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Questions and Answers about Homeschooling
Why do families Homeschool?
Many parents commit to educating their children at home. Their
underlying motivation is the conviction that this is best for the moral and spiritual
development of their family, and it is the best way to provide a solid education for
their children. They are concerned for the spiritual and character development as well
as the social and academic welfare of their children.
Specific advantages have been expressed as follows:
- Homeschooling makes quality time available to train and influence children in all
areas in an integrated way.
- Each child receives individual attention and has his unique needs met.
- Parents can control destructive influences such as negative peer pressure and
offensive curriculum.
- Opportunity is available for spiritual training and presenting a biblical
perspective of all academic subjects.
- Children gain respect for their parents as teachers.
- The family experiences unity, closeness and mutual enjoyment of each other.
- Children develop confidence and independent thinking away from negative peer
pressure to conform, in the security of their own home.
- Children have time to think and explore new interests.
- Communication between different age groups is enhanced.
- Tutorial-style education helps each child achieve his full potential.
- Flexible scheduling can accommodate parents' work and vacation times and allow
time for many activities.
The courts have declared the public system of education in Canada to be purely secular.
There is no room for religious instruction, and in particular Christian instruction, in
government schools. However, parents continue to have the right to direct the education of
their children on their own, including religious training, if they so desire. That right
is safeguarded by the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and protected by the courts.
As parents, our influence on our children is both substantial and long lasting.
Unfortunately, when bonds develop in an insecure manner, that too has a substantial and
long lasting negative impact on the child ... parents are the most effective care givers
for their children.
National Foundation for Family Research and Education, 1996
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Are parents qualified to teach their children?
You know your children better than anyone and have the deepest love
and concern for them. You also have the most direct and long-term responsibility for
your children.
Educationally, one-to-one tutoring of a child has many advantages over
the typical classroom where one teacher tries to meet the needs of many children at
different learning levels.
Your example and enthusiasm in learning with your children will
motivate and encourage them far more than striving to appear as if you know it all.
You do not need to know everything in order to teach.
Dr. Brian Ray, president of the National Home Education Research
Institute, conducted a nationwide study of home education in Canada involving more that
800 families with 2,800 children. He found these home educated children scored at or
above the 76th percentile in all subject areas. (The national average of all
conventionally schooled children is the 50th percentile.)
Dr. Ray says, "The tutorial method has always been the superior method
for educating children. Home schooling epitomizes this method, providing the essentials
for success - a close relationship between the student and teacher, motivation,
flexibility, and individualization."
Several resources are available to give you on-the-job training:
- Homeschool conventions, workshops, and book fairs at local, regional, and provincial
levels provide practical instruction in teaching techniques unique to home
instruction. Up-to-date information on these events is a regular feature of homeschooling
magazines and provincial homeschool association newsletters.
- Homeschooling magazines present articles that inform, encourage, and inspire you in
various principles and techniques of home teaching.
- Provincial and local homeschool support groups can greatly encourage and help you
as ideas and information is exchanged.
Education in the true sense, of course, is an enablement to serve both the living human
community in its natural household or neighborhood ... to educate is, literally to
"bring up" to bring young people to a responsible maturity ... it must be used where one
lives, where one intends to continue to live; it must be brought home.
Wendall Berry
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Is homeschooling legal in every province?
Yes. Each province sets its own laws governing home education. Meeting the
requirements of these laws may be as simple as informing the school district or department
of education of your intent to homeschool or as complex as having your children tested
and fulfilling detailed requirements of provincial regulations. Legislation is continually
being proposed and considered in provinces. It is important for you to work with your
provincial and local homeschool organizations to aid the passage of favorable legislation
and regulations which guarantee parental rights and maximize freedom to home educate.
The freedom of conscience and religion and the right to liberty under
section 2(a) and section 7 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms
guarantees a parent's right to educate their children according to the parents' religious
convictions.
