Research on the Homeschool Movement, generously provided by Vicki Acker

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Research on the Homeschool Movement

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     MESSAGE:  Anybody ever heard of these national groups?
      AUTHOR:  vicki in nc
        DATE:  Saturday, 2 October 1999, at 8:07 p.m.



I'm doing some personal research on the homeschool movement in the
last 20 years and in an article from the September 20,1993 edition
of National Review is this sentence:

"In fact, the National Home Education Institution( yes, a homeschool
think tank), in a recent nationwide study, "found achievement on standardized
tests was at or above the eightieth percentile" '

Wondering if anybody who was homeschooling in the early 90's knows
about this group?

Also from the US News and World report September 22, 1980 there is
a reference to:

Dorothy Rich founder of The Home and School Institute of Washington,
DC.

are these now defunct? or absorbed into another group?

thanks, vici in nc They do not come up on a web search. thanks, vicki
in nc

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     MESSAGE:  Re: Anybody ever heard of these national groups?
      AUTHOR:  MaryN
        DATE:  Saturday, 2 October 1999, at 10:00 p.m.

 Response To:  Anybody ever heard of these national groups?
      Author:  vicki in nc
        Date:  Saturday, 2 October 1999, at 8:07 p.m.



www.n-h-a.org/
> I'm doing some personal research
> on the homeschool movement in the last
> 20 years and in an article from the
> September 20,1993 edition of National
> Review is this sentence:

> "In fact, the National Home
> Education Institution( yes, a homeschool
> think tank), in a recent nationwide
> study, "found achievement on standardized
> tests was at or above the eightieth
> percentile" '

> Wondering if anybody who was homeschooling
> in the early 90's knows about this group?
>

> Also from the US News and World
> report September 22, 1980 there is a
> reference to:

> Dorothy Rich founder of The Home
> and School Institute of Washington,
> DC.

> are these now defunct? or absorbed
> into another group?

> thanks, vici in nc They do not
> come up on a web search. thanks, vicki
> in nc

               ========================================

     MESSAGE:  Re: Anybody ever heard of these national groups?
      AUTHOR:  Teresa
        DATE:  Saturday, 2 October 1999, at 10:04 p.m.

 Response To:  Anybody ever heard of these national groups?
      Author:  vicki in nc
        Date:  Saturday, 2 October 1999, at 8:07 p.m.



> Dorothy Rich founder of The Home
> and School Institute of Washington,
> DC.

> are these now defunct? or absorbed
> into another group?

> thanks, vici in nc They do not
> come up on a web search.

Vici, I know of Dorothy Rich and The Home & School Institute. She
is the founder of Home & School Institute and the author of MegaSkills.
It's not a homeschooling group. It's to encourage parents to become
more involved in their child's education. MegaSkills is a book (and
workshops are available) that teaches parents activities that they
can do with their children to teach certain values and attitudes that
help children to become successful -confidence, motivation, effort
responsibility, initiative, perseverance, caring, teamwork, common
sense and problem solving. I know there's a website but I don't know
the url - sorry. Teresa

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     MESSAGE:  Re: Anybody ever heard of these national groups?
      AUTHOR:  MaryN
        DATE:  Sunday, 3 October 1999, at 8:22 a.m.

 Response To:  Anybody ever heard of these national groups?
      Author:  vicki in nc
        Date:  Saturday, 2 October 1999, at 8:07 p.m.



I knew I saw this somewhere...here is the link to them.....National
Home Education Instituition. I am posting this for your information
only. You will have to verify their credibility.

> I'm doing some personal research
> on the homeschool movement in the last
> 20 years and in an article from the
> September 20,1993 edition of National
> Review is this sentence:

> "In fact, the National Home
> Education Institution( yes, a homeschool
> think tank), in a recent nationwide
> study, "found achievement on standardized
> tests was at or above the eightieth
> percentile" '

> Wondering if anybody who was homeschooling
> in the early 90's knows about this group?
>

> Also from the US News and World
> report September 22, 1980 there is a
> reference to:

> Dorothy Rich founder of The Home
> and School Institute of Washington,
> DC.

> are these now defunct? or absorbed
> into another group?

> thanks, vici in nc They do not
> come up on a web search. thanks, vicki
> in nc

               ========================================

     MESSAGE:  Here's a link to Megaskills (inside)
      AUTHOR:  Janie G.
        DATE:  Sunday, 3 October 1999, at 9:06 a.m.

 Response To:  Anybody ever heard of these national groups?
      Author:  vicki in nc
        Date:  Saturday, 2 October 1999, at 8:07 p.m.



http://www.megaskillshsi.org/actimidd.htm

               ========================================

     MESSAGE:  Re: thnak you all for your information,now why I need
it.
      AUTHOR:  vicki in nc
        DATE:  Sunday, 3 October 1999, at 10:00 a.m.

