Home Schools Run by Well Meaning Amateurs: Part 1

by Valorie Delp | More from this Blogger

30 Sep 2006 02:58 PM

I was searching for something to blog on when I came across this article from the NEA. In big bold letters it claims, "Schools with Good Teachers are Best Suited to Shape Young Minds." It summarizes why, in this man's opinion, homeschooling is simply a bad idea.

Our friend, David the custodian at a public school in Illinois, says that teachers have the right training and are the best prepared to teach our children. Parents simply don't have enough knowledge to teach in all academic areas.

What's interesting is that public school teachers don't agree:

71% of school teachers felt adequately prepared to maintain discipline and order in the classroom.

41% felt trained in implementing new teaching methods in the classroom.

36% felt prepared to implement state standards.

28% felt prepared to use appropriate assessment techniques.

20% felt prepared to integrate technology in the classroom.

Let's do a little math. If I sent my daughter to the local public school, she could end up in any one of 8 classrooms. 1.6 of those possible 8 teachers she could have feels like they can integrate technology in her classroom. 2.88 of the teachers she could have feel like they can implement state standards. In fact, according to these statistics she is more likely to get a teacher who doesn't feel like they are adequately trained in anything except classroom management. That sounds like a big risk to me.

David, the friendly custodian, further asks, "How can parents feel as if they have enough knowledge in every academic subject area to teach their child?" I am actually trained as a teacher but I honestly believe it's not necessary in order to home school your child. You can home school your child because you know them. You don't have to know all the learning styles and how to reach each kid--you just need to know how to reach yours.

You also don't need "expert" knowledge in every academic subject area. Most teachers don't have it at the elementary level. Furthermore, many teachers (at least here) end up teaching in an area that they're not certified in or was not their major. Why? Because principals, whether they'll admit it or not, recognize that you don't have to be an expert to ignite a mind and spark further investigation.

To be continued. . .

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Learn more about Valorie Delp

Hello everybody! My name is Valorie and I am one busy lady! When I'm not writing or editing for families, I am busy trying to get my brood of 5 in line.

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Tristi Pinkston (10839) 30 Sep 2006 03:56 PM

I totally agree. I have always felt that I'm the best suited to teach my child because I know them. I know what makes them tick and how they best accept new concepts. And when we hit a question that I don't know the answer to, we sit down and learn it together. It doesn't matter if I don't already know it -- we make it a team effort. Great blog.

Brandie (1720) 30 Sep 2006 06:37 PM

I think that David assumes teachers know 100% of the content they teach, when in fact, most teachers don't know it all ... they have to review it before they teach it. They are human afterall, and in my state, a teaching degree for elementary education is for kindergarten through 8th grade! I think very few people in the world, teachers and non-teachers, would be able to *know everything that you might possibly have to teach to kindergartners all the way through 8th grade! Such a big span! =) So I feel I am just as qualified to teach my children as the teachers are because I can review the text prior to reading it as well ... And as far as classroom management skills, well, since I don't have an entire classroom, I think that's a moot point! LOL! That's my story, and that's what I tell people when they ask if I'm "qualified"

gailanderic (10) 16 Apr 2007 08:15 AM

My husband is "qualified" to be a teacher here in our state. When in between jobs, he was interviewed for a 4th grade history teacher and offered the job! He has no experience in teaching children. Now don't get me wrong, my husband's a very qualified man with his MA in Social Servcices and having served the military for 9 years. But with no experience in teaching, he was offered a job at the local public school. AS my husband says now, Luckly for the children, he didn't accept the position.

A four year degree doesn't qualify anyone to educate another. Love and commitment for learning is the qualifing factor. However, maybe if David here, had a four year degree he would have a little more sense then to say such mentaly ignorant comments and wouldn't be stuck working as a janitor in a public school.

Valorie Delp (49340) 16 Apr 2007 08:45 AM

Don't get me wrong. . .I do love the janitors at schools. In fact, a school couldn't run without them. But I do find it ironic that someone who claims to understand what it takes to teach is a janitor. Thanks for your comments!