6A
Friday, April 18, 1997
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
omeschooling brings families closer together and allows parents a more active role in teaching morals
"Then we moved to Lawrence, and the schools were unbelievably better," he said. "We thought it
was great until our son began to come home grumpy, like he'd had a bad day. It seemed like even a good school wasn't the best school."
His son, Eric, was bored with the busywork and lack of challenge in class, so Kenneth and his wife, Susan, who has a degree in education, decided to pull their two children from school and begin teaching at home.
"Looking back, homeschooling was an incredibly valuable experience for us as a family," Susan said. "It bonded us together more."
Kenneth said he thought Eric was happier and learned more at home, and he appreciated the control homeschooling gave him.
"We had a major impact on the values they were taught that we might not otherwise have had," he said.
Lawrence freshman Jocilyn Oyler also made the decision to homeschool for academic reasons. She asked her parents to consider homeschooling after she completed the eighth grade.
"Most of my friends were home-schooled," she said. Oyler wanted the academic freedom they experienced learning at home, so she suggested the idea to her parents and completed high school in three and a half years of home-schoooling.
Thousands of other families have made decisions similar to the Demarests' and Oyler's.
The Home School Legal Defense Fund
estimates that of students in kindergarten through twelfth grade, 700,000 to 1 million are homeschooled.
One study has predicted that, as home schooling becomes increasingly accepted, up to 2 million children, or 5 percent of the population, would be schooled at home.
Homeschooling is certainly no longer limited to Protestant fundamentalism, as evidenced by support groups for Muslim, Jewish and Catholic homeschoolers. A number of groups whose views often go unrepresented in public schools have appeared in the homeschooling community.
Still, the majority of homeschoolers, including most at KU, do have Christian backgrounds, and services offered to homeschoolers, such as publications, organizations, and teaching aids, have distinctly Christian perspectives.
College admissions and homeschoolers
Although the number of homeschoolers who apply to KU still is relatively small, admissions director Allan Cerveny said that it increases each year.
Dealing with the growing stream of homeschoolers has been difficult for many colleges and universities.
"Out of around 8,000 freshman applications, a handful are from homeschoolers, probably a couple dozen at the most," he said.
Unlike traditional students, homeschoolers often lack a transcript or grades that can be weighed against other
"I think the transition might have been easier because I was used to working by myself."
Eric B. Howell / KANSAN
Hannah Willems
Lawrence sophomore
Mellissa Brooks(left), Lawrence freshman, speaks with her adviser, Mary Klayyer. Brooks received her primary education at home and plans to study abroad in the next two years.
students'records.
Coming home
This results in an increased emphasis on test scores and other objective standards.
In the past, some schools made it difficult for homeschoolers to apply at all. Until 1986, the University of Texas at Austin required homeschooled students to be at least 21 and have a graduate-equivalent diploma (GED).
Some schools are finding new ways to evaluate homeschoolers.
In Kansas, the Board of Regents has no admissions guidelines specific to homeschoolers. However, under the current open admissions policy, any Kansas student with a GED would automatically qualify for admission to a Regents school. Many homeschoolels choose this route.
The popularity of homeschooling has jumped in recent years, and homeschool enrollment increases 15 to 40 percent each year. Many parents cite the positive results of homeschooling compared to public schools as their reasons for educating their children at home.
Number of homeschooled students in the U.S. (With percentage of total school-age population)
This will change in 2001, when the Regents qualified admissions standards take effect, requiring Kansas students to meet minimum requirements. The Regents have not said how these guidelines will be applied to homeschoolers.
Homeschool highlights
Academic achievement
Homeschooled students scored at the 79th percentile in reading and at the 73rd percentile in both language and mathematics in the nationally normed Iowa Test of Basic Skills.
Saving tax money
Studies show that homeschooling families save the education system as much as $31 million a year.
Social adjustment
Homeschooled students are less likely to have problem behaviors than are public school students. They also are more likely to participate in leadership-oriented extracurricular activities.
Preparation for adult life
A University of Michigan survey turned up no home schooled adults who were unemployed or on welfare.
KU has had no clear policy for evaluating homeschoolers before this semester, so homeschoolers have been dealt with on a case-by-case basis.
Brooks said she thought the admissions department handled the process well.
"When I got to KU, it was a nice surprise, because they didn't question my transcript," she said. "They didn't seem to have any problems at all, even though I didn't have a diploma or GED. They based it mostly on MY ACT and SAT scores."
Since Brooks was admitted, admissions director Allen Cerveny has established guidelines requiring all homeschool graduates to have earned a GED.
Gina Campbell, associate director of admissions at Wichita State University, said that 40 to 50 homeschoolers applied to her school each year. WSU does not require that homeschooled applicants have a GED, although it does require that homeschoolers score a minimum of 18 on the ACT.