In Canada, parents enjoy a fundamental constitutional right to educate
their children in the religion of their choice. The Supreme Court of Canada has recently
reaffirmed the statement of Mr. Justice LaForest:
"... I would have thought it plain that the right to nurture a child, to care
for its development, and to make decision for it in fundamental matters such as medical
care, are part of the liberty interest of a parent."
"The common law has long recognized that parents are in the best position to
take care of their children and make all the decisions necessary to ensure their well
being."
"This only serves to confirm that the parental interest in bringing up,
nurturing, and caring for a child, including medical care and moral upbringing, is an
individual interest of fundamental importance to our society."
"... our society is far from having repudiated the privileged role parents
exercise in the upbringing of their children. This role translates into a protected sphere
of parental decision making which is coated in the presumption that parents should make
important decisions affecting their children, both because parents are more likely to
appreciate the best interests of their children and because the state is ill equipped to
make such decisions itself. Moreover, individuals have a deep personal interest as parents
in fostering the growth of their children."
"... we must accept that parents can, at times, make decisions contrary to
their children's wishes - and rights - as long as they do not exceed the threshold
dictated by public policy, in its broad conception. For instance, it would be difficult
to deny that a parent can dictate to his or her child the place where he or she will
live, or which school he or she will attend."
It is important to obtain a copy of your province's law pertaining
to home education. You can avoid many problems and concerns by being accurately informed
and by using tact and respect in dealing with school authorities.
For prepaid legal defence and assistance, contact Home School Legal
Defence Association of Canada. To qualify for membership, apply before you are
contacted by any authorities regarding school attendance laws. HSLDA offers a free summary
of your province's home school law.
The goal of HSLDA of Canada is to give every parent who wants to homeschool
the necessary confidence to start and continue homeschooling with maximum freedom
and minimal government interference.
How much time does it take?
Homeschooling requires a time commitment, although not as much as you
might expect. One-to-one tutoring is more efficient than classroom instruction and
therefore, requires less time.
The time requirement varies according to the methods used, the ages of
the children and the number of children in the family.
Daily academic instruction might begin with one-half to one hour for
the early grades and work up to a few hours of instruction plus independent study for
upper grades.
Most correspondence courses state that their work can be completed in
four or five hours per day.
1893: In Ontario the literacy rate was "90.5 percent of the
general population, 94.22 percent for those between 10 and 20 years of age."
Interchange
1990: The reading skills of 16% (2.9 million) of
Canada's adults are too limited to allow them to deal with the majority of written
material encountered in every day life.
A further 22% (4.0 million) of Canadian adults can use reading material
to carry out simple reading tasks within familiar contexts with materials that are clearly
laid out. However, this group does not have sufficient skills to cope with more complex
reading contexts.
Statistics Canada, Survey of Literacy Skills |
How can we teach several children at once?
Subjects such as, science, history, Bible and literature that are not
necessarily dependent on prerequisite knowledge or skills can be taught to several grade
levels together.
Lessons can be presented in an amplified manner with explanations to
enable children in all grade levels to understand. Older students can do much of their
work independently and can also help teach younger children.
What about socialization?
This is perhaps the most misunderstood aspect of homeschooling. It is the
positive aspects of socialization through the home that attract many families to this
lifestyle.
Popular opinion assumes that children need periods of interaction with a
group of peers to acquire social skills. By contrast however, many believe that extensive
peer contact during childhood can cause undesirable and negative peer dependency.
Young children are more likely to be influenced by the majority than to
be independent and an example to others. Children who receive their education outside the
home are prone to accept their peers' and teachers' values over those of their parents.
Dr. Bronfenbrenner of Cornell university found that children who spend more time with their
peers than with their parents generally become dependant on those peers and parental
influence is quickly lost.
Some advantages of freedom from peer pressure can be self-confidence,
independent thinking, the ability to relate to people of all ages, and better family
relationships.
