Missouri's Lax Homeschooling Regulations

By Jennifer Thompson, published Jan 09, 2008
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Home schooling is popular. Articles, forums, chat rooms all exist for those home schooling parents to bind together. It is up to every parent to choose the educational route their children will take, and most parents believe they are making the right choices for their child. But in glancing at Missouri's regulations for home schoolers, it makes me a little concerned about the quality of education such children might be getting at the hands of a home schooling parent.

I became curious when I was getting to know a local family - in fact, they temporarily provided daycare for my daughter a couple years ago. The mother of the family (all five of her children were grown, save one who was finishing 'school') home schooled all of her five children. She gave the children an option when they were older, and most of them did decide to spend some time in public school to get a feel for it. Not a single one of them lasted more than one school year before they resumed home schooling. Public school was a little too overwhelming for them, given their previous experiences.

I got a bad vibe about it. Now, I'm not singing the praises for public school, though there are more good public schools than many people might like to admit. And sure, many children might get a better education at the hands of their parents. But in the situation of this specific family, I found out that the mother, who was doing the teaching at home, was a high-school dropout.

I once looked into substitute teaching while finishing my degree, and in order to substitute teach in Missouri the requirement is at least 60 hours of college credit.

But, according to Missouri regulations for home schoolers, there is no requirements what so ever. (According to the article about it on About.com) No finishing of high school, no college hours, no problem.

Um, what?

The parent or guardian must keep a daily log of activities, and an evaluation.

That's it? No public testing, even?

 
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Homeschool laws are not the same because the method of education is not the same. Just one tiny example; I can do a whole lot more in an hour of schooling my child one on one then a teacher can do with one child in a room full of other children. I am not saying that she is a bad teacher, my husband is a public school teacher...and yet I home school our three children. What I am saying it that is is impossible for that one teacher to accomplish with one student in a room full of kids what I can with my one child because my time is undivided.

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Posted on 06/20/2008 at 7:06:34 PM

 
Interesting takes. Kansas is pretty much identical in the "home school laws" as Missouri. You are correct in stating that no testing is required as well as no teaching credentials on the part of the parent. Not sure what you really want me to comment on. I've been home schooling my children since 1998 and we all love it. I choose to pay every few years to have my children go to a school and take the standardized testing. It's only proven to show me what I already know about my own children as far as what they excel in and what they need more intense learning in.

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Posted on 06/12/2008 at 10:06:09 AM

 
1) Dreah ¡V funny conspiracy theory. 2) CClake ¡V I did research the evidence that I presented and then questioned, and that is that Missouri has no regulations for homeschool ¡§teachers.¡¨ 3) Mia ¡V I¡¦m sure you never slip up at all, either, Grammar Queen. ƒº In all honesty, I¡¦m going to spend a lot more time proofing papers that go elsewhere. 4) Angela ¡V children go to school to learn things other that what is learned in the home. Not a good analogy.

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Posted on 03/21/2008 at 5:03:48 PM

 
Jennifer, a quick question. Let's begin with the premise that parents are not competent to teach their children. Okay, we send them to school. However, that child is learning skills and behaviours at home for several years before coming to school. But we've decided that parents aren't competent to teach. Therefore, it follows that the best atmosphere for a child during the early years is in a center where he/she can be raised by teachers and child development specialists. I'm sure that you didn't mean it this way, but it's a logical conclusion. However, no one would ever agree with that statement. I agree that there are parents who don't provide their children with an adequate education, but I believe they are the exception rather than the rule. I was homeschooled myself, graduated from an online school, and achieved a Bachelor of Nursing.

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Posted on 03/18/2008 at 10:03:41 PM

 
"But, according to Missouri regulations for home schoolers, there is no requirements what so ever." I cringed when I read this. I can't help it. I'm a grammar stickler, a homeschooling parent, and I do not have a college degree in English grammar, nor do I need one to teach the same to my children. There are extremely user-friendly curricula out there for anyone who wants to learn just about anything. (I might suggest you check out www.EasyGrammar.com?) I kind of see why your job is "freelance" writer. You apparently don't know how to research your subject. This "article" would have been more suitable as a blog or web diary or letter to the editor of your local newspaper. "Does this parent have the child's best interest at heart, really? What is it that makes them feel more capable to educate their child with their own lack of education?" Most parents actually do have their children's best interest at heart - especially those who take the time and expense to home

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Posted on 02/04/2008 at 11:02:21 PM

