University Daily Kansan, March 5, 1985
Page 6
School Days Teaching parents say home work is better
The Impson children — Joshua, David, Davina and Sarah — never have attended public schools. He never off because of it, their parents say.
According to the children's parents, Keiller and Beth Imphn, 1638 W. 20th St. Terrace, the children do their school work at home as a team, and the education they receive is better
Mr. Impson said last week that he couldn't remember when he decided that his children shouldn't go to school and he never had regretted the decision
"The kids work as a team and the education they get is much better than what a offered in a public school." He said.
Three bills to set standards for home schooling have been introduced so far this session in the Kansas Legislature. The bills were tabled in the House Education Committee last week and will be Rep. Jessie Branson, D.D Lawrence.
Branson said she expected the bills to be considered later in the session.
The bills would set requirements for families teaching their children at home and the methods by which they teach. Under the bills, a child could be taught at home only if the parents objected to public schooling because of religious or other personal beliefs.
The standards set by the new bills would require parents practicing home schooling to be certified teachers. Each year, 1,080 hours of instruction — the same as in public and private schools — would have to be taught for the schooling to be legal.
Impson's children, ages 3, 5, and 9, are taught by their father from textbooks published by Bob Jones University Press.
Impson said these textbooks were better for the children because they taught basic Christian beliefs as the children learned math and science.
Dale Scannell, KU dean of education, said yesterday that he was concerned that students who learned at home would not benefit from interaction with other students their age.
"In a multi-cultural society, personal interaction is important," he
A home can't provide all the services a public school can, Scannell said.
"Counseling, learning disability teachers and other experts can't be found in a home school setting," he said.
Bob Arevalo, principal at Centennial Elementary School, 2145 Louisiana St., said home schooling had advantages and disadvantages.
"The child is able to get more attention at home. It is one-on-one."
But he said one problem with home schooling was that most families could not afford it.
up-to-date books, which children could get at public schools.
Impson said, "In the public schools, the children learn evolution as a fact. There is a Godless base being taught in the schools now."
Impson's children learn together, and he said they were able to help each other more. The older children are able to bring a concept down to a level the younger children are able to understand.
"There isn't a big gap between the ages. If I'm not able to explain something, one of the older kids will be able to." he said.
Impson said he thought the children learned faster when taught at home. Joshua, 9, already has been through all the history a high school course on, and reads with the comprehension of a high school senior, Impson said.
Josiah also has been learning word processing from a computer the teacher taught to him.
"Last year, Joshua read the Bible five times just because he wanted to." Impson said.
David, 7, is two years ahead of public school students in math and one year ahead in reading, Impson said.
The children study six days a week. Impson said, with Sundays off. The day usually starts at 6:30 a.m. with breakfast. Impson and the children then do laundry or house cleaning chores until about 8:30 a.m.
A Bible study, including the memorization of scriptures, takes place before school work is started, Impson said.
The children then read textbooks and do exercises from workbooks. Impson said he had been given as a substitute for the books because he taught at home.
During the winter, the children stock up more than in the summer months.
"This is the way it used to be when children were expected to help their parents." Impson said.
When the family goes to the library, Impson and his wife are careful to let the children read only the books they feel will be useful to them, he said.
"Some of the books, like Dr. Seuss books, are too showy. It hinders their capability to enjoy more difficult stuff later," he said.
"Public schools teach about theory, which is fine. But it is not a substitute for reality," he said.
"The main reason we don't want the children to go to public schools is because of the love we have for them and they can learn together here."
Impson said he and his wife would allow their children to attend high school. He also learned learning vocational skills or working toward professional degrees.
"I think my two sons will become preachers, but I wouldn't be opposed to Joshua becoming a medical doctor if he wanted to," he said.
As with all children, it is not all work and no play for the Impons. Suffering from a little cabin fever on a cold day early last week, they took a break from their studies to roughhouse a bit.
Joshua, 9, writes a message on the family home computer, and his sister, Divina, 6, concentrates on her arithmetic. Joshua is learning word processing on the computer, and Divina has just started studying math.
Photos by Brice Waddill
Story by Nancy Haney
(ABOVE) David Impson, 7, sharpen his math skills as his sister Sarah, 3, looks on. For the older children, helping the younger ones is an integral part of the educational process at the Impson's home school. (LEFT) Keiller, center, and Divina, left, instruct Sarah in an exercise that will help her learn the alphabet. (BELOW) Keiller leads the children in prayer before lunch. The Impson chose to keep their children out of public schools for moral reasons.