September 19, 2005
Scott Defisks: HoNDA Sec. 2(3)
(3) Education by parents at home has proven to be an effective means for young people to achieve success on standardized tests and to learn valuable socialization skills.
Chris says, “Those Congress Critters sure do have their paws on the pulse of homeschooling. I know I stay awake at night worrying about standardized test scores and valuable socialization skills. Could they have picked any two less important issues issues to highlight in their ‘defense’ of homeschooling?” Yes and no…
We live in a strange world where it even makes sense to speak of “achieving success on standardized tests.” How about achieving a little success in origami or crossword puzzles, while we’re at it? I’m happy to say that my five graduated children are achieving success in life in a way that standardized tests can’t measure.
I recognize the deep divide between homeschoolers on the issue of standardized testing. Some parents cheerfully push their children through traditional textbooks and sharpen their little pencils for them for their annual testing. (On average, such families get above-average test results.) Other parents view such acts as the barbaric rituals of an oppressive power structure, and resent the very notion that anybody would “judge” them on the basis of such nonsense.
HSLDA’s official stance on this controversial issue is to always oppose mandatory testing but to put available test data to use in expanding freedom for homeschoolers. I’m unaware of any times when this approach has produced bad results in the last 22 years of HSLDA’s existence. I’d be happy to address any actual cases where HSLDA’s reliance on standardized test data has led to a loss of freedom.
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"HSLDA’s official stance on this controversial issue is to always oppose mandatory testing but to put available test data to use in expanding freedom for homeschoolers. I’m unaware of any times when this approach has produced bad results in the last 22 years of HSLDA’s existence."
How about every time I had to submit my children to standardized tests for "proof of progress" and their education was jeopardized because of it? You can't have it both ways Scott -- to oppose mandatory testing and use the tests to "expand freedom." This is one of the reasons why I personally don't trust HSLDA.
I wasn't trying to make any point about standardized tests. My point, apparently not clear enough, is that the author of the bill is woefully out of touch with HS'ing if they chose those two issues to highlight in a Congressional Bill.
Posted by: COD at September 19, 2005 10:01 PMJeanne, you say we can't "oppose mandatory testing" and "use the tests to expand freedom." I agree. I can't see any way to "use tests" to "expand freedom."
I'm not in favor of "using tests," but I am in favor of "using test data." Much as I oppose mandatory testing, there are states where every homeschooler is supposed to test. The test results in those states really do prove that homeschool averages really are above national averages.
South Dakota law used to require every homeschooler be tested, and it also required the South Dakota Department of Education and Cultural Affairs to aggregate and report those test results. Guess what? After homeschoolers blew the doors off the public schools several years in a row, the Legislature quietly amended the statute to remove the requirement that the Department report the results.
Posted by: Scott W. Somerville at September 20, 2005 11:28 AMIf the comment entry box is gone it's because comments are closed for this entry. Please feel free to use the "contact" link above to get in touch.