 Response To:  Re: Anybody ever heard of these national groups?
      Author:  MaryN
        Date:  Sunday, 3 October 1999, at 8:22 a.m.



I'm just a regular hs mom, and have been only hs for two years.I subscribe
to Homeschooling Education magazine, used to get Practical Homeschooling
and belong to a hs support group that is primarily Christian. I like
to search different hs websites and especially like this one for info
and vegsource for buying and selling and I go to the issues board
there. There is often a very hot topic going about HSLDA,( I am not
a member). I want to go back and look at national magazines and see
who was involved in the hs movement in the early days, and who had/has
the perceived leadership in the movement.This is not to rehash stuff
but many comments are made about HSLDA "well they don't speak for
me" or "we need a national organization dedicated to hs and no other
agenda." I will post later today about some things I found in national
periodicals. Its a slow process because my dates from the magazine
begin in 1978 and go thru today. I have about 60 magazines to look
at . They are as diverse as Mother Earth News, Newsweek, Time , And
Christianity Today.I am researching this information only to be more
informed. I have read lots of HS books, but I want to read about the
movement from outside the movement.(ie: the national periodicals perception).
thanks, vicki in nc

> I knew I saw this somewhere...here
> is the link to them.....National Home
> Education Instituition. I am posting
> this for your information only. You
> will have to verify their credibility.
>

               ========================================

     MESSAGE:  Some of my research about early hs movement form periodicals..
      AUTHOR:  vicki in nc
        DATE:  Sunday, 3 October 1999, at 10:39 a.m.

 Response To:  Re: thnak you all for your information,now why I need
it.
      Author:  vicki in nc
        Date:  Sunday, 3 October 1999, at 10:00 a.m.



I am researching the hs movement and the perceived voices for homeschooling
from the national magazines. I went to the library last week and started
with the Reader's Guide to periodical Literature. The earliest date
I could find were under home education (this is how it was listed,
and changed later to Homeschooling),was 1978. Here are a few articles
and excerpts:

TIME magazine December 4, 1978

John Holt quoted (after stating that he worked within the public school
system for change)

"Holt has now decided to proselytize among parents to keep their children
out of school and to teach them at home" "Holt predicted that within
a decade 500,000 US families will be schooling their children at home."

NEWSWEEK April 16, 1979

John Holt again quoted. This article spoke of homeschool battles in
Iowa with an ongoing legal battle for the Session family.

Also quoted Peter Perchemlides who won a victory to hs his children
in Massachusetts. won with court attorney Wendy Sibbison.

NATIONAL REVIEW Sept 5, 1980 stated Mr. William Ball won an Amish
Homeschool case in 1972 (I'm still looking for this one)

Mr and Mrs. Peter Nobel won a case in Michigan based on 1st amendment
for religious freedom. "Incidently the Nobels are Protestant fundamentalists;but
their cause was taken up by The Catholic League for Religious and
Civil Rights which supplied legal counsel for the defense.

US NEWS AND WORLD REPORT Sept 22,1980 This article quoted homeschool
famiies John Holt quoted Calvert School mentioned "Although 33 states
have laws with provision for home instruction few make it easy" One
of the main objections to homeschooling raised in this article was
"ELITISM"

quoted a Rhode Island father Peter Van Daam, who had been arrested
2 times for violatiing compulsory attendence laws. Van Daam quote,"
Its been a costly decision, but what we've learned from teaching Julia
another person couldn't buy for $100,000." Their suit at the time
of the article was still pending.

NEWSWEEK December 5,1983 Story of the Colfaxes "by some estimates
there are 100,000 kids across the country who are homeschooled"

NEWSWEEK October 31,1994 "A movement once reserved for misanthropes,
missionaries, and religious fundamentalists now embraces such a range
of families that it has become a mainstream alternative to regular
public and private schools". "It remains true that most parents who
choose to withdraw their children from the school system , or never
send them to school in the first place do so for religious reasons."
"...more and more parents are embracing hs for secular reasons." "For
years the courts treated children who were kept home as truants but
hs is legal in every state." "If there was a turning point in the
public image of hs it came in 1987- when Grant Colfax got into Harvard
after having been taught by his parents his entire life. "The Colfaxes
make compelling spokespeople for the movement they worked so much
to legitimize."

