Taryn Sorrells

English 1201

Dr. Cassel

04 May 2019

Home School & Public School

“It's not that I feel that school is a good idea gone wrong, but a wrong idea from the word go. It's a

nutty notion that we can have a place where nothing but learning happens, cut off from the rest of life”.

~ John Holt

Before having children, I have always thought of the idea to homeschool my children when I had them.

Since I was never homeschooled I felt the need to find out the academics of homeschool students

compared to the academic performance of public-school students. John Holt a leader and proponent of

the American Home School Movement for Children believed traditional methods used in class rooms did

not work to teach students. Growing up I wish I had the option to be homeschooled but knew that was

impossible. I wasn’t aware until preparing for my research that in some states home school students are

able to participate in extracurricular activities in public schools such as sports. Although there are

stereotypes that being homeschool is like putting students in jail. My research helped me to explore and

understand much about homeschooling and the history behind it.

There are different education options for the type of schooling parents decide best to suit their children

to attend. The types of school can be private schools, public schools, or home school. When it comes

down to the viewpoints of which is best many believe homeschooling children is a form of isolation,
resulting in children not having the social skills as their peers attending public schools. So, how does the

academic performance of home school students compare to the academic performance of public-school

students? There is no significant difference in student’s performance in home school compared to public

schools. Each follow requirements to obtain educational knowledge needed for students to achieve at

the academic level.

States have laws and requirements for parents who choose to homeschool their children. There was a

60 percent increase of parent’s home schooling their children since 2003. Some viewpoints vary about

homeschooling, some believe students have benefits relating to adulting once finished with school.

Some viewers believe it is not a good thing to do, and think homeschooled students are isolated from

their peers and do not get to interact with their peers. While critics think parents do not have the

fundamentals to teach at home, others believe the home school students learn at their own individual

pace rather than competing at a public school with their peers. Families explain reasons for deciding to

homeschool such as public safety in public schools being a concern. Peer pressure, drugs, and

destructive disobedience. Protection for their children from violence in schools such as shootings, and

racism in the African American community are reasons why some parents choose to homeschool.

(Opposing Viewpoints Online Collection, Gale, 2017)

According to Evie Hudak’s article “Public Education Is Preferable to Home Schooling” public education

benefits students more than a home school student. The article argues teachers are certified, have

degrees and license to teach. Laws require certification while parents are not required by law to be

certified for homeschooling. Public schools require students to excel academically to succeed, home

school students are not required to meet curriculum of public student’s academic state testing. Child

hood development is increased, leadership, independence, and extra-curricular activities are provided in

public schools. While Hudak’s article argues public education is the way to go, Brian D Ray’s article

“Homeschool Students Excel in College” claims homeschool students are just as ready for college as
public-school students. Parents becoming certified to teach at home did not change the academic

performance of home school students. Research shows 65 to 80% is the average scores of homeschool

students on standardized academic achievement test versus public school students who are in the 50th

percentile on academic test. Studies have shown social isolation is not an issue nor socialization for

home school students. Both sources are credible and will help with my research essay.

Misconceptions regarding my research topic as stated above are that home school students are isolated

and are not social with peers, when proven in other sources home school students do not have an issue

with socialization or isolation (Ray, Brian D). By 1970 about 13,000 students grades K-12 were

homeschooled by 1980- 2003 1.7- 2.1 million homeschooling students became the fastest growing

method to use to teach students. Home school students excel on ACT’s and SAT’s better than public

school students. College recruiters explain home school students have an advantage.

In early history, 1852 laws made students attend school for a period during certain ages of students. By

1960 public education replaced traditional home education. Viewpoints of religious viewers thought

public schools did not teach of the Bible. By 1962 Supreme Court ruled school teachings of the Bible are

unconstitutional. In 1972 religious viewers object because it did not respect upbringing of families.

Supreme Court agrees but State intervention became required if the mental state of students is

threatened. Reformer John Holt referrers to Homeschooling as “unschooling”. By 1983 families faced

issues for homeschooling for religious and non- religious reasons (Gale 2017).

Legislation require the laws in some states or no laws at all for homeschooling. Children with disabilities

and any children facing issues have welfare advocates for any abuse or harms to homeschool students.

Some families are aided with vouchers from the government for financial support if children are

homeschooled (Gale 2017).

If parents have difficulty with teaching students subjects their able to place their children in their

county’s public schools’ online classes for any subject. For example, a parent who did not speak Spanish,

enrolled her daughter in their local county’s public-school online courses. The mother explained in an

article her daughter plans to travel the world once finished with school. She expressed wanting to speak

a language other than English and be fluent in speaking Spanish. The online class has 24/7 access to help

support if a student needs assistance.

