By The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine
In August 2001, the cover of Time magazine posed this question: “Is Home Schooling Good for America?” Today, as more and more adults who were homeschooled assume positions of leadership and service in our nation, we answer Time’s question with a resounding “Yes!” Without question, the contributions of homeschoolers are dramatically changing our political landscape….
Dr. Brian Ray, founder of the National Home Education Research Institute, in his 2004 study of more than 7,000 homeschooled adults, showed that homeschoolers were more likely to vote, volunteer for political campaigns, and participate in community service. Dr. Ray found that 71% of homeschool graduates participated in ongoing community service activities compared to 37% of U.S. adults of similar ages, and 76% of homeschool graduates (aged 18–24) had voted in a national or state election within the last 5 years, compared to 29% of non-homeschooled graduates.
In his article titled “Revisiting the Common Myths About Homeschooling,” Michael Romanowski, a professor at the Center for Teacher Education at Ohio Northern University, stated: “Homeschoolers clearly learn about the real world, possibly more than do their public school counterparts. While the purpose of public education is to educate future citizens who take an active role in improving the social, economic, and political conditions in society, Ray’s research indicates that public schools, not homeschooling, should be scrutinized for their efforts regarding ‘citizenship training.'”
When asked to comment about the recent political impact of homeschooled adults nationwide, Paul and Gena Suarez, homeschooling family of six children and publishers of the premier quarterly magazine for homeschoolers, responded that homeschoolers’ success “only confirms what numerous stats and studies have already indicated — that ‘homeschooling’ is about so much more than merely educating our children. It’s about instilling in the next generation the conviction that if good is to prevail, then it must be advanced, and it can be advanced only by those who embrace it.”
Many homeschooling families are training their children to make a difference by serving this nation with integrity, not for the sake of personal ambition or monetary gain but rather because they have learned how to be responsible citizens. Determined, astute homeschooling families are making their voices heard — from leadership camps to grassroots organizations to Congress.
In January 2011, Ms. Jaime Herrera, age 32, will be sworn in as a U.S. Representative (R–WA). She will be remembered, among other things, as the very first member of our U.S. Congress who was a homeschooler. She will not be the last.
About The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine: Soon to celebrate their 10-year anniversary, The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine is recognized as the premier magazine for homeschoolers. This professional publication offers approximately 200 pages of information, inspiration, and encouragement to homeschooling families around the world in each quarterly issue. View a sample issue here:
www.thehomeschoolmagazine-digital.com/thehomeschoolmagazine/sample/#pg1
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