more to come, still researching vicki in nc
> used to get Practical Homeschooling
> and belong to a hs support group that
> is primarily Christian. I like to search
> different hs websites and especially
> like this one for info and vegsource
> for buying and selling and I go to the
> issues board there. There is often a
> very hot topic going about HSLDA,( I
> am not a member). I want to go back
> and look at national magazines and see
> who was involved in the hs movement
> in the early days, and who had/has the
> perceived leadership in the movement.This
> is not to rehash stuff but many comments
> are made about HSLDA "well they
> don't speak for me" or "we
> need a national organization dedicated
> to hs and no other agenda." I will
> post later today about some things I
> found in national periodicals. Its a
> slow process because my dates from the
> magazine begin in 1978 and go thru today.
> I have about 60 magazines to look at
> . They are as diverse as Mother Earth
> News, Newsweek, Time , And Christianity
> Today.I am researching this information
> only to be more informed. I have read
> lots of HS books, but I want to read
> about the movement from outside the
> movement.(ie: the national periodicals
> perception). thanks, vicki in nc

               ========================================

     MESSAGE:  Re: Some of my research about early hs movement form
periodicals..
      AUTHOR:  Kathleen Iuzzolino
        DATE:  Sunday, 3 October 1999, at 3:48 p.m.

 Response To:  Some of my research about early hs movement form periodicals..
      Author:  vicki in nc
        Date:  Sunday, 3 October 1999, at 10:39 a.m.



I was influenced greatly in the early '80s by Mothering magazine (back
in its radical days). I specifically remember a many-paged interview
with John Holt and many with Nancy Wallace. You might try getting
their back issues.

Also, the Amish case might be the Michigan DeJonge case.

               ========================================

     MESSAGE:  Re: Some of my research about early hs movement form
periodicals..
      AUTHOR:  Tina in Minneapolis
        DATE:  Sunday, 3 October 1999, at 10:17 p.m.

 Response To:  Some of my research about early hs movement form periodicals..
      Author:  vicki in nc
        Date:  Sunday, 3 October 1999, at 10:39 a.m.



Vicki in NC,

Thanks so much for doing all this research and sharing it, this is
one of those things that I would love to do "if I had the time"!!
Look forward to your next installment....

               ========================================

     MESSAGE:  Re: Installment 2..HS in the national magazines
      AUTHOR:  vicki in nc
        DATE:  Monday, 4 October 1999, at 11:42 a.m.

 Response To:  Re: Some of my research about early hs movement form
periodicals..
      Author:  Tina in Minneapolis
        Date:  Sunday, 3 October 1999, at 10:17 p.m.



Hi all, here are some more magazines and articles on hs, I am posting
as I do them and as you know I also am a hs mom, so I have to post
as I get them together. Here are some more current magazines because
our county library has paper copies only from 1990, prior to that
is on microfiche and that takes longer, so these installments are
not going to be in order. thanks vicki in nc

Newsweek October 10,1994 Online Homeschooling

Article talks about a school called the Puget Sound Community School
which is set up so that (at the time)"10 Washington cyberschool students
meet as a group in libraries, bookstores and parks, demonstrating
that home schooling no longer means learning takes place only at home.
Article says: "This is a virtual school, conceived and led by a former
alternative education teacher-one of a handful of high tech experiments
around the nation. At least four similar schools are opening in California,
Texas, and Michigan, challenging the notion that classrooms need walls,
that home schhols are for religious hermits and that children need
structured courses in order to learn." article quotes statistics of
the National Home Research Institute in Salem, Ore., " that 1 perent
of the nation's 50 mil school-age children are learning at home. The
number has grown 15 pecent a year since 1990." the article further
says "Once the primary domain of either fundamentalist Christians
or free-to-be hippies, home schooling is beginning to appeal to middle-class
families searching for safe havens.The Seattle group has found a way
to appeal to all three."

NATIONAL REVIEW Sept 20, 1993 Better off at Home?- Isabel Lyman

"According to U.S.News and World Report, the number of students taught
at home grew from 10,000 in 1970 to 350,000 in 19991. The Virginia
-based Home School Legal Defense Fund estimated the number at over
400,000." ...homeschoolers have politely turned their backs on the
idea of "professionals " teaching their offspring." "The modern hs
movement had its roots, appropriately, in the 1960's. Unbeknown to
one another, two educators-one a humanist, the other a former Christian
missionary-were reaching the same conclusion:conventional schooling
has largely failed at its task of educating and nurturing children."
Article then cites John Holt and Raymond and Dorothy Moore. Article
then sites studies done by U.S. Dept of Education,(on curriculum suppliers),
A Maine study by a publishing company (70 % of their respondents who
hs had a household income of > research and sharing it, this is one
> of those things that I would love to
> do "if I had the time"!! Look
> forward to your next installment....
>

               ========================================

     MESSAGE:  Installment 2 more periodical "research"
      AUTHOR:  vicki in nc
        DATE:  Thursday, 7 October 1999, at 8:02 p.m.



