Some Basic Benefits of Home Schools

            A recent article by Trevor Hughes (USA TODAY) reports a first-of-its-kind national study of more than 2,600 adolescents, including some 500 home-schoolers; the results showed that the home-schooled students slept an average 90 minutes longer each night than those attending public and private schools. On the surface, that observation may seem insignificant, but the study suggests that the increased rest serves to better equip and facilitate the student’s learning process.

            Lisa Meltzer, a professor of pediatrics and the study’s lead author, says that the “changes brought by adolescence include alterations to when the sleep hormone melatonin is released in teens’ bodies.”  In the analysis of data over 2012, she found that 55% of home-schooled teens got the optimal amount of sleep per week, in contrast to 24.5% of “traditional” public and private students. In light of the obvious growing inefficiency and demise of quality public education, would it not be feasible to take a hard look at why home-schools are a viable alternative? After all, “public” education is really a “modern” invention.

            Until 1800, there were no such institutions of learning. Homes and local churches were the bona fide class rooms, with parents and clergy comprising the faculty. The main textbook for reading and character training was the Holy Bible. Colleges of that era, like Harvard, Yale, Princeton, etc. were all church-related, and established to train ministers of the Gospel of Christ. Thus, what we call “traditional” (public) education now is really “progressive” or government-run.

            The present academic debacle in America is a culmination of two centuries of shifting the educational responsibility of our children from the parents to the state. We have paid an awful price, and now there is a trend back to where our nation started. How effective this will be is yet to be realized. There are some marvelous success stories of just how effective home-schooling can be. I recently heard of a family in Ohio where five of the children are medical doctors---all home-schooled prior to their medical training!

            The matter of “sleep” deprivation among public school students, mentioned above, is indicative of other significant factors. The breakup and/or the absence of the family unit have been devastating to the education process. Children from broken or single parent homes have to battle personal issues that most children from stable homes do not face. Family life is a tough challenge even with a strong mother and father in the home. With the present 41% illegitimate birth rate in America (71% in the black community), the problem is only exacerbated. I’m both impressed and grateful for the conviction of a growing number of parents who are taking back their God-given right and responsibility to train their own children.

            I’m aware that some public school systems are better than others. I’m also not suggesting that all parents are able to take on the full program, but they need to take advantage of alternative educational sources. Whatever may be the case, morality and character qualities can be taught at home, preparing children for real life. Indeed, even with teaching the three “R’s”, there’s something to be said for the comfortable atmosphere and stability of a loving home life.

            The physical “rest” or sleep may directly correlate with emotional security offered by positive and efficient parental enforcement. The chaos and dysfunction of so many “families” certainly contributes to the state of our educational system and the general demise of our nation. Parental oversight and leadership on a daily basis has to enhance a child’s chance to mature in every way. Despite the varied criticisms of home-schooling, the legitimacy of that method of education has been evidenced in ACT and SAT scores, along with a growing number of mature, well-adjusted “graduates.” May there be a widespread eruption of such young adults to help stem the growing tide of corruption in America!