HOMESCHOOLING/ Educating Across the Generations

Homeschoolers are very competitive when it comes to applying for college. Many top universities (such as Harvard and Notre Dame) have a special admissions counselor just for homeschoolers. There are sometimes complications, a few extra hurdles to jump in the process, but no substantial disadvantage.

Stanford University has noted an "intellectual vitality" that they have found uniquely among homeschoolers. Homeschooling has a tendency to encourage independent inquiry and learning. Although the rigidity of the typical American high school is not always conducive to unconventional learning styles and interests, colleges are by their nature more open to creative possibilities, and so homeschoolers often find college to be a natural culmination of their studies.

On the other hand, college can be a bit of an adjustment for homeschoolers, especially if they're not used to a highly structured schedule and study load. Generally, they seem to adapt as well as other students, though many parents have their children take some outside classes during high school partly to help them be better prepared. Our state law provides for homeschoolers to take two classes per semester in the public high schools. Many parents have found this to be a good experience for their children.

Do homeschoolers go it alone, or do they gravitate toward other families with similar interests?

Homeschoolers tend to be very active with other homeschool families, in their parishes or church communities and in their communities in general. In our area there is a large variety of activities available to homeschool families (many specifically intended for homeschoolers) – far more than one family could be involved in.

One significant example is a local Christian homeschool group that runs a sports league that offers competitive basketball, volleyball, football, track and more. Their teams compete against local private schools and other homeschool groups.

Many homeschool families have their children in music lessons, gymnastics, dance or non-school-based sports leagues. Homeschoolers’ schedules tend to offer a great deal of flexibility for scheduling volunteer work or paying jobs. Our family has found this particularly helpful in our involvement with our local public library.

Homeschoolers frequently participate in annual academic competitions that involve public and private schools as well. My own children have competed in the National Geographic Bee, Poetry Out Loud and the Junior Classical League Convention.

Is homeschooling a long-term solution to education in this country, especially given the centuries-old Catholic school tradition in the U.S.? What about banding together to form private schools of your own?

I would say that it is and it isn’t a long-term solution. I think there are some unique aspects of homeschooling that will make it appealing in the future too. On the other hand, homeschooling is already having an impact, and I believe will continue to have an impact on changes made within the school system which may make that a more appealing option in the future. Besides forcing some creative thinking in schools simply because it offers an alternative, I believe that homeschooling will have a second wave of influence on the school system because a number of homeschool graduates will end up taking their enthusiasm for learning back into the classrooms by becoming teachers themselves.

The question about forming private schools is a complicated one. There are many small private schools that have been formed alongside the homeschool movement. Because of financial challenges and personality differences, these are difficult to start and perhaps even harder to maintain. Basically, it’s easier to homeschool your own family than to start a school.

Legally, the possibilities vary quite a bit according to the compulsory education laws within each state. In Wisconsin, for example, there’s a large gap between homeschoolers (who are lightly regulated) and private schools (which are heavily regulated) with nothing really in-between (like part-time schools or cooperatives) because homeschoolers are not allowed to homeschool someone outside their immediate family.