The common practice of homeschooling has recently become a controversial topic here in CA. Some of you may not have heard about it. I just happened to notice a news article when I was surfing CNN.com and a friend of mine posted a blog about it on myspace from the homeschooling perspective so it caught my attention.
The issue is whether or not kids should have to be taught by a credentialed teacher or parent, whether in a public, private, or home schooled setting.
I have my own thoughts on this, some from both sides of the issue. But I am curious to see what other people think...
I'd like to know what you think, not just on how your "personal experiences" (whether good or bad) made you feel, but from an educational perspective, too... as in:
-why it should be necessary for kids to be taught from a credentialed teacher/parent...
OR
-why it is not necessary for kids to be taught by a teacher/parent who is credentialed.
I have never spent much time researching this in depth so I am anxious to see what other people think! =)
15 comments:
I'm going to do a drive-by, hit-n-run answer. Not in-depth by any means.
I would add the qualifier: Define "credentialed".
Credentialed by whom? And by what standards?
The California credentialing system is a joke.
Many homeschooling parents I know are NOT credentialed, but nevertheless, their children receive a far better education than anything available in California's public school system. (BTW, I am not referring to myself :)
From the news article, it seems like they mean Teaching Credentials from the State of CA.
Along the lines of your uncredentialed friends who provide great educations to their kids, I have a friend whose mother IS credentialed, but my friend received a less than adequate education and has struggled through college. So I guess the point is that maybe being credentialed doesn't matter after all? hmmm...
Good "drive-by, hit-n-run" response =) Thanks!
Please consider the consequences of this ruling. This law which was written in secret by the lawmakers was originally a ruling affecting 1 family's ability to homeschool. The decision was made that ALL educators (homeschooling parents and uncredentialed christian/private school teachers) must be credentialed or the affected kids would be forced into public school. Very agressive steps could be taken if the parents don't send their children to a public school (this would force the majority of parents to public school their children).
If this law passes and is not unpublished or appealed, we WILL move out of California before Lilly enters school. We do not want her to grow up without learning from us the way the world works as created by God.
Please consider the consequences of this ruling. This law which was written in secret by the lawmakers was originally a ruling affecting 1 family's ability to homeschool. The decision was made that ALL educators (homeschooling parents and uncredentialed christian/private school teachers) must be credentialed or the affected kids would be forced into public school. Very agressive steps could be taken if the parents don't send their children to a public school (this would force the majority of parents to public school their children).
If this law passes and is not unpublished or appealed, we WILL move out of California before Lilly enters school. We do not want her to grow up without learning from us the way the world works as created by God.
Bradford, that is indeed scary.
Taking sovereignty away from parents and handing it to the government is Orwellian.
Thanks for sharing your comments and what you've learned, Bradford! =)
I look forward to further discussing this with you over a friendly game of poker (although this time, you and your cute little wife are going down!!!) haha
Don't have time for a long, well-thought-out response, but here are some off-the-cuff thoughts:
1. I graduated with an Elementary Education major and was taught by some very experienced professors. I think those classes were interesting and informative, but honestly, I do not think that they had the ability to "create" a competent teacher.
2. I have taken the state-required teaching exams. The CBEST exam is a JOKE! Anyone with a 3rd grade education and brain should be able to pass that exam. There are other tests, as well, that are specialized for teaching reading, ESL, etc. . . those tests are better, but not necessarily good indicators of whether or not a person will be able to teach.
3. The underlying question is "who is responsible for the training, education and development of a child?" There are many legislators (supporters of this bill would be among them) who would like to answer that with "the government!"
4. A simple cursory observation of California's current educational system results in the obvious conclusion that the quality of education is quickly declining and that students are failing to LEARN at an alarming rate. All teachers in the public school system must be credentialed (or at least in the process through an emergency credential). Regardless of my personal opinions on homeschooling, I believe that it would be absolute foolishness to assume that credentialing automatically creates a superior education. Yes, there are excellent teachers out there who have gone the traditional credentialing route and teach in public schools, but those are not the only excellent teachers.
Okay, there are a ton of other thoughts rumbling around in my head, but I don't have time to write them out right now.
I say, "go for it" to homeschoolers, even if they are not credentialed. However, I think there are certain standards that must be reached - milestones, if you will. At graduation the students should be able to pass an exam that shows they have aquired necessary skill/standards. It doesn't matter if the parents are credentialed as long as they are able to arrange a way for the child to learn what they need to learn.
However, those families still need to pay taxes that go towards public schools, just as private schooled children's parents do.
I'm not crazy about the idea of children being homeschooled to "protect them from the world", for obvious personal reasons, but if a parent wants to raise their child with a certain belief, they are allowed to do so in a free society. (I also expect that the public schools remain secular - in a democratic society v. theocracy).
That's all.
Just throwing in a different perspective.
I agree that kids should have to pass an exam to make sure they are at the expected level. I think they should be tested at the end of each school year, not just when they graduate high school.
In regards to sheltering kids from the world: I think it is important that kids are taught everything about what the world contains (at the appropriate ages of course): Drugs, alcohol, sex, other belief systems, yada yada. But I also think it is important that they are exposed to it on some level, before they leave their parents home, so they can be given the chance to practice making good decisions with their parents around for guidance. And if they make bad decisions (ex: drink under-age), they are still at home and parents can step in and correct their child's behavior and continue to teach them what is right and wrong in a safe environment. Or if they are exposed to a belief system contrary to the one they are raised with, they can be taught how to respond in a mature and non-judgmental manner, while still not waivering in your own belief system.
If a kid is not exposed to "the world" until they encounter their first away from home, public or Christian college environment, they may not have really been able to practice making those good decisions. Consequently, they could end up making bad decisions and go through their rebellious phase away from home and away from the close guidance of their parents. Also, they could be "shocked" that people actually believe something different than they do and treat people really crappy just because they don't think the same way they do. Not all kids will react this way to their first exposure to the world, but it's possible.
Just some more food for thought... =) Gosh, I hope that all made sense!
Insightful.
Let me clarify that when I discussed that I think it is important that kids are exposed to the world while they are still at home, I did not mean while they are being homeschooled. The exposure I was talking about is in a public school setting so that kids can learn to handle everything the world has (good, bad, and ugly) while they still have parents at home to talk about their experiences with and, if necessary, to correct their behavior
That's what I thought you meant.
ok, good. I wrote it during a very boring class last night and when I re-read it, I wasn't sure if it communicated my thoughts correctly =)
i realize i'm a little late responding; however, i was homeschooled during high school, so i feel i have the ability to answer this question concerning its effects.
i feel that it honestly depends on the child. not to boast, but some of us are more intellectually capable to teach ourselves than others: some children need to be taught in a credentialed environment with special programs to help them. others of us are more capable of teaching themselves.
however, like my sister said, no test guarantees that you will or won't be a good teacher.
the idea of credentials isn't bad. but the idea of the force behind them might be.
Having been Elizabeth's high school "principal", I can tell you that a child can be very intelligent, but not necessarily motivated!
Sometimes, it takes going away to university...
;-)
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