Community Corner
Homeschooling: For or Against?
A growing number of local moms are taking on the challenge of teaching their kids at home.
Recently, a friend posted an interesting question on Facebook: “Homeschooling—for or against?"
Based on the ensuing discussion, it seems an increasing number of local moms going this route. Statistics suggest this follows a nationwide trend. According to the National Home Education Research Institute, the rate of homeschooling rose at least seven percent between Spring 2007 and Spring 2010.
The State of New Jersey homeschooling guidelines demonstrate lawmakers' general laissez-faire attitude toward the subject:
“The law does not require or authorize the local board of education to review and approve the curriculum or program of a child educated elsewhere than at school. When parent/guardian educate [sic] a child elsewhere than at school, they are responsible for the educational outcomes of the child. The local board of education is not required or authorized to monitor the outcomes of the child.”
In other words, if we choose to teach our kids at home, we truly are on our own.
So, are you for or against homeschooling? Why? If you support the practice, how do you or would you set your curriculum and measure performance?
Credit for this discussion topic goes to Michelle Johnson, a new Moms Talk contributor.