SPECIAL REPRINT - HSLDA Study: Embarrassing and Dangerous
Helen
SPECIAL REPRINT - HSLDA Study: Embarrassing and Dangerous
A new study of a narrow segment of the homeschooling community was recently
designed, financed, and promoted by the Home School Legal Defense
Association (HSLDA). Both common sense and an analysis based on criteria
used by social scientists show that this study is seriously flawed, but
most of the report of the study, including its "Summary of Major Findings,"
says the findings apply to homeschoolers without qualification.
This study has the potential to undermine our homeschooling freedoms by
presenting a very narrow and limiting stereotype of what a homeschooler
should be and by providing assistance to critics of homeschooling who want
to increase the regulation of homeschoolers. Please read this Special
Reprint, and share it with your friends, support group members, email
listmembers, and other interested parties. Please note: If you wish to
share this information with others via your support group or local library
we request that you share it in its entirety, referencing the source and
credits.
This Special Reprint was originally published in the July-August 1999 issue
of Home Education Magazine (Taking Charge, page 12) and has been made
available by the column authors and the publishers of Home Education
Magazine.
Additional PDF copies are available online at
http://www.home-ed-magazine.com/dangerous-study.pdf
This Reprint is available via email by sending an message to
HEM-Lists@... with the words "dangerous-study" in the
subject line.
For ftp access go to: ftp://home-ed-magazine.com/study/dangerous-study.txt
For a copy of the July-August 1999 issue of Home Education Magazine
containing the original Taking Charge column send $4.50 to: Home Education
Magazine, PO Box 1083, Tonasket, WA 98855.
If you wish to share this information with others via your support group or
local library we request that you share it in its entirety, referencing the
source and credits.
**********
KEY POINTS
A study of homeschooling families was recently designed, financed, and
promoted by HSLDA. However, as homeschoolers, we should not use this
study, publicize it in our newsletters, or send copies to legislators or
the media for several reasons.
(1) The sample used in this study is so narrow and unrepresentative of the
homeschooling population that its findings can only be applied to the
homeschoolers who participated in the study. Despite this fact, most of
the report of the study, including its "Summary of Major Findings," says
the findings apply to homeschoolers without qualification. The result is
an inaccurate and dangerous report. (See Part II.)
(2) The study undermines our homeschooling freedoms in several ways.
* The study increases the likelihood that homeschoolers will be required
to take state-mandated standardized tests. People who are pushing for
increased state regulation of homeschoolers can say, "Look. This study
shows that homeschoolers don't mind taking standardized tests required of
public school students. So let's require them."
* The study measures homeschooling by the standards of conventional
education: standardized test scores, money spent on educational materials,
family income, parents' education, teacher certification, etc. Most of us
are homeschooling so we can provide our children and our society with an
alternative to conventional education. We do not want to be required to
use these standards.
* For additional information, see Part III.
It is hard to believe that this study was designed, financed, and promoted
by a homeschooling organization, but it's a fact worth keeping in mind as
we decide which organizations we will join and support as we continue the
work we must to do maintain our homeschooling freedoms. See Part IV.
****************************************
****************************************
A new study of a narrow segment of the homeschooling community was recently
designed, financed, and promoted by the Home School Legal Defense
Association (HSLDA). Both common sense and an analysis based on criteria
used by social scientists show that this study is seriously flawed, but
most of the report of the study, including its "Summary of Major Findings,"
says the findings apply to homeschoolers without qualification.
This study has the potential to undermine our homeschooling freedoms by
presenting a very narrow and limiting stereotype of what a homeschooler
should be and by providing assistance to critics of homeschooling who want
to increase the regulation of homeschoolers. Please read this Special
Reprint, and share it with your friends, support group members, email
listmembers, and other interested parties. Please note: If you wish to
share this information with others via your support group or local library
we request that you share it in its entirety, referencing the source and
credits.
This Special Reprint was originally published in the July-August 1999 issue
of Home Education Magazine (Taking Charge, page 12) and has been made
available by the column authors and the publishers of Home Education
Magazine.
Additional PDF copies are available online at
http://www.home-ed-magazine.com/dangerous-study.pdf
This Reprint is available via email by sending an message to
HEM-Lists@... with the words "dangerous-study" in the
subject line.
For ftp access go to: ftp://home-ed-magazine.com/study/dangerous-study.txt
For a copy of the July-August 1999 issue of Home Education Magazine
containing the original Taking Charge column send $4.50 to: Home Education
Magazine, PO Box 1083, Tonasket, WA 98855.
If you wish to share this information with others via your support group or
local library we request that you share it in its entirety, referencing the
source and credits.
**********
KEY POINTS
A study of homeschooling families was recently designed, financed, and
promoted by HSLDA. However, as homeschoolers, we should not use this
study, publicize it in our newsletters, or send copies to legislators or
the media for several reasons.
(1) The sample used in this study is so narrow and unrepresentative of the
homeschooling population that its findings can only be applied to the
homeschoolers who participated in the study. Despite this fact, most of
the report of the study, including its "Summary of Major Findings," says
the findings apply to homeschoolers without qualification. The result is
an inaccurate and dangerous report. (See Part II.)
(2) The study undermines our homeschooling freedoms in several ways.
* The study increases the likelihood that homeschoolers will be required
to take state-mandated standardized tests. People who are pushing for
increased state regulation of homeschoolers can say, "Look. This study
shows that homeschoolers don't mind taking standardized tests required of
public school students. So let's require them."
* The study measures homeschooling by the standards of conventional
education: standardized test scores, money spent on educational materials,
family income, parents' education, teacher certification, etc. Most of us
are homeschooling so we can provide our children and our society with an
alternative to conventional education. We do not want to be required to
use these standards.
* For additional information, see Part III.
It is hard to believe that this study was designed, financed, and promoted
by a homeschooling organization, but it's a fact worth keeping in mind as
we decide which organizations we will join and support as we continue the
work we must to do maintain our homeschooling freedoms. See Part IV.
****************************************
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