Homeschooling: Internet: How homeschooling parents, religious and secular, advantaged by Internet explosion

Homeschooling remains a bit of a mystery to those of us who weren't homeschooled by our parents (and for some that fact was/is a blessing), or who as parents haven't tried homeschooling our own kids, leave alone those of us who have no kids. Obviously, if you do have kids yourself, but are a professional teacher in either government schools or faith-based schools (in some jurisdictions, the state does support one faith-based school system, as in Ontario wehre Roman Catholic schools are state-financied, but no others ... a gross inequity).

As Cathy Zimmerman points out in her excellent set of vignettes from homeschoolers (parents and their kids), for many it's a rich and productive feature of their life-style and parenting relation, whether the household be secular or religious. ["The Homeschool Bug," by Cathy Zimmerman, The Daily News, Longview, Washington, Oct 8, 2005.]

One element that Zimmerman brings forward tellingly is how the developments on the Web now offer a plethora of tools of hi-quality learning teaching.

As to the economics and politics of the other major alternative to government schooling of your kids, the Vouchers Idea holds the greatest promise; perhaps it should be extended to homeschooling parents for each of their students.

The Cato Institute presents its thinking on the Voucher Idea and the current post-Katrina economic situation in the USA in its Daily Dispatch, Oct 11, 2005.

Katrina Offers Opportunity for Education Reform

"As Hurricane Katrina put the issue of poverty onto the national agenda, many liberal advocates wondered whether the floods offered a glimmer of opportunity. The issues they most cared about -- health care, housing, jobs, race -- were suddenly staples of the news, with President Bush pledged to 'bold action.' But what looked like a chance to talk up new programs is fast becoming a scramble to save the old ones," The New York Times reports. [This free-view page expires soon, and registration may be required; NYT articles, when archived, are available only on a pay-for basis- Owlb].

"While the right has proposed alternatives including tax-free zones for businesses and school vouchers for students, Mr. Butler said, 'the left has just talked up the old paradigm: 'let's expand what's failed before.'"

Neal McCluskey, an education policy analyst at the Cato Institute, comments: "An important step in recovering from this calamity is for the children to reclaim a level of normalcy in their lives, and going to school enables them to do just that. Now is the time to help people whose lives were turned upside down by Katrina, not by forcing them into government schools, but by letting them choose the schools they actually want their children to attend, whether public or private."

In Voucher Wars: Waging the Legal Battle over School Choice, Clint Bolick, writing for the Cato Institute, recounts the dramatic 12-year battle to finally give families a choice in education and looks ahead to a future when every child can get the best education possible. While the battle over educational freedom is not over, Bolick notes that school choice "will begin to help our nation finally deliver on its promise of opportunity."

A fine news source for homeschoolers and for those exploring the possibliities of doing so will find that Home Schooling News is a great resource. - Anaximaximum