's face it, how many of the actual teachers out there are really QUALIFIED!? I got a horrible education; my teachers were far too interested in talking about their home lives than teaching. Give me a break!

Good Day! - posted on 04/02/2010

Homeschooling has benefits, and yes, there should be regulations on it.

How cool is it that homeschool kids get one-on-one learning day in and day out, catered to their specific needs?

But of course you have the rare situations where children are left to roam free all day and if they don't feel like math that day, then oh well.

That is why it should be regulated. The standardized testing for parents sounds like a good idea. It should be extended to the kids too, to make sure they are functioning on the same level as schooled children their age.

My cousin homeschools her children and they belong to a co-op. Training is provided for the parents and they regularly meet and discuss problems and successes. All the families in the co-op use the same curriculum. I think that is a great idea.

The only reasons I would homeschool is if my kid were too sick to go to school or we lived in a terrible public school district and couldn't afford private. But I don't have a problem with homeschooling in general.

Krista - posted on 04/02/2010

Brace yourselves: I agree with Christina.

There should be a standardized test made available for parents. If they pass it, then they can homeschool. If not, then they can't. I know plenty of people who are wildly intelligent and are excellent at sharing information, but who have gone no further than high school. And I know plenty of people with advanced degrees who could not teach their way out of a wet paper bag.

C. - posted on 04/02/2010

I don't necessarily think homeschooling parents should have to have a degree or some from of in-home training to teach a child. Maybe that's b/c I see how well my sisters are doing. One of my sisters (the oldest) has an almost 4 year old (will be at the end of this month), an almost 3 year old (in July) and an almost 7 month old and she has started homeschooling the oldest two already. Before homeschooling, they already knew all the basics. My second oldest sister is going to be homeschooling soon as well (her 3 kids are 3 1/2, almost 2 1/2 and almost 11 months). They already know the basics as well.

What I DO think should happen, though, is that the state should have a big test for parents that want to homeschool. The ones that don't pass have to take courses and then pass a test to prove they are capable and the ones that pass the test don't have to take any courses. B/c there are some very intelligent people who are capable of teaching a child more than the basic skills that every parent teaches, but then there are some who, while they may be knowledgeable, lack in the actual ability to get through to the student.

Erin - posted on 04/02/2010

I think they should! The state has the control of what goes into the curriculum if they are public schooled therefore should also have the say in required learning for homeschoolers as well! I told my husband I wouldn't homeschool our kids unless I had taken classes for it, and I have a degree w/over 100 college credits, but I won't go there w/out proper training. Sure I can teach my kids how to write, the basics of whatever, but I'm not specialized in teaching, working w/kids, etc...I think we specialize in stuff for a reason and should leave it to them that are!!! How many times are we parents baffled at the homework our kids come home with? My education that will be 30 yrs old by the time my child gets there is FAR BEHIND what is going on today...and hell maybe the stuff taught to kindergardeners is the same in 1987 as it will be in 2012 when my son gets there, but something tells me NO, and I don't remember what I learned in 1987 anyways...I know they give you packets and crap, but seriously! If it was like that then any numnuts that read a book on anything could do what they want??? IDK?

LaCi - posted on 04/02/2010

I believe that, for the benefit of the child, the parent needs to demonstrate their capability of educating the child. So, although I'd like the government to stay out of parenting, I think there HAS to be some sort of test/course/training to ensure the child will receive a proper education.



Additionally- its not just about the child, its about society as a whole. letting every dumbass who wants to keep their kids out of schools do so could lead to the next dark age... so its the government responsibility to maintain society right? they have to maintain education to maintain society as they know it.