There are a number of reasons why parents choose homeschooling. One reason that seems to be highlighted predominantly by the media is parents are homeschooling their children for religious purposes. Parents also choose homeschooling for their children due to complicated medical needs and conditions. Some parents also pick homeschooling because they have the free-time, education, and/or simply, the ideology that their children are better off outside of a conventional school.
Homeschooling was a rather widely-debated topic in the early 2000s, but attention towards the education style has appeared to simmer down as of late. Research into the successes and failures of homeschooling are relatively scarce, as scholars Kunzman and Gaither point out in their article Homeschooling: A Comprehensive Survey of the Research,
"Homeschoolers are often urged by their fellow practitioners and movement leaders to avoid participating in research studies (Kaseman & Kaseman, 2010; Stevenson, 2009; Webb, 2011), unless the study is sponsored by homeschool advocacy groups themselves" (36).
Thus, critical data on the subject has been underinvestigated due to this blockade set up by homeschool advocacy groups. The possibility that past research has been swayed or wrongly adjusted by bias in order to corroborate with such advocacy groups' wishes is another concern in regards to the legitimacy of available data. Nonetheless, we will try our best to see how homeschooling affects a student's writing skills.
Observing the early stage of Kindergarten, professors Aram, Meidan and Deitcher conducted a study comparing the academic performance of homeschoolers to their formally schooled peers. The 2016 article explains how they analyzed the learning routines of 30 homeschooled and 30 formally schooled kindergarteners. By using three metrics, Early Literacy, Mothers' Beliefs, and Writing Mediation, the researchers found "significantly lower early literacy skills among the homeschooled children compared to the formally schooled" (28). Therefore, according to the study, it seems it is more difficult for children to learn in a home environment at such an early age. More specifically, the research in this study concluded that the formally schooled group were significantly better at name writing and letter knowledge than the homeschooled (22), and on average, homeschooling mothers "promoted their child’s competence less frequently, provided less organizational support for the activity, and demanded less precision" (25). These shortcomings on behalf of the homeschooled group are directly affiliated with the parent's ability to be an effective educator, but the researchers admit that performances by the homeschooling mothers were more variable than for the formally schooling mothers. Despite differences between the two groups in other categories, the researchers saw no difference in phonological awareness (23) or word writing (24) between the two groups. In conclusion, it seems that formally schooled children have a slight leg up on homeschooled children at the very beginning of their education. But how do these two variations of education compare later on?
Despite the negative findings for kindergarteners, data related to homeschooled high school graduates and eventual college enrollees is much more promising. According to The Social and Educational Outcomes of Homeschooling, a piece written by Murphy of Vanderbilt University, "homeschoolers demonstrate academic preparedness equal to graduates of public schools on measures of verbal, writing, and critical thinking skills" (39). Additionally, Murphy explains how Sutton and Galloway, in a 2000 study, compared homeschoolers with the formally schooled using indicators of long term success, which were classified as achievement, leadership, professional aptitude, social behavior, and physical activity. The study found no significant difference between the homeschooled and formally schooled for any of the above categories (41). Thus, parents considering homeschooling shouldn't be discouraged by early learning trouble, as it appears many families who have homeschooled in the past have been able to succeed. Murphy also mentions that college admissions officers have found that homeschooled students are admitted in similar proportion to formally schooled students, and homeschooled students are enrolling in some of the top secondary programs in the country (40). After observing Murphy's 2014 article, it is apparent that the writing skills required for success on standardized tests and college applications are being learned by homeschoolers just as well as those who are formally schooled. Additionally, homeschooled students do not typically sacrifice their future dreams and success by not attending a conventional school.
Furthermore, how can homeschooling benefit a child's writing skills? For an answer, we can observe Huber's dissertation, Unexplained Territory: Writing Instruction In Pennsylvania Homeschool Settings, Grades 9-12. Huber closely examines six families who are homeschooling their children for writing specific purposes. Her accounts of the families' ways of education illuminate how homeschooling can give children the opportunity to specialize in one form or field, which they wouldn't necessarily receive to the same extent at a conventional school. For instance, Huber explains how Emily and David of one family are looking to "critique men and ideas" in their writing, while Joe, of another homeschooling family, is focused on "releasing creativity" in his writing (335). Therefore, homeschooling may be a beneficial route if a child has a unique talent or skill they are trying to develop. However, critics of homeschooling have challenged that "homeschool writers are unfairly exempted from language arts standards and assessments" (371). Parents have to find the balance between what they are exposing their children to, and what they are shielding them from when they decide to go with homeschooling.
Again, I must mention what Kunzman and Gaither point out in their work: "many questions about homeschooling — particularly “the average homeschooler”— remain unanswered." At the end of the day, what parents put into homeschooling is what they will eventually get out of it. The education style can be extremely beneficial to students with unique talents and interests, especially in regards to writing, as they will have a better opportunity to dive deeper into their desired areas. Additionally, current research conveys that homeschooled students are not at a disadvantage pertaining to applying to and graduating from college.