Homeschool students have advocates who strive to make sure solutions are made to meet the needs of

homeschooled students. If there are restrictions from state or local school officials when parents are

limited to educational development. Advocates believe States do not provide parents enough

information to parents who cannot access information about the option to parents who are not yet

homeschooling their students. Public Schools receive funds for supplies in schools for students such as

technology however parents homeschooling does not. Advocates stress that parents pay state taxes that

fund the school districts they live in. Advocates goal is to make sure homeschoolers and their families

receive all the support needed to help home school students learn.

Majority of the sources I have found that support public schools more than home school focus on

socialization. Public schools have peer groups that students can participate in such as government clubs,

and leadership groups that introduce students to diverse backgrounds. Which teachers believe

academically improves the academic performance of students in public schools. Teachers are licensed

and qualified to teach by state laws and regulations. While parents are not required by law to be

certified to teach their children.

With public school’s class room sizes are large and students do not get enough one on one time with

their teachers. There are between 15 to 20 students per one teacher. While home school students have

individual learning styles and instructors to teach them at their own pace. Students in public schools do
not get the help they need compared to home school students. Public schools are cheaper than

homeschooling students. According to the National Center of Education Statistics about 3.3 million

students will graduate from public schools and 0.4 million of home school students will graduate.

For most of my research conducted on my topic majority of my sources are repetitive and appeal to

ethos, pathos and logos because the credible sources I used have alternative views. The audience is

school students to college students.

Based on polling data from the Gallup organization, this chart reflects public perceptions of the quality

of various modes of education, including homeschooling.

© Tribune News Service

There are many options for school but there is no major difference in the academic performance of

home school students and public-school students. Both perform well with their educations. Choosing to

home school or enroll students into public school is a choice based on family’s opinion for what is best

for their children. Critics think homeschooling isolates students and does not allow them to socialize

with their peers, but home school students are not isolated. In fact, if there are concerns of isolation

with homeschool students’ advocates are available to make sure the needs for homeschool students are

being met. Both home school and public students must take ACTs and SATs to be accepted into college.

While conducting the research for this assignment most of the credible sources I have found are opinion

based on parents’ opinions, state opinions, teachers and advocate opinions on what they believe is the

best method to teach students.

 Working Bibliography

"Homeschooling." Opposing Viewpoints Online Collection, Gale, 2017. Opposing Viewpoints in Context,

http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/PC3021900082/OVIC?u=dayt30401&sid=OVIC&xid=de226b

28. Accessed 8 Apr. 2019.

“Public School Wants Homeschool Transcripts.” States News Service, 2015. EBSCOhost,

search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=edsgea&AN=edsgcl.430197019&site=eds-

live.

“There's No Place Like Home: The Return to Homeschooling.” Films Media Group, 2000,

fod.infobase.com/PortalPlaylists.aspx?wID=19259&xtid=10652. Accessed 10 Apr. 2019.b.

Accessed 8 Apr. 2019. Originally published as "Homeschoolers on to College: What Research

Shows Us," The Journal of College Admission, no. 184, Fall 2004, pp. 5-11. V5

Berlatsky, Noah. Personal Interview. 10 April 2019.

Dahlquist, Kari L., et al. “The Choice to Homeschool: Home Educator Perspectives and School District

Options.” Journal of School Leadership, vol. 16, no. 4, June 2006, pp. 354–385. EBSCOhost,

search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=eric&AN=EJ835450&site=eds-live.

English, Rebecca. “Use Your Freedom of Choice: Reasons for Choosing Homeschool in Australia.” Journal

of Unschooling & Alternative Learning, vol. 9, no. 17, Jan. 2015, pp. 1–18. EBSCOhost,

search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ehh&AN=96905685&site=eds-live.

Homeschooling: opposing viewpoints Noah Berlatsky, Noah. Homeschooling: opposing viewpoints,

Detroit, Greenhaven Press, c2010.

Hudak, Evie. "Public Education Is Preferable to Home Schooling." Education, edited by Mary E. Williams,

Greenhaven Press, 2005. Opposing Viewpoints. Opposing Viewpoints in Context,

http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/EJ3010129253/OVIC?u=dayt30401&sid=OVIC&xid=d7f0444

d. Accessed 8 Apr. 2019. Originally published as "Charting a Course for Home Schooling: Public

Setting Still Best," Denver Post, 29 Aug. 1999.

Ray, Brian D. "Homeschool Students Excel in College." Home Schooling, edited by Heidi Williams,

Greenhaven Press, 2007. At Issue. Opposing Viewpoints in Context,

"Views of Homeschooling among US Adults, 2013." Gale Opposing Viewpoints in Context, Gale, 2017.

Opposing Viewpoints in Context,

http://link.galegroup.com.sinclair.ohionet.org/apps/doc/DRNDXS555318448/OVIC?u=dayt3040

1&sid=OVIC&xid=013d0bfb. Accessed 23 Apr. 2019.