 
Jennifer, you say you are a "freelance writer, editor & researcher", then why did you not research your topic of home schools before presenting it here? This article is simply your opinion regarding people who CHOOSE to home school their children! YOU do not agree with it, so you challenge the intelligence of ALL home schooled children, and with lack of government regulation? First, parents do not HAVE to be teachers, because most children are learning through a chosen curriculum that the parent oversees and follows. NO MASTERS NEEDED FOR THAT! Whatever one's preference, NOT having a teaching degree does NOT make you a failure in teaching your children! Who knows a child better than his or her own parent? Recent studies & testing concluded that children who are home schooled by their mothers who hold a teaching certificate, scored NO HIGHER than those children who's mothers did not have a teaching certificate! Second, the internet is loaded with "Evaluations and Academi

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Posted on 01/15/2008 at 6:01:19 AM

 
Public education was not formed due to shortcoming in homeschooling. In fact, America was a much more literate nation before public education. Public education was formed to control the thinking of the general public. To socialize us. Public education at its infancy was sponsored by major corporations to raise up future worker bee employees. The few free thinkers that survived such socialism became bosses or were rejected as crazies... This is why people are uncomfortable with us free thinking homeschoolers.

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Posted on 01/09/2008 at 10:01:14 PM

 
Thanks, Jennifer...it is funny...as to what dreahwrites says, parents do have the "legal right" to homeschool. Go figure.....just because one can do something doesn't make it right...homeschooling should be limited to helping with homework.....the fact that homeschooling is allowed to take the place of a real education is a throwback to a less informed past. Public education was formed in response to the myriad shortcomings of "homeschooling."

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Posted on 01/09/2008 at 10:01:17 PM

 
Well said, Rebecca. I guess we were typing at the same time. :-)

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Posted on 01/09/2008 at 9:01:50 PM

 
Thanks for reading my homeschool teacher article. I haven't yet checked to see if you left comments, but if you have, I'll respond. As for your question on why homeschool rules are different: It isn't that way in every state. It varies greatly state-to-state. In Texas, where I am, home school and private school are one and the same. Home school is considered to be a private school, so they both have the same rules. I can't tell you why, really. All I can say is that's just the way it is. My personal thought tells me it may be because if the government were to intervene and regulate a home school or private school, they might have to also pay for their supplies and whatnot because then the parent would no longer be in charge. The government would then be in charge, just like with public school. I really don't know, though. That's just a guess. Hope it at least made you think. LOL :-)

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Posted on 01/09/2008 at 9:01:46 PM

 
Jennifer, the laws vary from state to state regarding tests. In terms of why the laws are different for homeschools and public schools, why wouldn't they be? Laws pertaining to home life are often different than laws pertaining to other institutions. For instance, I cannot legally prepare food in my home kitchen and sell it. There are regulations for food prepared that is sold vs. what is done in the privacy of my home with my family. Is it possible that some parents may prepare food in an unsanitary kitchen or food that is not nutritious? Should we require all parents to be chefs or nutritionists? How can they possibly know how to make healthy and sanitary food without the proper creditionals and governmental regulation? Silly, thought, isn't it! Government regulation has a place, but unless there is abuse, government regulation does not belong in the home.

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Posted on 01/09/2008 at 9:01:49 PM

 
The last article link I posted explains that to the best of my ability. Other than that, because homeschoolers have legally fought for the right to make decisions for their own kids and won that right.

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Posted on 01/09/2008 at 8:01:33 PM

 
Again I do want to ask...anyone who cares to answer, why the regulations are different for homeschool than public or private school?

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Posted on 01/09/2008 at 8:01:52 PM

 
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/507801/homeschooling_and_educational_neglect.html http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/477039/the_statistical_truth_about_homeschooling.html http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/64762/explaining_homeschooling.html http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/47259/how_smart_does_a_homeschooling_parent.html This next one is directly related to your question, AC messed up the title though... it should read why it is not important. http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/494455/accreditation_of_homeschooling_why.html

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Posted on 01/09/2008 at 8:01:48 PM

 
Actually, you didn't rub me the wrong way at all, written 'tone' is often misread. I can only speak for my kids and homeschoolers in my state. My kids must take a nationally recognized standardized exam every three years. I test them yearly, and they score very high for their grade level. Now I am not going to say that this particular homeschooling mom isn't what you say, but I will say that you may have had a bad experience. I know at least 30 homeschooling families personally, and I know of at least 100. I have run into one family similar to what you have described. I will follow this by some links to article I wrote that are related to this subject.

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Posted on 01/09/2008 at 8:01:40 PM

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