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2017 EDUCATION MAGAZINE
LINCOLN DAILY NEWS MARCH 1, 2017
NOTE: A GOOGLE search for home-school
curriculum turned up 658,000 sources.
Q: Did you find your kids test out better (higher) than
kids from public school?
Alice:
This question assumes that we take similar
tests and know where public school kids are at.
Some families do, some don’t. When we do test,
it is to find any gaps in their learning, not for
comparison value.
Teresa:
This really isn’t a question I can answer.
What I can say is that I do feel that my kids
tested to their potential. I signed them up for
standardized testing to monitor their progress
and feel that their progress was consistent with
where they performed while in the private school. I
personally believe that whether a student does well
in public or home-school program is just as much
a reflection of the potential of the student as well as
the support that student receives from the parent.
Q: How well did you test?
Michael:
I have taken my ACT, and it says I’m
very well prepared for college.
Q: Do you take part in any public school activities?
Alice:
Yes, we have worked with amazing teachers
that have gone well above and beyond any job
description to include my kids.
Teresa: Not really. One of mine took a standardized
test during high school with the local public school,
but that’s it. It’s been my understanding that the
public schools haven’t been as receptive to allowing
home-school students participate in organized
activities. One of mine participated in the tech
group for chapel at the private school for one year.
I’ve seen some home-school kids participate with
private schools for sports. There are also activities
(prom, graduation, various clubs) organized by and
for home-schoolers, so not everyone feels the need
to go to the public or private schools for activities.
Michael:
No, I have not.
Q: Do you think your kids miss out on any positive or
negative socialization as a result of home-schooling
vs. public school?
Alice:
Ah, the socialization question! Missing
out or not, I’m quite satisfied with the level of
interaction they have with peers, adults, and
children.
Teresa:
Really, kids are kids and kid politics
are kid politics no matter where they go to school!
And, I’m including home-school kids in that
statement. Socialization doesn’t only happen in the
classrooms, hallways and locker rooms of school
buildings. As long as your kids interact with other
kids, they will be exposed to socialization.
I’d like to think that the relationships we were
able to develop contributed to them being able to
open up to us more than what their traditionally
schooled peers experienced, but I think that some
of that has to do with the personality of each kid
and each parent individually.
Continued
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