Comments on: What percentage of parents who home-school are creationists?

By: Nikki

Nikki — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 19:19:01 +0000

First of all, not all homeschoolers are creationists, or even Christians for that matter. Most private schools are religion-based (primarily Christian); therefore, teach creationism with strong emphasis and most will still mention evolution and/or the big bang theory (which are not the same thing) as theories, which, yes, I must admit, are just that - theories. No one seems to dog private schools like they do home schools. Why?

Personally, I am having a heck of a time finding secular (non-religious-based) homeschool science curriculum because I strongly believe in evolution and want my children to learn strictly from a scientific point of view. They attend church on Sunday when they choose to do so. That is their choice. I do not homeschool to influence my childrens’ absolute most personal choices in life. Thier religion is as much thier own business as is their sexuality. I am merely here to guide, protect, educate, and love them; not judge or rule them as they, even as children, are individual human beings worthy of the utmost respect.

So to add to your data collection, please know there are those of us out here that homeschool for “religious or moral instruction” that do at least attmept to teach the most commonly accepted and supported scientific theories.

In case anyone is wondering, I homeschool to protect my kids from the violence in the public school system, and to strengthen our family values by providing what most American families are missing: quality time together. I do consider these concepts to be of a “moral” basis, since I strongly encourage peace, at every level of society, and strong family values. Nikki

By: hsfromthestart

hsfromthestart — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 20:52:44 +0000

Any such data would be suspect. HSLDA, which is a conservative Christian homeschooling group, has gathered a lot of research over the years but I doubt that they ask homeschoolers outside of their group so the data would be clearly slanted. Some states don’t require homeschoolers to register and some others have them register through private schools, so how anyone would be able to contact them I’m not sure.

In my state of Florida, I’ve seen the big statewide group touting statistics that they represent only a tiny fraction of homeschoolers; that most homeschoolers in Florida are not part of any support group. I doubt that we’re the only state like that. And this means that it would be practically impossible to obtain a fair sampling of homeschoolers.

I’ve seen it stated that many homeschoolers claimed religious or moral reasons as the main ones for homeschooling years ago, but today it seems that the low academic standards and school safety are more compelling to many homeschoolers. hsfromthestart

By: ozboz48

ozboz48 — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 20:34:55 +0000

There are no stats, because the vast majority of us have decided that our religious/philosophical beliefs are no one else’s business.

All the best. ozboz48

By: K

Tue, 16 Mar 2010 17:19:41 +0000

Very few studies of scientific and statistically accurate merit are done due to the nature of homeschooling. People who choose it are often reluctant to participate in any survey, because most surveys exist in order to put more regulation and restriction onto the practice. Almost none of us are interested in that, so you get the far-right Neo-Con Christian people keeping just as quiet as the far-left Neo-Taoist Techno Pagans.

You do get various homeschool interest groups who survey their members from time to time about everything…future success, current practices…but it’s like the mother of all sampling errors. These people are self-selected respondents of a specific interest group, so the responses don’t exactly cut across all socio-economic boundaries.

I personally teach a strictly secular curriculum, mainly relying on K12.com materials for Math, Science and History, and on BraveWriter.com for English. My kids are enrolled in monthly science enrichment classes at the local Science Museum, and my spouse has a technical background and a science degree. (Mine is a B.A.)

However, I don’t see what the big blow-up is all about. Surely you all know people whose kids come home from school with evolution stuff and their parents tell them, “It’s just a theory, which means it’s what someone THINKS is true for now, until they find out something different. It’s not the Whole Truth, and your mom and I don’t agree with it.” How many religious private schools do you think teach evolution? Why pick on the poor homeschoolers? Because, seriously…according to this Gallup Poll, only 40% of Americans—regardless of their educational philosophies or methods—claim to believe in evolution. K

By: sha_lyn68

sha_lyn68 — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 08:40:29 +0000

That statistic comes from a survey of members of a far right conservative christian organization. It is a reflection of the opinions of their members and not the general homeschool population. sha_lyn68