Here are some more articles from the 1980-90's about homeschooling.
I started with the idea of looking to see who has/had the perceived
leadership in the movement.I am only searching magazines .All prior
to 1990 are on microfishe in my library so they are taking longer
to get. Bear with me. hs= homeschooling

US NEWS AND WORLD REPORT August 19, 1985

Teaching Kids at home causes an uproar: In legislatures and courts
communities are struggling with the role and value of parents as teachers.

Article sites a family in Houston, (with ficticious name) "because
her children are not registered for school anywhere and she is violating
compulsory attendance laws". "A Fort Worth case that was due to start
August 12 will help decide the fate of home education in Texas." "Six
states have changed compulsory attendance laws since January. In most
cases the laws made it easier for children to be taught at home."

"The Fort Worth case is a part of a class action suit... on behalf
of the estimated 5,000 families teaching children at home. Jordan
Lawrence , staff attorney for the Home School Legal Defense Association
(HSLDA) , representing 1,650 families across the U.S." is quoted in
this article.

"in the mid 1970's ... John Holt led the cry for homeschooling attracting
thousands of parents who felt organized schooling was not working
for thier children." Article mentions Holt's Growing without Schooling
newsletter.

"The most recent push for homeschooling comes from fundamentalist
Christians who want to give their children a God-centered education
at home."

article mentions different state laws and socialization issues.

NEWSWEEK March 25, 1985

Education at Home : A Showdown in Texas

"Last week Fort Worth attorney Shelby Sharpe filed a class action
lawsuit on behalf of homeschoolers aimed at clarifying the state law."

"it would force the court to rule... that their homes are private
schools and exempt from attendence laws."

"38 states now permit hs in some form "

The Washington based HSLDA claims 1,531 member families in 44 states."

"John Holt sends a newsletter to 4,900 subscribers nationwide"

"Most homeschoolers are Christian fundamentalists...but others also
withdraw for academic reasons..."

PARENTS MAGAZINE November 1995

article was "From our readers column" Simply was a question asked
by a previous reader and several people responded on the pros and
cons of hs. The magazine gave two national address for readers to
contact for more information on hs. they were The National Homeschool
Association and the Home School Legal Defense Association

VITAL SPEECHES OF THE DAY Ocober 1,1995

Samuel Blumfeld addressing the Montana Homeschool Association.

"Why Homeschooling is Important for America"

the article is primarily a comparison of humanism as man's law and
the Bible as God's law." Blumfeld takes a fundamentalist reason for
hs'ing.

Blumfeld often quotes Dr. Rousas J. Rushdoony and a book by Rushdoony.Speech
ends with Blumfeld's vision of no public schools and private education
only.

NEWSWEEK Jan 10,1994 In a class of their own :Education for exceptionally
gifted children, the best school can be the one at home.

"although there are no statistics on how many gifted students are
turning to hs , educators who work with such kids say they believe
the number is increasing."

article quoted Kathi Kearney from Columbia University( who works with
hs'ers).

"Although it sounds radical hs'ing is legal in all 50 states."

"350,000 children are hs'ed."

"A majority come from fundamentalist families who want to teach morality
along with the three R's. Other parents just want their kids out of
deteriorating public schools, says Patrick Farenga of Holt Assocaites
in Cambridge, Mass."

That's it for now, later.

vicki in nc

               ========================================

     MESSAGE:  Installment 3:Homeschool "Research"
      AUTHOR:  vicki in nc
        DATE:  Sunday, 10 October 1999, at 8:51 p.m.



Once again I am posting several excerpts from national magazines over
the last 20 years. I am trying to see if any particular person or
group has or had the perceived leadership of the movement.I am looking
at magazines outside of the hs movement.

BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS MARCH 1995 When School is at home

Article quotes National Homeschool Association spokesperson "as recieving
as many as 3,000 inquiries a month"

Atticle cites Brian Ray , President of the National Home Education
Research Institute and his statistics that hs students score between
65-80% on standardized tests as compared to the nat'l public scores
of 50%.Article says Ray has been researching homeschooling since 1985.

Article questions socialization but gives examples of outside activities
hs'ers are involved in. "Current research says...homeschool kids may
be better off than children who are learning social behavior in school"
cites a University of Florida researcher and his study that " found
that the traditional schooled students tended to be considerably more
agressive, loud, and competitive than were hs'ers."

article refers readers to National Homeschool Asssociation HSLDA Holt
Associates" Growing Without Schooling" and National Home Education
Research Institute.

