by Colleen Janz

Created on: May 09, 2008

Why do people think that a degree would help a homeschool situation? A teaching degree gives you ideas and methods for the mass teaching, it does not help with the one on one situation. A teaching degree gives emphasis on education patterns, not just material. Material can be taught from the book and more easily from home than in an institution.

Parents know their child, the times of day their child is most alert, most available to learn, their interests to help explain new concepts. A parent knows the ins and outs of the behaviors that help and hinder learning for their child. What degree can give you that type of insider information? Parenthood, none other, no piece of paper.

It is more important to reach our children and keep them safe than it is to have a piece of paper. Today's schools are failing our children. Too many stories of children being raped in schools, mugged, beat up, forced to be drug mules to keep out of harm's way, made to join gangs, harassed and killed; this is just one reason for the increasing numbers of homeschooled children in the United States by parents without degrees. Safety is a concern we all have, I commend those parents whom are able to homeschool to keep their children safe.

Another reason children are homeschooled by parents without degrees today is that schools aren't reaching everyone. The "No Child Left Behind" programs have actually left more children behind than ever. We are forcing children who cannot read through to High School then making them drop out or just not letting them graduate. Why? Because schools are so fearful of losing Federal money, teaching subject matter has become a thing of the past; rather they teach to take a test and pass instead of teaching for understanding. Parents who become frustrated with this system, and know that their children are being missed, have the right to change the path the schools have put their child on. If anyone can do a better job in the schools, these parents wouldn't be taking such action.

One of the largest reasons for homeschooling is belief systems. Some schools hammer certain belief systems down children's throats and, although never policy, some teachers degrade other belief systems. Many of these students are of certain Christian or other religious backgrounds whom wish to teach according to the Bible or Koran or other religious text. These are our future religious leaders, these are the children who will promote in their own children the same morals and ethics they are learning. How can we not want this to happen? I, personally, cannot give them enough credit, as I, like many other Americans, have lost track of my faith and have not taken enough time to have my children know God. A degree is not a prerequisite to knowing and teaching about God and morals.

Safety, reaching our children, keeping them safe, teaching morals and ethics; these are reasons to homeschool, degree or not. Our children aren't being taught in schools, we are falling far behind the education scale as a country; homeschooling is a solution in a time of such education faults and disappointments.

Learn more about this author, Colleen Janz.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.