Moral principles of interaction can be taught, demonstrated and reinforced
at home by parents. Children can learn needed social skills by interaction with siblings
or other children and adults under their parent' supervision. Yong people who have had
this type of training have adjusted very well to adult life.
You can help your children build and maintain lasting friendships with
people of all ages through church and family friends.
Dr. Brain Ray reports that numerous studies have found that home educated
children are as well adjusted socially and emotionally as student in conventional school,
or better.
Andrew Nikiforuk stated in Chatelaine magazine (March, 1994) that
given the strong emphasis homeschoolers place on character development, the argument that
children schooled at home are brought up in a bubble and can't cope in the real world just
doesn't hold.
Author Ray E. Ballmann states that homeschoolers on average score higher
than their conventionally schooled peers in tests that measure both self-concept and
sociability. A young child learns good sociability primarily by watching and mirroring.
Do you want your child to model after you or after his peers, after his teacher at school
or his teacher at home? What kind of socialization do you want for your child, positive or
negative?
What about my child's special interests?
A wealth of experiences outside the home can supplement and enrich home
education. Unlimited possibilities abound for field trips that individual families or
groups can take. These provide valuable in-the-field learning laboratories.
Specialized classes are often available through parks, museums, art
school or private lessons. Church and community teams offer various sports
opportunities.
There is actually more time and opportunity available for enrichment
activities for home taught students than for those in conventional schools.
What about higher education and career preparation?
Several institutions throughout North America have welcomed home-educated
student. "Many of these schools actively recruit home-educated graduates because of
their maturity, independent thinking skills, creativity, and extensive academic
preparation," says Inge Cannon, executive director of Education PLUS.
In preparation for university or college entrance or any vocational
training program, parents should prepare a thorough transcript of high school level work,
award a diploma, and specify and actual high school graduation date. Occasionally GED
tests may be required by a college or employer for additional verification. Some
provincial homeschool associations are officially hosting graduation ceremonies for
high school graduates.
Some homeschoolers are entering their chosen fields through
apprenticeship programs designed and supervised by parents and professionals.
What materials are available?
Fine materials developed for Christian and private schools are available
to home educators. With the huge growth of the homeschool movement new materials are
also being developed or adapted especially for use in home teaching.
These materials may be obtained in several basic ways:
- You may order texts and teaching aids directly from the publishers or through
mail-order companies. Homeschool magazines regularly present advertisements of
numerous suppliers of quality teaching materials.
- A home extension program offered through a local Christian school or church can
provide teaching materials, testing and counseling. Materials, testing and
guidance can also be obtained through correspondence courses.
Home educators can choose or combine elements of any of the following approaches:
Traditional Textbooks. High quality textbooks are available from
publishers. These cover each subject in depth and in a logical order of topics.
Worktexts. Some publishers have combined textbook information
with exercises in consumable write-in books.
Classical Approach. Children progress from memory and learning
skills to advance reasoning and finally expressive use of language to discuss their
knowledge and beliefs. This is fast becoming the most popular trend in home education.
Unit Studies. Theme centered units integrate information from
several subjects. Language art and math need additional systematic teaching.
Books & Life Experiences. Other than basic teaching in the
three R's, much learning comes through reading good literature and nonfiction. Normal
everyday activities also supplement book-learning and give it perspective.
Children (in the 19th Century) learned practical skills from parents, older siblings and
relatives. In this context, age groups intermingled in both work and play ... most
children learned at home within the framework of the family unit.
The Family: Changing Trends in Canada
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What methods do Homeschoolers use?
There is no "one right way" to homeschool. There is no one right method
or curriculum.
As an artist has at his disposal an entire palette of colors to mix and
use, so a home educator has a vast army of effective methods from which to choose.
These choices may be based on:
- The ages of the children.
- The subject matter being taught.
- The number of children.
- The learning styles your children find most effective.
- The time you have available to prepare and teach.