THE EDUCATION DIGEST November 1995

Home-Schooled Kids in Public -School Activities from School Board
News

Article starts by citing a homeschool student who will be on the track
Junior Olympic team representing a public high school. Idaho child
was originally denied the track team activity by the state's high
school association (IHSAA). Then Idaho legislature enacted a "dual
enrollment" bill by Rep. Fred Tilmen whose own children are hs'ed."
"The IHSAA angry about the law threatened to drop sports eligibility
for the state's public school students."

"The issues arising in how far public schools can open their doors
to home-schoolers include science labs, music lessons, and extracurricular
activities, but sports gets the most attention, says Scott Somerville,
a lawyer with HSLDA."

estimates 500,000 to one million or 2 percent of the school population
is hs'ed.

article sites a fight in South Carolina and quotes Zan Taylor ,leader
in the SC Assocaition of Independent Homeschools.

also discusses "special centers for Homeschoolers. In Battle Ground,
Washington for example ,The Home-Link Technology Center provides computer
instruction to 300 Hs'er's and their parents. The center which opened
in 1993 also offers field trips, sponsors a K-6 chess team, and counsels
high school age students on meeting graduation requirements.The center
is fully financed through state education dollars,staffed by school
district teachers, and overseen by a parent's board."

US NEWS AND WORLD REPORT DECEMBER 9,1991 cover "The flight from public
schools"

Article :The Exodus(article looks at the private school landscape,
and includes hs)

"the number of students educated at home has swelled from 10,000 in
1970 to over 300,000 today, an increase that shows no sign of slackening."

"About 75 % of homeschoolers are conservative Christians..."

"still others believe that public schools don't set high enough acedemic
standards. But all homeschoolers seem to share a belief that education
is integral to family life."

"A dramatic decline in the legal barriers to hs'ing has helped the
movement's recent surge. Spurred by an agressive home-school lobby
, no fewer than 34 states have eased the way for homeschooling, primarily
by relaxing teacher-training and curriculum requirements."

"At its best ,homeschooling has many of the attributes that school
reformers have sought for public schools, including more personal
attention and more hands-on learning."

"While the National Eduation Association (NEA) and other public education
groups oppose homeschooling, many school systems have overcome the
intense antagonism of a decade ago and are making peace with families
who keep their kids at home. This is partly because a number of states
now grant aid to school systems offering hs'ing services."

"...many homeschoolers are wary."If government gives us money, says
Michael Farris , founder of HSLDA"They will want to call the shots."

TIME OCTOBER 22,1990

Parent-Teacher Association

"Motivated by the notion that learning should be unpolluted by the
classroom, home-schooling is an eccentricity that has become mainstream."

Article starts by describing two children. One

"Solon Sadaway, 11, has never been to school...Solon taught himself
to read last year...and learned basic arithmetic by handling the cash
register at his parents health food store."

"Upwards of 500,000 US children are being schooled at home, a tenfold
increase in a decade."

"We have everything from Black Muslims to Jews to one woman who is
a cross between a Zen Buddist and Winnie-the -Pooh," says Michael
Farris , president of HSLDA ,which tracks developments across the
country."

"Homeschooling may have fought for the right to exist in the 80's
, but as the sheer numbers grow, the battle now is over how much regulation
is required."

"Issues like teaching qualifications have led to more than 100 court
cases across the country, in th 7 years that Farris' organzation has
been in existance."

"The backbone of the hs movement is the Christian Fundamentalist movement...other
parents reject public education for more conventional resons:poor
acedemic standards,overcrowding,safety.The most uncompromising group
call themselves"unschoolers",: viewing as anathema any notion of educational
structure."

NEWSWEEK FEBRUARY 1,1988

Education:Home Sweet Harvard The California Colfaxes Teach their children
well.

This is an excellent article on the Colfaxes, their methods and their
family.

more, later. vicki in nc

               ========================================

     MESSAGE:  Homeschool in National Magazines Installment #4
      AUTHOR:  vicki in nc
        DATE:  Friday, 15 October 1999, at 2:25 p.m.



Phi Delta Kappan December 1994

Courtside: Home Sweet School by Perry A. Zirkel

I will quote the article directly because it shows some of the court
and legislative developments of hs laws in Texas.

"At the turn of the century, only 10% of the school age children in
Texas attended public school."

In 1915 Texas enacted compulsory education. "exempting any child in
attendance upon a private or parochial school or who is being properly
instructed by a private tutor."

"In 1923 the legislature amended the exemption to drop the private-tutor
option and to add a requirement of instruction in good citixenship."
The clear majority (estimated to be in excess of 70%) of the school
age population continued to be taught at home."

