The Kitchen-Table School: Why Home-Educate
Link to purchaseCornell Notes
Main Notes
- Home schooling now considered an integral part of mainstream education
- The perfect school is a myth; focus on realistic and diligent education
- Home schooling is legal in all fifty states due to parent activism
- Modern home-school movement traces back to alternative schools in 1960s and 1970s
- Initially, alternative schools were politically liberal and activist
- By 1980s, Christian Protestants increasingly chose home schooling
- Catholic, Orthodox Jewish, Jewish, Muslim, Mormon, and secularist families have home-school support organizations
- Parents choose home schooling for diverse reasons, including academic standards, social pressures, and philosophy of education
- Home schooling allows for personal tutoring, efficient use of time, and controlled social/moral environment
- Specific reasons for home schooling include: boredom, fatigue from long bus rides, frustration, lack of challenge, family travel, health problems, need for one-on-one instruction, negative peer pressure, need for quiet, learning problems, intimidation, mismatched instruction rates, emphasis on non-academic activities, waste of gifted students' time, ostracization of different students, conflicting family schedules, loss of academic self-esteem, and parents feeling shut out of the educational system
- Parents can teach both academic subjects and life experiences
- Home schooling allows flexibility for teaching practical skills
- Parents serve as models for acceptable, productive behavior
- Classical education model: teacher and students united in learning an inherited body of knowledge
- Home-school environment better prepares children for the 'real world' than age-segregated peer groups
- High school students don't need to learn everything; selective course choices are normal
- Steps to start home schooling: contact state organization, research materials, plan schedules, visit support groups
- Cautions about choosing support groups: some may be exclusive or predominantly 'unschoolers'
- Classical education is knowledge-focused, not child-focused, unlike 'unschooling'
- Expect a period of adjustment when taking a child out of traditional school
- Realities of home schooling: time-consuming, affects housework, academic interruptions, occasional difficulties
- Personal experience of home schooling: challenges and rewards
- Importance of taking breaks when feeling overwhelmed
- Long-term benefits of home schooling, including strong parent-child relationships and academic success
Cue Column
- How has the perception of home schooling changed over time?
- What is the main goal of home education compared to traditional schooling?
- How did parent activism affect home schooling legality?
- What were the origins of the modern home-school movement?
- How has the demographic of home-schooling families evolved?
- What are the common reasons parents choose to home-school?
- How does home schooling address individual student needs?
- What life skills and behaviors can be taught through home schooling?
- How does the classical education model differ from other approaches?
- In what ways does home schooling prepare children for adult life?
- How should parents approach high school level home schooling?
- What are the first steps to start home schooling?
- What should parents consider when choosing a home-school support group?
- How does classical education differ from 'unschooling'?
- What challenges might families face when transitioning to home schooling?
- What are some day-to-day realities of home schooling?
- How can parents balance personal goals with home schooling responsibilities?
- What strategies can help prevent burnout in home schooling?
- What long-term benefits can home schooling provide for both parents and children?
Summary
This chapter provides a comprehensive overview of home education, tracing its evolution from a fringe activity to an integral part of mainstream education. It begins by acknowledging that while the perfect school is a myth, home education offers unique advantages such as personal tutoring, efficient use of time, and control over the child's social and moral environment.
The text delves into the history of the modern home-school movement, starting with alternative schools in the 1960s and 1970s. It highlights how parent activism led to the legalization of home schooling in all fifty states and how various religious and secular groups have embraced this educational option.
A significant portion of the chapter is dedicated to exploring the myriad reasons why parents choose to home-school. These range from addressing individual learning needs and avoiding negative social pressures to dissatisfaction with traditional school systems and a desire for more family-centered education.
The chapter also provides practical advice on starting home schooling, including contacting state organizations, researching materials, and finding support groups. It contrasts classical education with 'unschooling,' emphasizing the knowledge-focused approach of classical education.
The realities of home schooling are candidly discussed, acknowledging challenges such as time management, household disruptions, and potential social pressures. However, these are balanced against the potential benefits, including stronger family relationships and tailored educational experiences.
The chapter concludes with personal insights from one of the authors, Jessie, sharing her experiences and the long-term benefits she observed from home schooling her children. Her account provides encouragement for parents considering or already engaged in home schooling, emphasizing the rewarding nature of this educational choice despite its challenges.
Action Items
- Obtain information about home-schooling laws in your state
- Get advice on how to remove your child from public or private school
- Request a list of local home-school support groups
- Visit home-schooling forums and websites
- Examine materials from recommended publishers
- Read home-school blogs
- Gather necessary materials to start the school year
- Plan schedules for your family
- Visit different groups to find one that suits your philosophy
- Be aware of differences between classical education and unschooling approaches
- Explain your decision fully to your child
- Be understanding but firm about the change
- Expect and allow for a period of adjustment
- Consider counseling if adjustment issues persist beyond six weeks
- Prepare for time-consuming hard work
- Expect interruptions to academic schedules
- Be ready to handle learning plateaus or difficulties
- Plan for potential lack of support from family or neighbors
- Teach practical skills like home repair, cooking, and car maintenance
- Focus on time management and goal-setting
- Balance academic subjects with real-world applications
- Take breaks when feeling overwhelmed
- Adjust personal goals and expectations
- Remember that home-schooling is a temporary phase of life