Currently there is an epidemic in our school systems. Our children are not receiving the tools necessary to excel academically. Unfortunately, one major cause of this is the focus on socialization. It has become very popular in school systems as well as in general life that focus be put on one’s social skills. The way a student may dress, how much money their parents may earn, or their simple ability to get along with others takes precedence over learning. Those who fit the social model tend to stay in school (public/private), and if nothing less receives some sort of education by means of default. However, those who aren’t so fitting, may be pushed aside, forgot about, or labeled by their peers and professors. As a result these social misfits may be kicked out, drop out, or utterly exist in a school environment not able to keep them caged in. The lack of structure for these students often result in delinquent behavior, miseducation from alternative (quick) schools, and a hole in childhood development. Speculating, not fitting in socially may have been the catalysts in incidents like Columbine and Virginia Tech, where outcasts felt the only way in was to take themselves and others ?out?. Not to say that those who are welcomed into social groups aren’t capable of the same monstrosities, but the likeliness is a lot less. Of course there were many factors that contributed to these events, but what if they could have been prevented by taking a few extra steps when they were small children? Education is a necessity; therefore there should be a place for every student to learn. I propose that home schooling be placed on the ballot of education.
Home schooling is not a new program. It has been instituted by many communities of parents for years. Some parents have made the choice to educate their children at home. Currently, there are tools out there that can assist these parents, such as web-based programs and learning materials. My proposal would be to revamp the program. To this day, home schooling is still an unknown to the general public. Websites dedicated to home schooling can include a definition of the program, provide resourceful tools and materials to aid with teaching, and contacts to support groups for parents and children. During their downtime, substitute teachers can be utilized to teach and/or assist home schooled children and their parents. Also, home schooling can be added as a curriculum choice for students studying to become teachers. These costs are minimal and can be taken from the current means used for education (taxes, grants, financial aid, etc.). School administrators can be required to inspect home conditions to ensure adequate environments (for learning). It should also be mandatory that parents attend teaching classes periodically to keep up to date with appropriate curriculum. Skill testing and evaluations should also be given to students to make sure they are at or above their grade level. Ultimately the goal is to make the public aware of what home schooling is and that alternative methods of teaching and learning are readily available at their convenience.
The offering of alternative schooling is for parents who choose to educate their children at home and for those kids who don’t fit in the private/public school social atmosphere. The hope is that our social parameters will be widened or all together removed. This hopefully can have a positive effect on our school dropout rate, and our countries educational ranking amongst the rest of the world. It can also improve the current methods used for home schooling to ensure success. They will have access to resources and will have been trained on how to use them correctly. Socially, with field trips and public outings (mandatory) in place, home schooled children will develop skills that they can even incorporate in their adult life. Support groups can also be meeting places for parents and children to develop friendships and to learn to network amongst peers. In the beginning the transition will experience its fair share of obstacles to overcome. However, all new things have bumps along the way. With time and success, one can only hope that the myths associated with home schooling will be busted. You don’t have to be religious, your child doesn’t have to be disabled or mentally retarded, your child won’t lack social skills, and parents don’t have to be retired teachers to participate in home schooling. People are afraid of what they don’t know. Sticking to familiarities no matter how bad they may be can be one of the main causes of this countries educational failure. Positive advertisements (commercials, news ads, billboards, etc.) as well as high results from tests and evaluations will hopefully help eliminate the “untruths”.
The future outlook seems positive with the adoption of home school and its upgraded curriculum. No longer will there not be a place for everyone to learn. Socially challenged children may find those like themselves through support groups and together overcome the stigmas given to them in their public/ private school experiences. Not supporting this alternative may breed more and more socially defective individuals who may in turn lose all hope and lash out at the world.
Home schooling is not a new program. It has been instituted by many communities of parents for years. Some parents have made the choice to educate their children at home. Currently, there are tools out there that can assist these parents, such as web-based programs and learning materials. My proposal would be to revamp the program. To this day, home schooling is still an unknown to the general public. Websites dedicated to home schooling can include a definition of the program, provide resourceful tools and materials to aid with teaching, and contacts to support groups for parents and children. During their downtime, substitute teachers can be utilized to teach and/or assist home schooled children and their parents. Also, home schooling can be added as a curriculum choice for students studying to become teachers. These costs are minimal and can be taken from the current means used for education (taxes, grants, financial aid, etc.). School administrators can be required to inspect home conditions to ensure adequate environments (for learning). It should also be mandatory that parents attend teaching classes periodically to keep up to date with appropriate curriculum. Skill testing and evaluations should also be given to students to make sure they are at or above their grade level. Ultimately the goal is to make the public aware of what home schooling is and that alternative methods of teaching and learning are readily available at their convenience.
The offering of alternative schooling is for parents who choose to educate their children at home and for those kids who don’t fit in the private/public school social atmosphere. The hope is that our social parameters will be widened or all together removed. This hopefully can have a positive effect on our school dropout rate, and our countries educational ranking amongst the rest of the world. It can also improve the current methods used for home schooling to ensure success. They will have access to resources and will have been trained on how to use them correctly. Socially, with field trips and public outings (mandatory) in place, home schooled children will develop skills that they can even incorporate in their adult life. Support groups can also be meeting places for parents and children to develop friendships and to learn to network amongst peers. In the beginning the transition will experience its fair share of obstacles to overcome. However, all new things have bumps along the way. With time and success, one can only hope that the myths associated with home schooling will be busted. You don’t have to be religious, your child doesn’t have to be disabled or mentally retarded, your child won’t lack social skills, and parents don’t have to be retired teachers to participate in home schooling. People are afraid of what they don’t know. Sticking to familiarities no matter how bad they may be can be one of the main causes of this countries educational failure. Positive advertisements (commercials, news ads, billboards, etc.) as well as high results from tests and evaluations will hopefully help eliminate the “untruths”.
The future outlook seems positive with the adoption of home school and its upgraded curriculum. No longer will there not be a place for everyone to learn. Socially challenged children may find those like themselves through support groups and together overcome the stigmas given to them in their public/ private school experiences. Not supporting this alternative may breed more and more socially defective individuals who may in turn lose all hope and lash out at the world.
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