"In 1981 the Texas Education Agency announced its new position that
home instruction and correspondence courses did not qualify for the
private or parochial exemption." As a result of the agencies direction
, school districts initiated approximately 150 truancy proscecutions
of families tht were educating their children at home."

The article goes on to say in 1985 a class action lawsuit was filed
not only by hs parents but curriculum providers .

In 1986 the state board of education asked the legislature to define
the terms "private or parochial schools." The board set standards
to be met, the legislature did not resolve the issue.

In court later ruled for the plaintiffs ..."concluding that the prosecutions
consituted arbitrary enforcement and were in violation of the 14th
amendment of due processs and equal protection." the school boards
appealed.

the homeschoolers and others again won in appellate court.

"inasmuch as nonpublic schools were subject to minimal scrutiny, the
appeals court found that the sole basis for the prosecution of the
plaintiffs was the location of the instuctional program."

the defendants appealed again in 1992 to the Texas Supreme Court and
lost

"Although issues of home instruction are generally better resolved
in the legislative than in the judicial arena , the specifics of this
case remind us of the fundamental question: What is a "school?"'

US NEWS AND WORLD REPORT Feb. 12, 1996

Homeschool Battles: Clashes grow as some in the movement seek access
to public schools By Dana Hawkins

Article cites a battle in Massachusetts

"At issue : a request by homeschoolers to join in particular classes
and activities..."

A public school parent Quote: "It's not fair for them to want the
best of what the public school has to offer without paying the dues."

homeschool parent quote: "We were told that we weren't part of the
school community ...We never expected it to become so ugly."

"In school districts across the country , a growing number of the
exploding population of homeschoolers would like to participate in
at least some activities at traditional schools."

article cites a ongoing court case in Oklahoma, where hs parents have
sued a school district.

Dept. of Education figures : more than 1/2 million homeschoolers,
a 30 percent increase in 1991 figures. "Two years ago ,I thought this
whole thing whould phase out," says Patricia Lines, a senior research
analyst who monitors hs trends."

"You have homeschoolers who are Pentacostal snake handlers in the
hills of West Virginia, New Age philosophy professors at Amherst College
and everything in between," says Scott Somerville , an attorney at
HSLDA."

Article cites test score statistics from Brian Ray at the National
Home Education Research Institute.

Ray also said that 76 percent of hs parents in Washington, Utah, and
Nevada said they wanted to enroll their child part -time in public
or private schools. article says, "One reason:Students from the initial
hs boom of the early 1980's are now in high school, and their parents
are uncomfortable with teaching tougher courses. It's one thing to
drill a child in arithmetic:it's another to teach advanced calculus."

" the other reason: kids love after-school activities."

"most states resist the idea of hs'er's taking courses or participating
in extracurricular activities."

article cites several states which do allow ps participation.

NATIONAL REVIEW Sept.30,1996 magazine has a large section devoted
to back to school topics.

Back at the Ranch by Isabel Lyman

Interesting personal article on homeschooling

one quote. " In true Jimmy Stewart fashion,it's a wonderful life."

CHRISTIANITY TODAY July 17,1995

Home schooling grows up: Teaching at home moves to the cutting edge
of education by John W. Kennedy

"While an estimated 80 percent of the one million home-educated students
in the United States are Christian, reasons for opting out of public
education now extend beyond religion."

"Home schooling has become a far more manageable exercise with new
curriculums on the market , greater access to public school programs,
and a boom in affordable home-computer technology."

"Patricia Lines, policy analyst with the U.S.Dept. of Education, says
few public school officials see home schooling as a threat,because
the movement involves less than 2% of the nation's 50 million school-age
children. Home schooling does not influence real estate taxes, a principle
source of income for public education. Also, many states now count
home-schooled children in public-educational, per student funding
formulas."

article remarks on achievement test scores, and socialization issues
in a positive light.

article discusses textbookS, and publishers quotes Michael Farris
of HSLDA ," Now it's a huge, huge business. If you go to a home-school
book fair, there are probably 150 exibitors."

Now that home-schooling families have won the battle for legitimacy,
they are shifting their emphasis toward redefining educational excellence.
And in some cases , they are going beyond "back to basics" to a more
classical model of instruction."

"Douglas Jones, coauthor of CLASSICAL EDUCATION AND THE HOME SCHOOL
argues that removing a child from public school has no educational
benefit in itself. Jones says "education is a discipline ,and it should
involve hard work."

"although modern hs families initially earned a reputation for being
countercultural and separatistic ... a study by the Education Commission
of the States in Denver has found that hs'er's are not unplugged from
the culture at large but rather may be early adopters of new trends
and technology."

