Rigor, Relevance, and Relationships

In our local newspaper recently, guest columnist Dave Quall wrote:

“For the past decade the mantra of the best and brightest school reformers has been "rigor, relevance, and relationships." These three Rs are the pillars of successful schools and rising student achievement across all demographic fault lines -- income, race and culture.”

He further goes on to explain "rigor, relevance, and relationships." I would like to expand on these ideas a bit further, and show how homeschooling through high school gives you the advantage in these areas.

Quall writes that "Rigor refers to the need for students to reach high levels of competence in academic subjects, including a second language." He says that we need to keep academics in mind, but not let it become a total focus. I agree, to a point. Education is fundamentally about learning, after all. Homeschoolers have the advantage, because they can ensure that their students truly get a quality education and won't get lost in the system. With the great student-teacher ratio, the important elements of education will be learned. In homeschool, students don’t get passed along to the next grade level just to stay with their age-mates. Instead they can truly learn each topic along the way. Academic rigor really is important for all students, and when you are homeschooling you can truly ensure that subjects are understood. For more help choosing rigorous high school classes for homeschoolers, see my earlier Heart of the Matter article.

"Relevance is making learning meaningful. To truly engage students, good teachers connect what kids learn to what they already know from their own cultures and life experiences." Now really, how can a public or private school teacher expect to do that in a classroom with 25-30 students? In many cases, they simply can’t know what is going on in a child's life. That's why homeschoolers have the advantage. We really KNOW our child. We can make sure that we are always teaching at their level all the time, in every subject. We can match the student's learning style with our own teaching style. We can use what works or quickly change to other curriculum, because we have complete authority over all aspects of instruction. Without any bureaucracy, we have the optimum ability to make changes to suit the needs of our students.

"Relationships refer to every kid's need for mentoring and encouragement by adults, and safe and healthy friendships with their peers." This is my favorite comment that Dave Quall makes. You see, my kids were in public school for years. During our last year in public school, their teacher-mentor was “educating” my son that lying, stealing, or assaulting others is "OK when necessary" (this during a unit study on The Oregon Trail.) During public school, socialization with peers included one student who threw a metal pipe at my son's head and shared explicit materials with his first grade classmates. Homeschoolers have the advantage in relationships and socialization. We can make sure that adults and others will model our moral code and value system. We can ensure that friendships truly are healthy and safe. We can dramatically reduce the negative peer pressure, teasing, tormenting, and chronic negative feedback from peers that lead to low self-esteem.

I agree that schools should keep rigor, relevance and relationships in balance. I also believe that homeschooling is the best way to achieve that balance. Homeschooling through high school will give your children the education, confidence, and social skills they need to thrive in the adult world.

Lee Binz is a veteran homeschooling mom of two and the owner of The HomeScholar, "Helping parents homeschool through high school". You can sign up for her free email newsletter The HomeScholar Record and get your daily dose of wisdom via e-mail from The HomeScholar Blog.