Other Regents schools have different policies.
Out-of-state homeschooled students with GEDs must compete against other out-of-state students for admission. To compare these students, Cerveny said increased emphasis would be placed on test scores and other objective standards.
we're sure the student can come to the University and be successful."
"It is difficult to standardize anything, and that is why KU thinks it's important to have the GED and ACT and SATs," he said. "Ultimately, our primary concern is not to discriminate against a home-schooler, but to look at it in a way that
At Kansas State University, homeshoolers are evaluated individually, with no minimum requirements.
Adapting to the college environment
Coming to the University with far less classroom experience than her peers, Brooks was uneasy.
"There was some adjustment to the lectures," she said. "Lectures are something I haven't had much exposure to, so I went in and talked to most of my professors. I was nervous at first, but I liked how laid back most people here are."
as well as other students.
But while homeschooled students have less exposure to lecturing, they are accustomed to the independent style of learning required at college.
Hannah Willems, a Lawrence sophomore who was homeschooled for grades four through nine, said she thought her homeschooling experience left her better prepared for college.
"I think the transition might have been easier because I was used to working by myself. I didn't expect the professors to crack down on me," she said. "It helped me become directed in my studies."
"Anecdotally, the homeschooled students I've followed up on have done very well." he said.
SOURCE I: U.S. Census Bureau,
National Home Education Research Institute
Most colleges report that homeschoolers have been successful in their studies. David Illingsworth, an admissions representative at Harvard University, gained national attention after the school admitted a number of homeschool graduates. He said homeschoolers typically did just
In addition to academics, homeschoolers attending college must adjust to its social aspects. Brooks said her social life changed as she met new people at the University.
Andy Rohrback/KANSAN
"I have definitely expanded a lot in that area. I was careful not to isolate myself as a homeschooler," she said.
"You want to do a good job preparing your child for college," said Caryn Oyler, Jocilyn's mother. "I was worried about how she would adjust to the situation, but she's risen to the occasion. She has done so well at KU."
For the highly involved parents of homeschoolers, the transition into college can be filled with mixed emotions.
Susan Demarest said she was relieved when her children left homechooling.
"This isn't a monastery," she told her children. "We're not going to keep you here forever."
She adds, "When I saw my children go ahead and do all the things I hoped they could do, I was really glad to let go."
Becoming a typical college student
Brooks met with her adviser, Mary Klayder, assistant director of the honors program, on Wednesday and discussed her plans for coming semesters. She is the typical student, taking a full load of classes and spending most of her days on campus. She's becoming involved in activities, such as the Ballroom Dance Club, and, like most students, she admits to skipping class once or twice.
While she enjoyed the experience of homeschooling, she feels that now, KU is right for her.
"I'm glad to be like everyone else now," she said. "I've enjoyed not being the exception."
RALLY
Continued from Page 1A
"There is really no question that student-employee and teacher activism gets results," Murtaugh said.
Armitage said that because GTAs taught more than one-third of the classes at the University, they deserved health insurance and the 3.5 percent salary increase that all other KU employees got in 1995.
Compared to peer institutions, such as the University of Iowa and the University of Oregon, GTAs at KU were underpaid and underprivileged.
"lowa GTAs unionized, got over $12,000 a year, and health care," Armitage said.
Chris Killough, Wichita sophomore, who was studying in front of Strong Hall when the marchers entered, said he supported the GTAs' cause but that he did not know whether the march was the most effective means to accomplish their goals.
"They're certainly making enough noise, but whether (the administration) will listen or not is another matter," Killough said.
SENATE
The judicial board would consist of one student from the law school, three from the student body at large, one member of the student rights committee, and three current Student Senators.
Continued from Page 1A
If Sullivan and Walden submitted an appeal in the next year, Montgomery
Montgomery said he would try to avoid making controversial appointments to the board by appointing nonpartisan students. If students were appointed to the board who were to serve on Senate next year, they could face a tough decision by voting favor-
would call an emergency Senate session during which current senators would nominate and vote on senators to serve on the judicial board and approve Montgomery's appointments to the board.
ably or unfavorably for Sullivan, next year's president.
Sullivan and Walden are to take office at Wednesday's joint Student Senate meeting. But if they appeal, they will not take office until the appeal is resolved. That would prevent current senators and next year's senators from taking part in the traditional ceremony during which power is changed.
In such a case, Montgomery would remain in power until the appeal was resolved.
1016 Massachusetts Downtown Lawrence 865-4055
Mondays - $2 Pitchers / Live Music / Free Pool
Tuesdays - $2 Big Draws
Wednesdays - $2 Pitchers
Thursdays - $2 Any Draw
Friday Nights - $2.00 Any Bottle
Saturday Nights - $1.50 Domestic Bottles
Come in and try our very own brew! FAT ASS AMBER ALE!