When it comes to the supporting arguments for homeschooling and learning at home, it’s important to have an open mind and compare the research done on the subject by teaching experts. Homeschooling in Canada has increased by %54 in the last 5 years. There are many factors that contribute to these rising numbers, and they include anything ranging from religious reasons, safety, mental health and enhanced thinking skills. “It was hypothesized that homeschooled children’s scores on a test of thinking skills would be above average when compared to norms derived from a sample of children attending public schools…The test includes six subscales, each measuring a different thinking skill: making inferences, sequencing, negative questions, problem solving, predicting, and determining causes…The hypothesis that homeschooled childrens' scores on a test of thinking skills would be above average when compared to norms derived from a sample of children attending public schools was supported. Homeschooled children’s scores were well above the average for public school children, ranging from the 58th to the 67th percentile.” (Medlin and Butler, page 75). According to Assistant-Professor Sandra Martin-Chang, from the Department of Education at Concordia University, children studying at home in a structured homeschooling program have vastly higher marks across all subjects. Furthermore, with the rates of in-school bullying and teachers feeling overwhelmed with high class numbers, a child’s mind is more likely to focus and retain information in a familiar space. Parents who choose to un-enroll their child from mainstream public school say that the learning environment they provide is organic and safe.
Across the provinces from Ontario to B.C., there are different methods for parents to homeschool their children and ensure their continuing education into post-secondary programs. Ontario has been elected as the “easiest” province by majority of parents and B.C. as the most “difficult”. There are parent-directed programs and teacher-instructed programs, each with its own pros and cons. For families whose parent/parents are working full-time, the parent-directed method may not work if the child is not as disciplined with their studies. In fact, in the province of Alberta, parents must sign a contract stating that at least one adult will be present at home during the day to supervise their child’s learning. Brian D. Ray, PH. D, reports from the National Home Education Research Institute that “63% of peer-reviewed studies on academic achievement show homeschool students perform statistically significantly better than those in institutional schools.” When it comes to Canadian colleges and universities, being home-schooled isn’t viewed as a barrier or detrimental to an acceptance letter. “When compared with the same age group of the Canadian population, home-educated adults were more likely to have undergraduate degrees, and equally likely to have graduate degrees” (Van Pelt, Allison and Allison, page. 2). “Overall, young adults who had been home educated had a higher academic education than similarly aged Canadians. This was particularly notable with respect to post-secondary education, where greater proportions of home education graduates had attained Bachelors’ and graduate degrees” (Van Pelt, Allison and Allison, page 2).
Another point to consider when it comes to education outside of the classroom is nature-based and focusing on smaller groups. First Nations children before Colonization learned important skills in the outdoors, exploring nature and guided by a trusted Elder. The Elders’ wisdom came from generations of Indigenous traditions and knowledge-keeping. Sadly, the rate of Indigenous youth leaving high school due to generational trauma, minimal parental support and the absence of a wise Elder to help encourage them succeed is another reason why non-contemporary teaching methods are needed. According to Statistics Canada, nearly half of the reserves across the country do not have a high school. This means that any First Nations student who wishes to complete their Grade 12 diploma must leave their family, home and community. One cannot imagine the confusion and emotional toll it has on a teenager, let alone one who is trying to navigate their way through the pressures of high school. Below is a chart of statistics depicting a strong need for better options to homeschooling on rural reserves: On-Reserve High School Completion & Dropout Context • Graduation Rates: The 2021 Census reported a 49% high school graduation rate for First Nations on reserve, compared to 83% for non-Indigenous populations. • Regional Variation: For Registered Indians on-reserve, completion rates vary, with higher rates found in Nova Scotia (75.4%) and New Brunswick (72.6%). • Key Barriers: Dropout rates are fueled by lack of access to local schools, need for relocation, and underlying social challenges like poor housing and unemployment. • Remote Impact: First Nations people in easily accessible areas are 2.5 times more likely to complete high school than those in very remote areas.
If one were to investigate the educational background of world leaders and prominent historical figures, you will see that they had a private teacher who came to their homes. Alexander the Great was taught by Aristotle and he went on to conquer a vast empire. Queen Elizabeth II was taught about Monarchy and Constitutional History by Vice-Provost of Eaton, Sir Henry Marten; her reign is known as the Second Elizabethan Age. Sir Winston Churchill had governess who taught him at home and when he was enrolled at Harrow School, he struggled. Something that all the above figures of history have in common was that they each received some form of homeschooling as an education. Alexander and Churchill excelled at military arts and literature. Queen Elizabeth, reportedly known for her lack of a formal education and preferred to discuss horses rather than politics, gained the skills of a great monarch. Thus, it could be speculated that private learning in the early years could be akin to planting a seed that has the potential to grow into a great tree. Currently in Canada, there is a shortage of teachers and other crisis such as over-capacity classrooms and higher rates of violence. Many teachers reported a dramatic increase of in-class violent incidents and getting injured from their students since 2019. “Teaching burn-out” is a term now being used to the distress many educators are having to deal with. Violence and bullying in schools is another major contributing factor to why homeschooling can be a better option for a family. It seems every other month there is a tragic story of a mass-shooting or struggling child taking their life due to bullying.
Many times, when a child is being bullied in school - despite the teacher’s best efforts to find a way to de-escalate the situation - the emotional and psychological effect is too strong. Anxiety mixed with the expectations to be a academically strong student can become overpowering and cause further damage to a child’s psyche. Moreover, mental health support can be offered simultaneously with learning. The best learning environment is one in which a child feels safe, at peace and their mind is free from any conflict and hostility. However, there are professionals and parents who are completely against the idea of homeschooling. They argue that separating a child from a classroom is detrimental to their social skills and may cause possible emotional delays. There is no concrete evidence of this and it’s more of a stereotype that homeschooled children are “weird” or somehow “backwards”. This stereotype was compounded from the depiction that Lindsay Lohan portrayed in Mean Girls; an American who was homeschooled abroad in Africa returns to the U.S.A. and due to her quiet and humble nature, is ostracized by her peers. In light of all being said, no one can dispute the facts and figures of the benefits for homeschooling. Every parent has an obligation to do what they feel is right for their child, and to protect them from a hostile learning environment. Together with the proper resources and support, homeschooling can be a very nourishing and positive experience in a child’s life.
References (Allison, Allison, & Neven Van Pelt, 2025) Allison, P. A., Allison, D. J., & Neven Van Pelt, D. A. (2025, October 28). Retrieved from Canadian Center For Home Education: https://cche.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/2009EnglishSynopsis-1.pdf Martin-Chang, S. (2012). High Marks for Home-Schooling. Medlin, R. G. (2018). Thinking Skills, Academic Intrinsic Motivation, Academic Self-Concept, and Academic Independence in Homeschooled Children. Journal of Unschooling and Alternative Learning, Vol. 12, Issue 24.
No comments:
Post a Comment