The Liberal State Thesis

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The Liberal State Thesis Regarding Parental Authority, Children’s Rights, and Homeschooling: How Far 

Critiques the “liberal state thesis” that, among other things, promotes “the continued development and encroachment of the liberal state upon parental authority to homeschool children without undue interference and regulation of the government.” Offers a more positive view of homeschooling, and defends the responsibility of parental authority in determining their children’s educational delivery system.

Stephen M. King, Ph.D., Volume 16, No. 3, 2005, p. 15-24

 

Parental Duty and the Shape of the Future

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Explains that the state-based approach to determining which values are passed on to succeeding generations resolves the difficulty of indiscriminate social reproduction (i.e., some values are reproduced and not others) but it is not self-evident that this is the right way to resolve the difficulty. Explores an alternative approach, “a dispersed model in which individuals and groups work independently to preserve what they most value in the society and to pass beliefs and moral commitments on to the next generation.” Argues that this approach “better fits the actual moral beliefs of parents and citizens; it is more likely to produce the outcomes parents want (or should want) for their own children and what adult citizens should want for all children.”

 

Charles Howell, Ph.D., Volume 16, No. 3, 2005, p. 1-14

 

 

Religious Outcomes in Conventionally Schooled and Home Schooled Youth

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Purposes to determine if outcomes of home educated students were commensurate with the religious objectives given by many as reason for choosing home-based education by comparing responses to the instrument entitled Daily Challenges Inventory. Significant difference between homeschooled and conventionally schooled youth was found on 14 items of the DCI. The homeschooled group was significantly less likely to watch MTV; use drugs; lie to a parent, teacher, or other older person; attempt suicide; drink enough alcohol to be legally drunk; or gamble. Homeschoolers were also significantly less likely to describe themselves as too busy, stressed out, angry with life, confused, or always tired. Conventionally schooled youth were significantly more likely to describe themselves as upbeat, encouraged, and seeking answers.

 

T. Wayne McEntire, Ph.D., Volume 16, No. 2, 2005, p. 13-18

 

 

Home School Graduates and Their Mothers Talk About Literacy Instruction

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Interviews, face-to-face, high school graduates of homeschooling and their mothers about their literacy experiences to elicit in-depth literacy information in an informal non-threatening way, with the potential of pursuing desired information that might not be reported on a written questionnaire. Addresses many topics such as reading aloud, early memories, decoding, comprehension, favorite books, literature, vocabulary, grammar, spelling, writing, Christian materials, other instructional materials and techniques, Time Spent on Reading and Language Arts, family co-operatives, reading problems, current reading, what would you do differently?, and would you homeschool your own children?

June D. Knafle, Ph.D., and Alice Legenza Wescott, Ph.D., Volume 16, No. 2, 2005, p. 1-12