| This is the most complicated issue of Practical | | | | We have more (and better) resources to draw |
| Homeschooling ever. Its contents range from a | | | | upon. We can adapt the latest technology more |
| detailed analysis of the educational features of | | | | quickly. We are far more committed to finding out |
| online services to an equally detailed analysis of | | | | what works, as opposed to what sounds |
| major curriculum packages, and from reports on | | | | impressive on someone's resumŽ. |
| major educational conferences to a side-by-side | | | | That brings me back to my first point. |
| look at major homeschool methods. | | | | It's our own kids we are teaching. All the hubbub |
| So now am I going to shoot myself in the foot | | | | over the latest technology and the fanciest |
| by suggesting that the heart of homeschooling | | | | educational method means nothing at all if these |
| has nothing to do with all these sophisticated | | | | shiny new tools do not directly improve the |
| tools? You betcha. | | | | spiritual, emotional, and academic lives of our |
| Don't get me wrong -- it's great to be on the | | | | children. That is why we at Practical |
| cutting edge of education. Today, while public | | | | Homeschooling are working so hard to stay on |
| school districts that spent huge sums on | | | | top of the educational tools of today and |
| computer technology years ago are stuck with | | | | tomorrow. If we do this research, you don't have |
| obsolete Apple IIs and PCjr, homeschools sport | | | | to. You will be able to both have your cake (time |
| up-to-date hardware. While public schools cripple | | | | with your children) and eat it too (jumping right |
| themselves with incredibly expensive networked | | | | into programs you know are wholesome and will |
| software whose main claim to fame is its fancy | | | | interest you). |
| recordkeeping, homeschoolers pick up the very | | | | Spend lots of time with your children. |
| latest educational programs. Most significantly, | | | | Don't get caught up in going online for its own |
| companies that used to market only to schools | | | | sake while the kids run crazy in the next room. |
| are now producing "homeschool" versions of their | | | | Watch while they play their educational software, |
| products -- and in almost every case, the home | | | | or at least check in occasionally to observe their |
| versions are easier to use, cheaper, and more | | | | triumphs. ("Mom! I got every question right on this |
| efficient than the classroom versions. | | | | level of WordSmart!") In the end, most of the |
| As more of America's educational resources | | | | new technology is a crutch designed to fill in the |
| move online, onto video, and onto disks, it | | | | gaps in our own knowledge and teaching ability. |
| becomes easier and easier to duplicate, and | | | | The more we know, the less we need it for |
| surpass, a classroom education. The classroom | | | | educational purposes. There's a world of |
| experience keeps getting fragmented into more | | | | information out there, but most of what mankind |
| and more meaningless projects ("Let's gather | | | | needs to know is still between the leather covers |
| shoeboxes and spend the next week constructing | | | | of your grandpa's Bible. Technology is fun; |
| a Valentine village!") and politically correct "skills." | | | | technology is entertaining; technology is sociable |
| Meanwhile, homeschools are becoming more | | | | (love those message boards!); but technology is |
| efficient and streamlined. Homeschoolers are | | | | not God. If, instead of fretting about providing |
| moving away from "twaddle" and towards highly | | | | every underprivileged child in America with a |
| effective, easy-to-use educational programs, | | | | computer, our august leaders put some muscle |
| whereas (dare I say it?) today's schools seem | | | | into removing the artificial barriers the court |
| heading in exactly the opposite direction. | | | | system has erected between American children |
| Homeschooling is now clearly more sophisticated | | | | and God, we would all be a lot better off. |
| than classroom education. | | | | |