Hello, , from NHERI.

Home-educated graduates are most likely to get divorced?

Most likely to feel helpless in dealing with the problems of life?

Most likely to lack any clear goals or sense of direction?

Most likely to feel prepared for a vibrant religious and spiritual life?

Least likely to be involved in political campaigns?

Least likely to spend much time volunteering or going on mission trips?

This is what a major internationally-read Christian magazine has recently reported about the graduates of religious homeschooling compared to graduates of non-religious private schools, Catholic schools, conservative Protestant schools, and public schools. [Note 1]

There are major problems with this reporting. In addition, there are major limitations regarding the study they are reporting (as we reported to you in detail on August 23, 2011).

For example, less than 90 of the roughly 2,000 young adults in the study were home educated at all. And only some of these less-than-90 grew up in "religious homeschool" families. This is a tiny sample size from which very few dependable conclusions can be drawn. Second, the researchers only reported that the adults were homeschooled, Catholic schooled, and so forth for some of their high school years; no information was given on whether they attended that type of schooling for 2, 8, or 12 years. Third, the study's findings directly contradict the findings of several other studies about adults who were home educated. [Note 2]

Either much irresponsibility or ignorance of proper research-reporting protocol is involved regarding this study.

The National Home Education Research Institute and I have been and are significantly involved in dealing with the serious problems related to this study and reports on it.

There is a good possibility that a major Christian magazine wants me to write a sound review of research on homeschooling for them to publish. It could include a direct response to the above-mentioned study and its reporting.

Please consider praying that this article is welcome and published in a timely manner.

If you have any suggestions, please let me know.

If you want to support NHERI's work, time, and effort in writing and publishing this article with funding, please see below.

Our research on home-based education carries on. Our review of and response to other research carries on.

Thank you for your interest, time, and support.

P.S. There are two ways to tangibly help us:

  1. Send a check to: NHERI, PO Box 13939, Salem OR 97309 (using a check puts the largest percent of your gift to work at NHERI)

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NHERI, PO Box 13939, Salem OR 97309, USA

Notes:

1. The Lasting Effects of Your School. (2011, September). Retrieved 9/27/2011 from http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2011/september/spot-lastingschool.html.

2. Ray, Brian D. (2005). A homeschool research story. In Bruce S. Cooper (Ed.), Home schooling in full view: A reader, p. 1-19. Greenwich, CT: Information Age Publishing.