"one-third of hs students return to traditional schools, especially
during high school."

article discusses political and legal battles.

HSLDA Farris: "We are in court a lot on child abuse and neglect charges,
which swirl around the home-schooling lifestyle." article quotes Alexis
Crow, legal coordinator for the Rutherford Institute and adds they
provide legal assistance at no charge. cites cases by Rutherford.
"Based on recent questions from parents to Rutherford , Crow anticipates
that an emerging concern is the legality of one parent teaching students
from several families at home. Crow believes the issue will wind up
in litigation soon...Crow says ,"If they have the right to home school
their child, they have the right to delegate that authority to someone
else as they see fit."

more to come. vicki in nc

               ========================================

     MESSAGE:  Homeschool in the National Periodicals: Installment
#6
      AUTHOR:  vicki in nc
        DATE:  Sunday, 24 October 1999, at 6:47 p.m.



Parents October 1997

Parents report-You are there Photos by Annie G Belt Text by Julie
K. Barrett

The Homeschooling Boom

"Here's a look at 3 different hs families, in the kitchens, backyards,
and living rooms that are their classrooms."

These are great photos showing families and homeschooling lifestyle.
Had no quotes from homeschool "leaders".But the article ended with
"the risks of homeschooling." They are: 1. Home educators are not
certified. 2.While 41 states require standardized tests...only 13
have a set curriculum."Home schoolers are well-intentioned, but they
may be depriving their kids of important educational resources," says
Ann Duffy, of Parents for Public Schools. 3. of the nation's 3,688
colleges, only about 450 have accepted hs kids so far."

National Review Sept 14,1998 Isabel Lyman Mrs Lyman is a hs mom.

Not Home Alone

Mrs. Lyman cites a homeschool family in New Mexico where the mom began
hs'ing 22 years ago and has a daughter who graduated with a master's
degree at 16.

Article quotes HSLDA- "Fifteen years ago homeschooling was a criminal
act in the majority of all 50 states", says Scott Somerville,one of
the six attorney's on the HSLDA staff.

"once homeschoolers were largely members of the religious right...and
of the counterculture left...Now a broad array of Americans homeschool
and support networks exist for a variety of groups.'

"In addition a new cadre of religious folks are homeschooling.(Follows
with Jews, Muslims,Catholics,Eastern Orthodox)

"But the most successful grassroots educational movement is not without
growing pains." "In one corner are the "unschoolers"...and in other
are the traditionalists,who favor a "school at home" approach... "There
are two ongoing disagreements between the factions." "one involves...statements
of faith." "The second difference is that traditional minded home
educators are uncomfortable with the unschoolers laissez-faire attitude."
"But such disagreements are natural in a movement that has taken its
place in the mainstream and now includes parents with diverse motivations
and methods.Such are the hazards of growing up."

Christianity Today July 14, 1997 Homeschooling Keeps Growing John
W. Kennedy

Article is about the 103 page report by Brian P. Ray of the Oregon
based National Home Education Research Institute

"HS growth appears to be 15% a year."

article quotes Patricia Lines of the U.S. Department of Education."Homeschooling
is not for everyone,especially parents who have limited social and
financial resources."

Ray's report has the following stats reported in the article: Median
income $43,000 16% of hs moms work an average of 14 hours outside
the home 95% are white 90% are Christian

Ray quotes: "These parents accept and fulfill their responsibility
to personally raise and educate their children." "They do not excessively
depend on their village."

Lack of socialization has been a factor in public educators arguments
against hs.

Study found: Home educated students are involved in outside activities
an average of 5 per week. 84% field trips 48% group sports 47% music
classes 33% volunteer work

The New Republic April 6, 1998

(this particular article shows a negative side of homeschooling, I
will quote extensively.)

Schools Out:Does Homeschooling Make the Grade? Katherine Pfleger

Story begins with a public school principal , Carole Kennedy who's
concerned about a previous student.His parents pulled him out of school

"Now says Kennnedy, "his former friends say he's doing nothing all
day."

"...as the popularity of homeschooling continues to increase, so does
the likelihood that well-meaning parents who lack the know-how, time,
or resources to be effective teachers-or worse, parents who actively
have malign motives for keeping their kids out of school-will deprive
their children of needed social skills and a decent education."

"while homeschooling enthusiasts insist that children taught at home
score higher on tests and get into better colleges, a closer look
at research suggests there is little evidence either way." article
then cites the Brian Ray study, and has an NEA official say the study
is flawed for several reasons.

