There have been several public calls recently to increase the regulation of homeschoolers in the state of Indiana. The idea mentioned most often is some sort of standardized testing.

Often, to those who don't homeschool, this is a common-sense suggestion. They figure that tests will surely show us who is doing a good job and who is not. An often heard statement is, "You would welcome testing unless you have something to hide."

This shows a fundamental lack of comprehension about how and why many parents homeschool. Some homeschool because they disagree with what is taught in government schools. Some do it because they would rather have the flexibility to pursue learning in a manner--and an order--that works best for their child. Some do not believe that government schools are rigorous enough, and pursue more demanding courses of study. And some delay much formal academic work until age 10 or so as advocated by homeschool pioneers Raymond and Dorothy Moore.

Many different homeschool styles are not compatible with standardized testing. Those who pursue a classical education model often are not on the same timetable as the schools. Many homeschool families choose to do more in depth study of a couple of subjects for a year, rather than a broad overview. In our own family part of the reason we started homeschooling was our recognition--without a standardized test--that our son needed something different than the standard classroom experience. Trying to teach to a test would have derailed us completely.

Then, too, there are the practical questions.  Where would the money come from? What would happen if the kids don't pass? It seems kind of laughable that a government which cannot ensure the success of the kids that it is responsible for would try to usurp the responsibility of parents, who have a far greater interest in the success of their own children.

And we won't even go into the dubious reliability of standardized testing.


I started to put this on my homeschool blog, but decided that the chance of  it being read by someone who thinks testing is a good idea is far greater here.

Jane,

ISTEP scores, as you know, were recently reported in newspapers across the State. Here, the headlines declared our schools outpaced the State averages. Still, though, just over 65% of the ninth and tenth grade students passed both math and reading. That's awful.

The gradeschool children did the best, and even that was not good. But, at those schools, teachers spend the first six weeks of school preparing for the test (after having already done the same with all the kids they convince to attend summer school). And, yet, in only a few of the hundreds of classroom in our local schools did student pass both math and reading at a rating higher than 70%.

We are asked regularly, how our kids did on the test, as folks just assume that homeschooled kids must take the same tests (even as they assume we must use a curriculum provided Indiana's DOE). I tell them they didn't take the test, but that would probably have done poorly. They look at me with shocked expressions. I try to explain that the benefits of Latin, ancient history, classical literature, and arithmetical drill aren't likely to show up on standardized testing for a few more years. Then they look puzzled. "You teach Latin to a 6 year old?" Of course, isn't that why grammar schools exist -- to learn Latin grammar.

The walk away puzzled, confused, and convinced that I know nothing about education. Though, you know the drill.

-Pr. Fickel