In the age of variety and options for anything from cars to mutual funds, parents welcome various alternatives for education. Gone are the days where learning is confined to an institutional classroom. Today many parents are turning to homeschooling as a viable alternative to the traditional way of schooling. Recently homeschooling has gained much notoriety because of the steady increase in the number of home-educated students. The Department of Education sites 850,000 students US children being homeschooled. It is estimated that one-half million to two million US children are homeschooled for at least part of their education (William Bennett). In addition home schools have produced students who are academically competitive and in many cases achieve above their public school counter parts. Although homeschoolers make up 2% of students in the US, they hold 10% of finalist spots in the National Spelling Bee and a higher percentage in the National Geographic’s Geography Bee (ABC News)
HISTORY OF HOMESCHOOLING
Parents homeschool for different reasons. Conservative Christians at one point made up 80% of homeschoolers. Today there is a growing number of non-Christian home educators as well. According to one Oregon study on homeschooling families, the primary motivation for homeschooling for religious reasons was 65%, academic achievement 22%, social development 11% and alternative/new age philosophies was 2%. David and Micki Colfax state in their book, Homeschooling for Excellence, "Some teach their children at home for very clearly defined reasons, while others -- perhaps even a majority-- would be pressed to say why, exactly they teach their children at home." For some it may be a short-term solution while others may be committed over the long term."
Others homeschool out of necessity due to geographical locality such as military families. Homeschooling offers stability that military dependent children so often lack because of frequent moves and separation from one or both active duty parents. Although the duty station, home, friends etc. may change, the family and the school remain the same.
Finally the student's safety is being added to the many reasons for homeschooling. Traditional schools--public or private--are no guarantee for safety due to increased violence within the schools. Parents are turning to homeschooling as a means of offering their children quality education within a safe environment.
For whatever the purpose may be, the issue that ties all these reasons together is that parents want more say and involvement in their child's education. Parents can determine what they want to teach according to their beliefs and values. The child's interests, ability and talent are taken into consideration, and the home curriculum is unlimited.
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