Home Schooling in the United States: A Personal Perspective on Educational Trends and Success

Over the years, homeschooling in the United States has seen a remarkable surge in popularity. My experience with a diverse group of five children—ranging in age from 31 to 46—provides a unique lens to understand the impact of this educational trend.

Context and Background

I raised my five children in a rural county in North Georgia. Before I initiated this article, my last three children—my biological and stepchildren—were born long before the current homeschooling trend. My oldest child is now 46, and my youngest, 31. Fortunately, the local public school system offered an adequate education, but as I learned, it was not without its shortcomings.

Public Education Challenges

My older children attended public schools and had relatively better educational experiences, primarily due to the availability of advanced educational materials tailored to their needs. However, as my children progressed through school, I observed a decline in educational quality. For instance, the younger ones brought home worksheets, which seemed disconnected from the educational goals. Moreover, the "group testing" method implemented in schools was questionable. Groups of four students, each taking different classes, were supposed to resolve their answers collaboratively, but the test grade was determined by the individual students chosen at random.

Consequences of Modern Teaching Methods

The group testing method, promoted as a collective effort, proved detrimental to the academic performance of my children. The principal, a PhD in education, argued that the intent was to have the better-performing students teach their peers. However, this rationale neglected the critical role of teachers as primary educators.

Experiences with Home Schooling

While home schooling was not an option at the time, due to my busy schedule and limited resources, I closely monitored my children's educational progress. Despite the shortcomings of public schools, none of my children experienced severe academic challenges. My daughter's experience stands out, as she managed to achieve a 4.0 GPA during her junior year while missing a significant number of school days due to migraines.

Personal Experience and Advocacy

My daughter’s migraines, diagnosed by a neurosurgeon as a form of puberty-related hormone imbalance, necessitated her absence from school for 101 days. This situation heightened my concerns about the quality of public education and its consequences. During a meeting with the Board of Education, I challenged the efficacy of the group testing method and the school's claim that it provided a collectively superior education.

Contesting the “No Child Left Behind” policy, which threatened legal action for “neglect” if my daughter missed school days, I argued that she could maintain her academic excellence despite being absent. The meeting concluded with my pointing out the inconsistency between the school’s claim and the reality of my daughter’s academic achievements.

Parental Involvement and Work Ethic

Despite the challenges, my wife and I never “pushed” our children to succeed. Instead, we instilled a strong work ethic, teaching them that if they didn't want to work, they couldn't afford "nice" things, as nobody would give them away. This approach influenced their success and careers, with one becoming a Walmart Manager with a Master’s in Banking Finance, another the Training Manager for an entertainment company, a third a VP of Software Engineering, a fourth managing an Aldi’s store, and a fifth a Registered Nurse.

Conclusion

The rise of homeschooling in the United States, while not a panacea, offers an alternative to traditional public education. By sharing my experiences, it is hoped that this article can provoke further discussion on the quality and effectiveness of different educational methods. Ultimately, understanding the nuanced challenges and successes of both public and home schooling can contribute to a more informed and supportive educational environment for all children.

Note: This article presents a personal viewpoint and is not intended to be a definitive analysis of educational methodologies.