View source for Essay:Characteristics of Homeschoolers

Here are some common characteristics of homeschoolers, which are not as common among [[public school]] students:

*develop a greater ability and discipline to be self-taught
*develop a greater reliance on logic than on "because the teacher says so"
*education does not end with a diploma
*less desire to "fit in"
*greater ability to be self-employed as an adult <ref>WorldNet Daily, ''When homeschoolers grow up'', by Samuel Blumenfeld, February 04, 2006, retrieved 10/16/2008 [http://www.websitetoolbox.com/tool/post/apologia/vpost?id=903229] A 1993 study of homeschooled adults by professor J. Gary Knowles of the University of Michigan surveyed 53 adults who had been home educated because of ideology or geographical isolation. Of these, two-thirds were self-employed. "That so many of those surveyed were self-employed supports the contention that homeschooling tends to enhance a person's self-reliance and independence. Many mentioned a strong relationship engendered with their parents, while others talked about self-directed curriculum and individualized pace that a flexible program of homeschooling permitted."</ref><ref>PA Homeschoolers, ''What do Homeschoolers do after Graduation?'', by Dr. Howard Richman, Issue 66 (Spring 1999)[http://www.pahomeschoolers.com/newsletter/issue66.htm]  A 1999 study surveyed 352 home educated students who had graduated from an academically rigorous Pennsylvania diploma program from 1991 through 1998.  Of the 37 students who had graduated from 1991 through 1994, (and thus were more than 4 years from high school graduation), 3 (8%) were self-employed.</ref>
*vote at a rate three times the rate of those educated in public school<ref>"76 percent of homeschool graduates surveyed between the ages of 18 to 24 voted within the last five years, compared to only 29 percent of the corresponding U.S. population."[http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=35226]</ref>
*superior knowledge of the Bible<ref>Among those who have Christian parents; this would not necessarily apply to those who have atheist parents (homeschooling has seen a significant increase among atheist parents due to many of the same concerns about public schools as Christian parents have)</ref>
*lack of guile and discomfort with lying
*object of scorn by those attending formal school, but no reciprocal animosity<ref>See, e.g., [[Mystery:Did McClellan Scorn Lincoln Because He Was Homeschooled?]]</ref>
*better manners and social skills

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