Some stay home to go to school
Published: Wed, Aug. 30, 2006 12:00AM
Modified Wed, Aug. 30, 2006 03:11AM
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close"The greatest advantage to home education is that parents have the say in their child's education and can customize it to what their child needs," says Hal Young, a Johnston County father of five home-schooled children and education vice president for North Carolinians For Home Education.
Two types of children seem to especially benefit: those who are exceptionally bright or those who have special needs. Bright children are able to learn at a faster rate than they would in a traditional school. Special-needs kids are able to work at a slower pace.
Home-schooling also has attracted parents who are concerned about school violence and who want to include religion in their children's daily education.
More Education
Young says all children can benefit from home-schooling, provided their parents put in the time. He says parents shouldn't have a problem teaching elementary and middle-school students. Some parents do worry whether they know enough to home-school a high school student. But Young says a review of the material often helps bring it back for parents. Plus, Web sites, distance learning and special programs can help students and parents.
An estimated 64,387 North Carolinians were home-schooled last school year. Parents need only have a high school diploma. They must also keep regular attendance records, immunization records and offer a nationally standardized test each year.
Go to North Carolinians For Home Education's Web site, www.nche.org, for more information.
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