- The varying abilities or special needs of your children.
- The motivation certain methods may provide your children.
The variety of methods is endless. As you choose and mix them, your
homeschool will become a unique work of art.
What about children with special needs?
Many children with special needs are being successfully home educated.
Membership in HSLDA of Canada provides parents with access to research and information,
which can assist and encourage those parents with special needs children to homeschool.
What are some difficulties?
The following are common difficulties and suggested solutions.
Lack of Confidence: At first, you may lack confidence in choosing materials
and methods, and in your ability to teach. With experience, you will gain confidence.
Find a homeschool support group so you can interact with experienced homeschool
families.
Fear of Being Unable To Work With Your Own Children: Parents who do not have
their children's respect will have trouble getting their cooperation. Gaining their
respect through proper discipline, training and example should be the parents' top
priority, whether or not they are homeschooling. Often discipline problems come from
exposure to negative attitudes learned from negative peer pressure. Homeschooling can
provide the incentive and optimum setting to overcome this.
Inadequate Time and Energy: Home teaching requires an investment of time and
energy, especially by mothers. Self-discipline and good organization will help ensure
a well run household. A daily schedule, lesson plans and a chore list can keep school
and housework organized. Well trained children will give back to you by helping with
practical life skills like cooking, laundry and household chores.
Lack of Commitment: Families who are homeschooling only for convenience or
because it is a popular thing to do may soon drop out unless they develop the conviction
that homeschooling is best for their family.
Social Pressure: Pressure from well-meaning friends or relatives can be a real
deterrent. Make a well-informed decision and then stand on your convictions. More
information and a loving attitude often help others understand and accept your decision
to homeschool.
Financial Investment: Costs of materials or programs vary considerable, but are
always less expensive than a private school. Many materials can be reused for
siblings as well.
What are the future trends in Homeschooling?
Mike Farris, one of North America's home schooling pioneers predicts
that the return to classical education in terms of curriculum content will increase
dramatically. High tech lessons in classical languages and great books are on-line
today and Farris projects that "easy to use" programs will emerge on the
market. The number one rule of home education curriculum will be "Is it easy
for mom to use?" Other trends according to Farris include apprenticeship in lieu
of university training and increased involvement in the political process on behalf of
home schooling families.
How do we get started in Homeschooling?
Here are some suggestions to help you get started:
- Agree together as husband and wife on your decision to homeschool.
- Research home education by reading one or two basic home education, books, such
as Christopher Klicka's The Right Choice, and The Teaching Home
magazine. Also meet and visit with more experienced homeschoolers in your
church or at a local support group and make an effort to attend your province's
annual homeschool convention.
- Contact your provincial homeschool organization to learn of local support
groups, events, and publications as well as your province's laws governing
home education. HSLDA has provincial legal summaries and addresses for all
provincial support groups.
- Make arrangements to comply with the law according to your religious convictions
and recommendations of provincial organizations and/or HSLDA. Consider joining
Home School Legal Defence Association of Canada to show solidarity with homeschoolers across Canada.
- Get your home life and schedule in order by establishing discipline of your
children and your use of time. Also, consider getting rid of unnecessary or
little used possessions to make way for learning materials and study space.
- Choose methods and teaching materials that you feel most comfortable in starting
out with and that would be appropriate to the age and number of your children.
If you feel overwhelmed by the choices you must make, you may want to use a
prepared curriculum from a textbook, worktext, or unit study publisher for your
first year. It may also help to start with only one or a few subjects and add
more as you go along, adjusting your pace accordingly.
- Reassess and experiment with different materials and methods and make adjustments
as you become more experienced with home education.
Throughout this educational process, you will, of course, want to give top
priority to your children's spiritual and character development.
Homeschooling is a way of life in which the home is the
center of life and learning. Through home education, parents can experience,
in a unique way, their responsibility to bring up their children by instilling
strong moral and spiritual values.
