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The Debate About Classical Homeschool
The arguments get volleyed back and forth between those in favor of classical homeschool and justification for it (and subsequent strategies) and those against. Those against homeschooling assert that it does not live up to the “comprehensive”, consistent, and contiguous education formal schooling can provide. Conversely, the group in favor of classical homeschool measures and practices and against public education these days might speak to the president’s “failed” plan (the No Child Left Behind plan), and how, reportedly no state will have a “highly qualified” teacher in every single core class in every single school. They are disappointed in the educational system, despite efforts on the part of the Department of Education to call said schools on the carpet.
Okay, but let’s make a distinction here: classical homeschool and homeschool by serendipity or wishes alone are different creatures. To just yank a kid from public institutions and decide—though one has less than a college education or training—to “teach” at home may not stand up to the requirements of a well-rounded academic experience. Classical homeschool, however, if done by the rigors of the definition of the phrase, does provide the reading, writing, and ‘rithmetic schema—also called the Trivium, a construct or pattern including grammar and for the first years, logistics and scientific study in the interim years, and language expression, rhetoric, in the later stage years. Also in classical homeschool methodology, or as important in the use of classical educational methods, is the manner of delivery of lessons. In a more inductive, Aristotelian or Sophoclean form, “teachers” lead in, but do not tell learners WHAT to think; rather they show learners HOW to think…for themselves. (This brings back the anti-homeschoolers, in general, who bristle at the notion of individuals of a certain religion conditioning/brainwashing their children in the likes of so many Ruby Ridge clan members.)
But given the quality assistance and superior educational tools, texts, and supplies, just as many non-fanatical folk create successful classical homeschool programs, combining their faith, their ingenuity, and their intelligent and loving treatment of their children (or, now, their students). There are informative help-sites, such as HE & OS—A Libertarian-leaning Edu-blog (cobranchi.com); there are learning and teaching strategy seminars, articles, books, plans, and programs to enhance solo home efforts, and there are, as there will always be high standards and stellar results at public school levels and will always be as representative of positive classical homeschool results, the success stories of those who were home-schooled. If you saw the filmic reportage of the latest National Spelling Bee, for instance, you witnessed how one family, in preparing their young son for finals, brought in several tutors in several languages, so the son might understand the origin of the words he was spelling. This is what works for some in public, some in private, some already exceptionally bright kids. What works for you and yours?
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