Quote:I've never seen a study that actually looks at the full range of homeschooled kids.  Of course wealthy parents are going to have better results.  They can hire tutors, and give on one one time full time to their kids.  That's something neither private schools nor public schools could ever do.  It's another advantage that the wealthy have.  Most of those studies are done by mailing lists, which mostly include the wealthier home schooled kids.

 

Public school class sizes are a problem.  My wife has 190 students spread over 7 classes.  But most of her students <i>do do well</i>. And it's on parents to actually try to help their kids through school.  How many parents try to help their kids in school?  Of course, you have the parents who also try to do their kid's work for them.  When my kids struggle in school, I see it as my job to help them and give them the individual time they need.

 

My wife does a fantastic job teaching, but she only has so many hours in a day that she can devote to work.  In addition to teaching, she has to raise three kids (and two babies), grade papers, plan lessons, and be a wife.  What she does however, is make sure that the parents have the tools necessary to help their kids.  She calls parents teacher meetings (you'd be surprised at how difficult some parents are to contact, and they always expect people to be available when they are.  I remember that complaint made by Niel Cavuto on his show, that teachers should be more available, as if they don't have lives too) .  She also keeps a copy of all of her notes, and has them available for parents if they want them.


If parents would help their kids out (and NOT do it for them), and give them the individual time they need, then I think we'd see our public schools improve.  Teachers can only do so much.  Parents need to do their part as well.  The environment you are raised in matters a lot.  Which is why those wealthy kids being homeschooled do better 'on average'.  Because they get one on one time that they need.

 

I think you hit the nail on the head, kids failing in school is more on parents not doing thier part I agree 100%.

 

However I think you're assuming it's wealthy people that are homeschooling kids mostly, In my experience ( I was home schooled for 2 years) that's not the case. We're not an overly wealthy family but we plan on homeschooling our kids at some point down the road. I think you'll find that kids who are home schooled are more involved that's why there's  better success rate with home schooled children. But regardless studies have shown for YEARS kids that are home schooled do better then their peers hands down. I think that has to do with the level of one on one attention a kid gets and the involvement of the parents that are homeschooling. 

 

Your wife sounds like a wonderful teacher and her students are lucky to have a teacher like that. I had a teacher that sounds like your wife she literally changed my life. To me teaching is one of the most noble careers out there. 

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