Re:Home schooling's rise from fringe to fastest-growing form...
by bsder on Tuesday October 31, 2023 @05:32PM
(#38091683)
> A huge +1 to this, from observing the many friends I have who do homeschooling. Judging by their results -- super-smart, super-well-behaved children
Maybe.
The primary difference between the upper classes "homeschooling" and the lower classes "homeschooling" is that the upper classes will purchase tutors/teachers and the lower classes will do it themselves.
A couple of local elementary school kids from your upper middle class housing development being put together in a pod with two teachers will blow the doors off ANY school--public, private, homeschool, whatever. Homeschoolers from lower socioeconomic classes can keep up with this, but it's a LOT more effort than they generally estimate.
The problem is the dramatic increase in sophistication required in middle school grades. Writing goes from very basic sentences to multiple paragraphs. The vast majority of people are not equipped to deal with this as they can't write well enough themselves. Math goes from multiplication tables to Algebra I. The vast majority of the population is not equipped to teach Algebra I. Science comes online as a subject in middle school--we know most people aren't equipped to teach that.
The higher socioeconomic classes will recognize that they cannot handle the teaching and purchase appropriate teachers if they are committed.
The lower socioeconomic classes cannot apply the relevant resource even if they recognize the problems. However, they are committed to homeschooling at that point and cannot back down and say that they need to put their child into public school.
Maybe.
The primary difference between the upper classes "homeschooling" and the lower classes "homeschooling" is that the upper classes will purchase tutors/teachers and the lower classes will do it themselves.
A couple of local elementary school kids from your upper middle class housing development being put together in a pod with two teachers will blow the doors off ANY school--public, private, homeschool, whatever. Homeschoolers from lower socioeconomic classes can keep up with this, but it's a LOT more effort than they generally estimate.
The problem is the dramatic increase in sophistication required in middle school grades. Writing goes from very basic sentences to multiple paragraphs. The vast majority of people are not equipped to deal with this as they can't write well enough themselves. Math goes from multiplication tables to Algebra I. The vast majority of the population is not equipped to teach Algebra I. Science comes online as a subject in middle school--we know most people aren't equipped to teach that.
The higher socioeconomic classes will recognize that they cannot handle the teaching and purchase appropriate teachers if they are committed.
The lower socioeconomic classes cannot apply the relevant resource even if they recognize the problems. However, they are committed to homeschooling at that point and cannot back down and say that they need to put their child into public school.