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Family
Matters: Why Homeschooling Makes Sense
Reviewed by Kah Ying Choo
As a public high school English teacher, David Guterson possesses
an insider glimpse into the problems of our education system. One of the
core weaknesses of the education system is the restriction of learning
within the four walls of the classroom.
In his
book, Guterson (1993) not only justifies his decision to
homeschool his children, but also explores the critical role of
homeschooling in challenging the premises of public education.
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Although people choose to homeschool
their children for a variety of reasons, one of the key
reasons is their disillusionment with public education. With its
standardized curriculum that is designated for the masses, the education
system imposes its stamp of uniformity on every student, with little
respect to their distinctive strengths and weaknesses.
In contrast, homeschooling offers a
child-centered curriculum that
promotes the children’s pursuit of their interests. Rather than
impose their expectations of education on their children, parents allow
their children to take the initiative in the learning process by
guiding them in the right direction.
Guterson and his children follow the latter’s interest
by going on
excursions and exploring topics such as salmon or flight
in detail. This type of education is premised on the belief that
children are spontaneous learners who are intrinsically motivated to
learn in a conducive environment. Instead of educating their
children for future employment, homeschoolers are concerned with the
cultivation of the love of learning by igniting all of the body’s
senses (Guterson, 1993).
In spite of its orthodox methods of learning,
homeschooling has shown
that it is academically superior to
public education. According to Guterson’s father (described in
the book, a criminal lawyer who has defended homeschoolers in many
cases) homeschoolers have higher test scores than their counterparts in
public education. Although the public is concerned that many of
the parents are not certified for teaching, Guterson, Sr. points out
that that homeschoolers perform equally well on the standardized tests,
regardless of their parents’ academic levels and credentials (in
Guterson, 1993).
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Guterson (1993) also addresses
another
prevalent concern that homeschoolers are not given adequate
opportunities to socialize with their peers. According to Guterson
(1993), schools often provide a negative social environment with its
emphasis on forming cliques, competition and tracking. On the
other hand, homeschoolers are liberated from the pressures of school
life to form their own perceptions in their interaction with people of
all ages within the community. Without the negative influences,
properly taught homeschoolers are more likely than their counterparts in
public education to develop sympathy and compassion towards others.
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Nonetheless, it is important to note
that
Guterson (1993) is not a completely biased author who paints
an idyllic portrait of homeschooling. In Chapter Seven, he depicts
the economic sacrifices made by homeschoolers who have to devote a
substantial amount of time and energy in their children’s education.
Because they homeschool their children, homeschooling parents do not
have a two-person income. Thus, the decision to homeschool one’s
children involves a serious undertaking that affects other aspects of
life.
In order to overcome financial difficulties and
obstacles, Guterson
(1993) highlights the use of the Internet,
public libraries and low-cost community resources that can be integrated
into the education. At the same time, he also proposes an
interesting idea that brings homeschoolers and public schools together
by allowing homeschoolers to use public school resources.
Ultimately, Guterson’s work is a celebration of
an alternative
conception of education and learning. He believes that
homeschooling offers an education that extends beyond the artificial
environment of schools and exposes children to the real world that
abounds with learning opportunities. Even more significantly, he
supports homeschooling as a parent and a teacher because it combines the
best of both worlds (family and school): “[Parents of my students] love
their children with a depth I can’t match; and finally teaching is an
act of love before it is anything else” (p. 10).
Guterson, D. (1993). Family matters:
Why homeschooling makes sense. San Diego: Harcourt, Brace &
Company.
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