What does American Idol and Homeschooling have in Common?
David Archuletta: 2008 American Idol runner up is officially a student at Murray Highschool in Murray Utah. On the Idol set, he had the obligatory (and by law) three hour a day tutoring that working minors must get. In a recent article in the DesertNews website, he stated, “I’ve probably home-schooled for half of my life, so it’s not anything new to me. If … I have to do that, (homeschool) then that’s something I’m up for.” He has been “working” and has been on numerous TV shows since the age of 11 and so he has homeschooled whenever it helped him to meet his professional goals.
Jordin Sparks: 2007 American Idol winner began Homeschooling in 2006 to focus on her career and worked with a tutor three hours a day while on Idol.
Lisa Tucker: Season Five American Idol finalist who attended school on the set with a tutor.
Kevin Covais: Season Five American Idol finalist who attended school on the set with a tutor.
Paris Bennett: Season Five American Idol finalist who attended school on the set with a tutor.
Diana DeGarmo: American Idol season 3 runner up was a working talent from a young age. She performed at the 1996 Olympics and was also part of Cartoon Network’s Cartoon Gang, in addition to being in Atlanta based productions of “Annie” and “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat”. While she technically went to school, and was enrolled in Shiloh High school in Snellville GA during her Idol run, she was no stranger to on set tutors to assist with her education.
Jasmin Trias: she was a high school Sr. when she competed in Season 3 of American Idol. As a minor who had not completed highschool, she was provided with an on set tutor.
John Stevens: Season 3 American Idol finalist spent three hours a day with a tutor while on the American Idol set.
Sanjaya Malakar did not receive a tutor on the Idol set in season 7 because he graduated at an early age by taking an exit test so he could concentrate on his career.
As you can see, most of these young Idol hopefuls and just about every other minor that you see on TV receives a less than traditional education. The screen actors guild states that a minors education cannot be hampered by their “work”. Each minor actor or musician involved in a production must have tree hours a day with a tutor and that tutor cannot work with more than 10 students at a time unless those students are all within a two year grade level.
As with my articles on Olympic hopefuls, you can see that homeschooling or on set tutoring is an excellent solution for kids who just have, well… other things they would rather be doing. While homeschooling is an excellent option for kids who would just like a bit of educational freedom or a unique experience, it is also great for children who are particularly talented or gifted in any way.
Learn more about Homeschooling Professional Children.
Read more homeschool success stories which includes a profile of 2008 Olympic hopefuls