Homeschool testing is the newest issue between those who choose to homeschool and those who don't want them to homeschool.

When you make the choice to homeschool you are stepping onto an educational battlefield. The main issues that will be thrown at you are about socialization, high school and homeschool testing.

Also, your choices will be challenged, your sanity questioned and your personal background and qualifications will be scrutinized.

How do you respond? It is tempting to be sarcastic or to respond maliciously but I prefer a different tactic.

I try to respond with the truth sprinkled with a dose of respect.

But the one strategy that never fails is that I truly care about and love the people who are affected by homeschooling the most, my own children.

OK, so you have been cornered or captured and are being subjected to a homeschool inquisition, what should you do?

1. Smile and take a deep breath. Listen to what they are saying and/or asking.
2. Determine their motives by asking questions (not necessarily out loud). Are they in an educational career or are they someone who is interested in homeschooling? Are they a parent that has noticed your child acting differently? Are they a relative, who doesn't understand that homeschooling can be successful and a good thing?
3. Be honest in your answers.
4. The truth is that homeschoolers are different but being different doesn't mean that homeschooling is the wrong choice. Another truth is that all homeschoolers will not be good at teaching their children but that doesn't mean they shouldn't try if they have good reason to do so. There are innumerable resources on and offline, there are co-ops and day classes and educational opportunities all around us. On the other hand, it is equally true that homeschooling is not the right choice for everyone.
5. When I make my points, I usually include that I respect their opinions and I ask them to respect mine.

Now, that I've discussed the basics with you, let's apply this to the newest issue, homeschool testing?

Their questions begin, "Don't you think your child should be subjected to standardized testing in order to comply with the No Child Left Behind policy?"

Let's take this a step at a time.

First, smile and take a deep breath. Ask some questions. Here are a few to get you started.

Why do you think my child should be tested?

What is the purpose of testing?

Who gets the results and what will they do with them?

After they get results from standardized testing do they follow up with reinforced learning in the areas that are shown to be weak areas for the individual children or do they just go on to the next subject?

Do they feel that testing provides a vehicle for competition or comparison and if yes, is that really a good thing?

If homeschoolers are to be tested, will their teachers be given the materials that the other school teachers have or use in preparing for the test? Who will administer, evaluate and decide what to do with the results?

Next, give them a few truthful statements to consider.

1. There are homeschoolers that have taken standardized tests and do so willingly...but they have to pay to do so. Ask them why do we pay taxes and yet still have to finance these educational fees? Perhaps, if the school districts willingly agree to include and pay for testing the homeschoolers in their district; it might build a better avenue of trust and a better likelihood of homeschoolers agreeing to standardized testing.
2. Why should I have them tested? Please realize, I am with my children day in and day out, I know what they have studied and what they have not yet covered, I know what subjects they do well in and what subjects they struggle to master. Since I am so intensely involved in their education, what exactly do they think a standardized test meant to generally evaluate a large group of children can help me with?
3. While I am teaching what is required by my state laws I may be using a teaching method that may throw them off what a public school schedule dictates. Therefore testing at certain levels may be premature or inaccurate in the final assessment. The testing parameters in a typical standardized test are designed to evaluate a typical course of study. They can not accurately assess or evaluate a student that uses a curriculum or a process that lies outside of the those parameters.

Then I respectfully request their opinion. I really do want to know.

I follow this with, "I care very deeply about my children's education and about my right to educate them. I will gladly use whatever resources are available to me. I will use them especially, if I feel the resources can help insure some measure of educational success...but if I feel that the motives behind wanting to have my children tested are just a way to try to discredit my choices or to devalue homeschooling as a viable educational option then no, I will not have my children tested."

The issue of homeschool testing is not the first issue to be taken up with homeschoolers. It won't be the last, but we have the truth and the conviction that we are making the choices that are best for our children and for their future.

Don't be caught off-guard when they hit you with the newest homeschool challenge. First it was about socialization, now it's testing; what will be next? The next time you are at the mall or a sports game or enjoying an outing with your family and you're approached about your choice to homeschool-be ready.



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