Integrity in Homeschooling in Light of the CRCT Scandal

Fear and pressure are being blamed as the cause of the humongous CRCT cheating scandal in GA. Watching the results of the probe unfold has me asking and reviewing my own fears and pressures regarding homeschooling.  For instance, it is time for college applications for my first born.  The college applications and acceptances are essentially the litmus tests as to whether or not his homeschool years were in fact, successful.

I have seen the pressure of ending homeschooling strong bend the most die-hard relaxed homeschooler into behaving like a drill sargent to make sure that student crams in everything they are suddenly afraid that they may have missed.  Then there is the opportunity to grade the child on an invisible curve in order to make them presentable to colleges.

We as homeschoolers must be extra diligent to not let the pressures of competing with public education (who are clearly cheating) take away our integrity to the process we have previously set forth as well as the integrity of our own hearts.




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Reasons why I am glad we homeschool: CRCT fiasco

So, yesterday, it was announced that a probe on Atlanta public schools proved that the majority of principals and administrators in Atlanta Public Schools altered test scores and otherwise cheated on the CRCT exams to make schools look good and to increase pass rates on the tests.

Story here: http://www.ajc.com/news/school-by-school-crct-1001745.html?cxntlid=brkng_nws_bnr

I don't for a minute believe that such a phenomenon is not spread across the entire state, including my area.  It makes me glad I homeschool, but sad because I know many kids who could be affected by this.

Still, they want homeschoolers to test, test, test to prove we are doing a good job.  That's not even working for the public school kids.  Perhaps testing should stop so kids can get actual instruction?

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Areas of weakness should be allowed

When I was in highschool I used to get pretty bent out of shape about studying and grades.  I had to understand every single concept in my math or science book (the areas I struggled in) or I would become distraught.  I remember my mother asking me, if I thought I might not pass a test, as I always passed my tests.  I would reply "Of course, I am going to pass the test, but by how much". I had to have A's.  That is how I was wired.  Yeah, I was high strung.

I am wired differently now.  Somewhere along the way, I learned that there would be areas where I would absolutely excel, and there are some areas, that I struggle in and I am OK with that.  As the parent of homeschoolers, I know that there are some areas where my kids deserve A's, some areas where they deserve B's, and some areas where they deserve C's.  Sometimes this is due to a lack of enthusiasm and effort.  Mostly, it is due to a weakness in a subject matter.

Sure I want my kids to always do their best, but I would rather them to really, really excel in one area than to do have them do satisfactorily in every area.  This is what makes us individuals.



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Is it even worth it to apply to a state college?

So here's my dillema. 

Son wants to go to SCAD Atlanta (Savannah College of Art and Design in Atlanta).  He has for a couple years now.  He is willing to look at other schools to apply to as a back-up, but he wants to go to SCAD so won't actively look for other options.  He as asked me to spearhead the search for backup colleges, and I have.  There is one other smaller, less expensive Christian college that he likes and beyond that, there is a big party college, where he can get a decent arts education, and the main campus of the state college (UGA) also has what looks like a very good art school.  The last two he would only apply to for giggles and grins, just for the sake of saying he applied to more than one or two colleges.

Here's the thing, we are not worried about him getting into SCAD.  We are only worried about paying for it. We are also not worried about getting into the second choice as they love homeschoolers.  But the State college... they want us as homeschoolers to jump through an ungodly number of hoops to get in...  A 3.7 GPA or close to it.  25-30 average ACT score.  Extra exams (SATII) or multiple AP tests.

That would add alot of extra work to my son's senior year, when his personal goal is to work on his portfolio and to get out a little more into the world.

Is it even worth it to spend the extra time studying for SATII's (when he has already passed CLEP exams).  Is to worth it to keep taking the ACT every test date to push for the highest score when he already has a Score that will get him a scholarship at another college?

Is this state college really THAT elite? or are they shooting themselves in the foot by making it difficult for homeschoolers to get in?



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