
The argument that home schooling should be banned is a very good argument. Although it is an alternative learning source you must consider that kids will not be able to interact or socialize with others. They will not be following a school curriculum and may just learn what they want.
Return To Top | Posted:
2018-10-01 02:52:06
| Speak Round
Thank you to my opponent for accepting the challenge and I look forward to a spirited debate!
First, I would like to state at the outset that in order to win this debate, my opponent not only must show that homeschooling is on balance less desirable than public or private schooling (which they cannot show), but that it is so undesirable and even harmful to the child that it warrants the State overturning the decision made by the family. In a free society, rights cannot be stripped away based on a mere cost-benefit analysis. The U.S. Supreme Court has established these principles in the cases of Wisconsin v. Yoder and Troxel v. Granville.
Now, the case for why homeschooling should not be banned:
1. The right to direct the education of one's child is a fundamental constitutional and human right. This right is not only supported by unambiguous legal precedent in the United States and across the world, it is supported by every major religion and philosophy. A parent , first and foremost, knows what is best for their particular children, and the state should only intervene in the rare cases where the parent is causing harm to the child.
2. Homeschooled students perform consistently better on every single objective measure of academic performance. One study concluded that homeschooled students perform between 15 and 30 percentile points higher than public school students, and among African-American homeschoolers, the advantage was even greater. SeeAfrican American homeschool parents’ motivations for homeschooling and their Black children’s academic achievement. Ray, Brian D. (2015). Journal of School Choice, 9:71–96. A 2009 study found that homeschooled students performed as much as 40 points higher than public school-educated children in many subject areas. See Homeschool Progress Report, 2009.
My opponent's entire argument rests on conjecture, and cites no sources.
3. My opponent's "socialization" argument is unsupported by any sources and refuted by the available evidence. For example, see the recent study from Stetson University - "Homeschooling and the Question of Socialization Revisited". (https://www.stetson.edu/artsci/psychology/media/medlin-socialization-2013.pdf). This study as well as every single other study conducted on the topic absolutely demolishes my opponent's misinformed contention.
"McEntire (2005) found that homeschooled youth were less likely than their peers to use illicit drugs, gamble, lie to an adult, abuse alcohol, or attempt suicide. Romanowski (2002) reported that homeschooled adolescents who enrolled in public schools were disturbed by the dishonesty, profanity, and materialism they found there. Adults who were homeschooled as children were found to be less likely than the general population to be convicted of a crime (Ray, 2004a)."
The study concludes:
“What about socialization?” is a very important but also a very ambiguous question. To be answered properly, it must be recast into a more specific question that is consistent with an accurate definition of socialization, such as this: Are homeschooled children acquiring the “skills, behavior patterns, values, and motivations” they need to function competently as members of society (Maccoby, 2007, p. 13)? And the answer to that question, based on three decades of research on homeschooling, is clearly yes. Recent research, like that reviewed earlier (Medlin, 2000), gives every indication that the socialization experiences homeschooled children receive are more than adequate. In fact, some indicators— quality of friendships during childhood, infrequency of behavior problems during adolescence, openness to new experiences in college, civic involvement in adulthood—suggest that the kind of socialization experiences homeschooled children receive may be more advantageous than those of children who attend conventional schools.
For these reasons, and for reasons to be brought up later in the debate, I strongly urge a CON ballot.
Return To Top | Posted:
2018-10-01 19:18:19
| Speak Round
Thank You For Having Me :)
Return To Top | Posted:
2018-10-01 22:33:31
| Speak Round
Thank you for your reply.
Unfortunately, my opponent's response is incredibly unpersuasive. On one side, we have anecdotal, unproven evidence. On the other side, there is actual proof that homeschooling is not only equivalent to public and private school, it is likely superior. I am sure that there are plenty of public school speech teams that have performed poorly as well; plus there is no proof that it even happened. If this is all my opponent has, then it shouldn't be a difficult choice to make as to who has won this debate.
To recapitulate:
1. Principles of individual liberty mandate that in order to win this debate, my opponent not only must show that homeschooling is on balance less desirable than public or private schooling (which they cannot show), but that it is so undesirable and even harmful to the child that it warrants the State overturning the decision made by the family.
2. Homeschooled students perform consistently better on every single objective measure of academic performance.
3. My opponent's "socialization" argument is unsupported by any sources and refuted by the available evidence.
All of this is backed up by numerous scientific, peer reviewed studies. But if my opponent is to be trusted, all of that evidence should be discounted - because one homeschooled team allegedly performed poorly at one speech competition somewhere in the world.
I strongly urge a Con Ballot.
Return To Top | Posted:
2018-10-03 09:07:21
| Speak Round
Round Forfeited
Return To Top | Posted:
2018-10-06 09:08:03
| Speak Round
....
Posted 2018-10-01 22:01:57
Make your move realdon_762Posted 2018-10-01 02:53:01