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Home School Controversy
Facing the Naysayers
By Carma Haley
"Families may become concerned that a child will not have social skills, interaction with their own age group, or even a chance to go to college," Ishizuka says. "One way to get friends and family 'on your side' is to discuss their concerns and give them good, accurate and the most current information on home schooling, so they understand the why and how of what home schooling parents are doing. Educate them on your children's education."
Children of all ages love to be involved in all types of activities – Scouts, sports, academic competitions, musical or dramatic performances. This gives rise to another controversy: Does a home schooled child have the right to be involved in community activities, organizations or sports?
It varies by area, Ishizuka says. "The rules and regulations differ from state to state, county to county and district to district, as do the feelings toward home schoolers and their children," she says. "Where one district will allow children who are home schooled to belong to clubs that are normally just open to children who attend the public school system, other districts will state that in order to participate in these activities, the child must attend the school."
But home schooled children are still a part of the district, Ishizuka says. "Parents usually need to verify their status of home schooling with the district or school board. This is where the controversy comes in – if they belong to the district then they should have access to all extracurricular activities and programs."