"In order to access homeschooling's effectiveness, researchers need
full access to home-schooled children." article says most parents
do not want this access and continues:

"They even have a lobby,part of the 50,000 member HSLDA, dedicated
to blocking the next logical step that would follow further studies:the
creation of national standards that would ensure all homeschooled
kids are getting at least a rudimentary education."

"The Department of Education has traditionally left the administration
of compulsory education to local government, and it shows no inclination
to get involved now."

"But instead of glowing descriptions of 7 year old prodigies, the
public needs to hear about the over-extended mothers, like the one
I interviewed..." "and the public needs to hear about the public school
teachers...struggling to reeducate a student who fell behind during
the 2 years his mother taught him at home. This child's remedial education,will
cost the taxpayers money.That,if nothing else,should get the public's
attention."

Newsweek October 5,1998 COVER:HOMESCHOOLING More Than A Million Kids
And Growing-Can It Work For Your Family?

Story -Learning at home:Does it Pass the Test?

7 PAGE STORY.

"In a recent Newsweek poll 59% of those surveyed said homeschooled
kids were at least as well educated as students in traditional schools."

"Their lesson plans are as diverse as their reasons for dropping out
of the system,but what unites all these parents is a belief that they
can do a better job at home than trained educators in a conventional
school."

"Americans are becoming fussy consumers, rather than trusting captives
of a state monopoly they've declared their independence and are taking
matters into their own hands." --- Chester Finn, Sr. Fellow at the
Hudson Institute.

article cites many hs resources including HSLDA Home Education Magazine,Net
site: School is dead-Learn in Freedom article is excellent.

in addition to the main story there is a one page article by David
Gutterson author of "Family Matters:why Homeschooling Makes Sense"

No Longe A Fringe Movement in summary, Gutterson a public school teacher
who homeschooled his kids (some of the time) shows how the public
has gone from reacting to the movement as freakish to accepting it.
Gutterson makes a strong point for the work involved by the parents
who undertake the education of their children, and how some do give
up.

all for now, later, vicki in nc


               ========================================

     MESSAGE:  This is great stuff. Thanks.
      AUTHOR:  Karl M. Bunday
        DATE:  Monday, 25 October 1999, at 6:15 a.m.

 Response To:  Homeschool in the National Periodicals: Installment
#6
      Author:  vicki in nc
        Date:  Sunday, 24 October 1999, at 6:47 p.m.



Vicki,

I got your private E-mail in response to my message about possibly
posting your research results on the Web, which I think would be helpful
to many people. I would be glad to devote Web space on my site to
this. I think I can get some help from one of my site's new interns
(that's a new program I have just developed) to do page coding and
the like so that the research results you've turned up are formatted
for the Web. I REALLY appreciate this research of yours. That 1997
Parents magazine article had a CRIMINAL sidebar, in my opinion, so
I work every day to refute it with my Colleges That Admit Homeschoolers
FAQ.

Below is the link to the internship program page, newly posted in
the last twenty-four hours.

Karl M. Bunday "pray for us" 2 Thessalonians 3:1

P.O. Box 674, Panchiao 220, TAIWAN

http://learninfreedom.org/sidlifinterns.html

The string ".de" never occurs in my genuine E-mail addresses.


               ========================================

     MESSAGE:  May I Be Directed to #5 ?
      AUTHOR:  Clare
        DATE:  Monday, 25 October 1999, at 11:03 a.m.

 Response To:  Homeschool in the National Periodicals: Installment
#6
      Author:  vicki in nc
        Date:  Sunday, 24 October 1999, at 6:47 p.m.



I seem to have missed Vicki's fifth report and cannot find it. Help,
please?

Vicki, are you trying to make an exhaustive list of these articles?
I remember a very nice article in Harrowsmith magazine (date unremembered)
focussing on a single hs family, but perhaps you wrote of it in your
fifth report.


               ========================================

     MESSAGE:  Re: May I Be Directed to #5 ?
      AUTHOR:  vicki in nc
        DATE:  Monday, 25 October 1999, at 5:09 p.m.

 Response To:  May I Be Directed to #5 ?
      Author:  Clare
        Date:  Monday, 25 October 1999, at 11:03 a.m.



Hi Clare , Thanks, you are right, should have been number 5. as for
trying to get an exhaustive list, not really, I just started some
"research" on my own, and wanted to share it with the hs community.
I don't have the Harrowsmith Article, and I'll be limited by time
and my local library's archives. thanks, vicki in nc

> I seem to have missed Vicki's fifth
> report and cannot find it. Help, please?
>

> Vicki, are you trying to make an
> exhaustive list of these articles? I
> remember a very nice article in Harrowsmith
> magazine (date unremembered) focussing
> on a single hs family, but perhaps you
> wrote of it in your fifth report.

>

               ========================================


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