Friday, September 5, 2008

Costco Examines Homeschooling-Your Vote Needed

The latest issue of the Costco Connection Magazine, mailed to the homes of thousands of Costco members all over the world, published a piece about the controversy in California concerning the rights of parents who are not certified teachers to homeschool their children.

A community college math teacher, president of the California Federation of Teachers makes the argument homeschool parents "owe it to their children" to be "qualified" in the subjects that they are teaching.

Michael Smith, an attorney and president of the Home School Legal Defense Association, weighed in by first stating that this argument has been made in many other states over the years and not one has ever required certification of homeschool parents. He then goes on not only to present the superior test results of homeschool students but the severe problems in California public school achievement.

I found most interesting Smith's contention that even in public schools, research does not support a positive correlation between teacher certification and student achievement.

If you are a Costco member, you are invited to vote on your opinion on this issue. The results will be published in an upcoming issue of the Costco Connection Magazine.

Send an e-mail to debate@costco.com stating yes or no to the question "Should parents be certified to homeschool their children?" and be sure to include your mailing address and phone number in the e-mail.

1 comment:

  1. Interesting. Thanks for sharing. There is no Costco where I live or I would vote. (I homeschool and am not a certified teacher but I do have an advanced degree.)

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