2008 Woodie Awards
Piedmont College Blogs
Homeschool: Yay or nay
by Matthew Jackson
Issue date: 2/11/08 Section: Opinion
Just not for me
By Kristen Payne
"Piedmont College is very home school friendly," Cindy Peterson, director of admissions, said. "We reach out to the home school community because these students prove to be very self motivated individuals, engaging their professors, and often taking on many leadership roles." Eight percent of Piedmont's undergraduates were homeschoolers. Although this may not seem like a large percentage, it's higher than most other colleges and universities. Piedmont's administration strongly supports home schooling, but how do the home schoolers themselves feel about being homeschooled?
Stephens County homeschool student, Ashlan Williams said, "I really like it. I am able to learn at my own pace and study whenever I want. My schedule is very flexible and laid back." Williams laughed at the claim that homeschoolers do not have any friends or a social life. Williams and her siblings are involved in the Currahee Home Educators in Stephens County. This is an organization made up of over 100 families with homeschooled children that meet regularly and go on many trips throughout the year.
"Even given the opportunity to attend a public school, I would still choose to be home schooled," Williams says.
Although I see the definite advantages of homeschooling, I still don't plan to homeschool my children. Even though homeschoolers do have friends, they don't experience the same day-to-day interactions with others students as public school students do. Sure the flexible study hours are nice but how is that teaching students time management skills at all? In the real world you are expected to be at work on time, not whenever you feel like getting there. Also, I can't imagine graduating from high school without the memories of cheerleading for Friday night football games, going to proms and winter formals, and just daily talks around the lunch room table.
Most of the homeschool students I meet are intellectual, but I want my children to be well-rounded individuals in all aspects of life. I understand that public schooling has its disadvantages, but to me the social interactive skills developed through public schooling outweigh those disadvantages in the long term.
By Kristen Payne
"Piedmont College is very home school friendly," Cindy Peterson, director of admissions, said. "We reach out to the home school community because these students prove to be very self motivated individuals, engaging their professors, and often taking on many leadership roles." Eight percent of Piedmont's undergraduates were homeschoolers. Although this may not seem like a large percentage, it's higher than most other colleges and universities. Piedmont's administration strongly supports home schooling, but how do the home schoolers themselves feel about being homeschooled?
Stephens County homeschool student, Ashlan Williams said, "I really like it. I am able to learn at my own pace and study whenever I want. My schedule is very flexible and laid back." Williams laughed at the claim that homeschoolers do not have any friends or a social life. Williams and her siblings are involved in the Currahee Home Educators in Stephens County. This is an organization made up of over 100 families with homeschooled children that meet regularly and go on many trips throughout the year.
"Even given the opportunity to attend a public school, I would still choose to be home schooled," Williams says.
Although I see the definite advantages of homeschooling, I still don't plan to homeschool my children. Even though homeschoolers do have friends, they don't experience the same day-to-day interactions with others students as public school students do. Sure the flexible study hours are nice but how is that teaching students time management skills at all? In the real world you are expected to be at work on time, not whenever you feel like getting there. Also, I can't imagine graduating from high school without the memories of cheerleading for Friday night football games, going to proms and winter formals, and just daily talks around the lunch room table.
Most of the homeschool students I meet are intellectual, but I want my children to be well-rounded individuals in all aspects of life. I understand that public schooling has its disadvantages, but to me the social interactive skills developed through public schooling outweigh those disadvantages in the long term.
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