Quick Facts About Homeschooling

Have you ever wondered about the statistics that relate to homeschooling? How many kids are homeschooled? How well do kids that were homeschooled do in comparison to kids who attended public school? You may be surprised by what these quick facts about homeschooling show! For many families, the decision to homeschool their children is one that they feel is a calling. These parents are not going to change their mind no matter what. Other families choose to homeschool because they are dissatisfied with their local public school (and cannot afford to send their kids to private school). There are also … Continue reading →

Does Your Teen Want to Attend Public School?

The Washington Post has an interesting article that focuses on the homeschooling experience of a young man named Josh Powell. His education wasn’t ideal. It is important to note that there are certain factors in his situation that are not necessarily a part of everyone’s homeschooling experience. Josh Powell lives in Virginia. He, and his siblings, were homeschooled by their parents. When Josh was 16 years old, he asked to be allowed to attend public school. His parents said no. The reasons Josh wanted to start going to public school weren’t the ones that many teenagers might focus on. Some … Continue reading →

Movie Review: “Walking on Water”

When popular surfer Ryan Jennings was a young teenager, his parents divorced, leaving him confused and full of questions about his life. One of his mentors, also a surfer, took him on an amazing trip to some of the most challenging surf spots and taught him valuable lessons, not only about the sport, but about himself. As an adult, Ryan wanted to pay it forward and do the same for two young surfers. He found the two boys he wanted to take by watching their performance on the water. Tyler was a fourteen-year-old with a shock of yellow curls. His … Continue reading →

Homeschooling Gains Popularity in India

The Times of India has an article entitled More Parents Opting for Homeschooling that explains the trend of parents in India deciding to homeschool their children. As parents decide that their children are over stresses, or are not getting a quality education at school, they are removing them and teaching them at home. Like many homeschooling families in the United States, some rely on the same books used in the schools, and for others, the internet and everyday life are the tools they use to teach their children. “None of them thrust books on their children. “When my child was … Continue reading →

Homeschool Parents in Germany Still Fighting Nazi Laws

“The ‘Schulpflicht’ – the laws that require school attendance – are on the books in the German states, and have been traced back to the ‘Reichsschulpflicht Gesetz’ [federal compulsory attendance laws] which was passed in 1938. Except for the removal of references to the Nazi party, these laws are identical or substantially the same as the laws passed by Hitler’s government, criminalizing parents who keep their children home for school.” This is what the parents Juergen and Rosemarie Dudeck of Archfeld Germany have alleged in court in their fight to homeschool their children. To date they have been wholly unsuccessful … Continue reading →

District Puts Breaks on Diplomas for Homeschoolers

In Iowa City homeschool parents have been enrolling their children in public school for the final trimester. of the 12 grade so they could receive a high school diploma. Superintendent Lane Plugge said district officials have seen a recent increase in homeschooled students transferring into the district for only one trimester to earn a diploma. The school board intends to put the breaks on this questionable behavior. A new policy may require students to be enrolled full time for two full years in order to receive a diploma from the district. The district would limit acceptable transfer credits to only … Continue reading →

Homeschoolers Are Not Entitled to Free School Online

The Missouri Virtual School which many homeschoolers use to teach their kids for free is in danger of shutting down due to a lack of funding. Missouri Virtual Instruction, also called MoVIP has allowed many public school students as well as homeschoolers to take courses online for free. This allows struggling students to graduate on time, and allows homeschoolers access to the same education that public school children get. In spite of repeated warnings for homeschoolers to not rely on public resources the word FREE is something that they cannot seem to turn away from. What we must realize is … Continue reading →

Newsflash! All Homeschoolers are Not Conservative

Proof that all homeschoolers are not conservative… I watch Hardball with Chris Matthews. While Chris Matthews would not characterize himself as liberal (which I also do not) he is certainly far from conservative. With that said, on his November 23 show, he used homeschooling as a litmus test to decide if someone else was conservative. He was speaking to Chris Chocola, president of The Club for Gowth, which bills itself as a “fiscally conservative organization that supports a low-tax and limited-government agenda.” Here is the conversation that ensued: CHOCOLA: The Club for Growth is focused solely on economic issues. And … Continue reading →

Homeschooling Loses a Champion

Last week, Christopher Klicka lost his fight to Mulitple sclerosis. He had suffered for the last 15 years and still continued to work for the HSLDA in spite of his severe illness. Mr. Klicka was the first full time employee of the organization that led the fight for homeschool rights and continues to lead the battle. He worked in the roles of attorney, spokesman, and lobbyist. He fell into his final bought of severe illness while at a homeschool convention. While I strongly disagree with some of the aspects of the HSLDA, particularly the some of the lobbying, I can’t … Continue reading →

Are Alaskan Homeschoolers Falling Short

An article in the Anchorage Daily News suggests that at least 1000 homeschooled children, mostly in the Bush, are being left behind. The article admits that many homeschoolers left to their own resources in Alaska have stellar outcomes. It shows that parents with freedom to homeschool seem to have amazing outcomes with students entering college as juniors in spite of living by their own schedules and whims. Still, the article goes on to talk about a family with 15 children who learned little more than the bible and the father’s views on religion or a girl who didn’t learn to … Continue reading →