Are There Advantages To Choosing Independent Study?

By Amber Walker Laurel Springs Staff Member

When I was an enrollment counselor here at Laurel Springs, I used to have a list taped to my wall of about 20 advantages of Independent Study. It would come in handy when you would call in with questions. But the list became too long and I figured that I could narrow it down to just a few broad categories. I arrived at these after asking our students why they chose Independent Study and one of these advantages usually rises to the top of their list.

1. The advantage of religious/spiritual convictions
2. The advantage of socialization and academics
3. The advantage of more time to spend with family or other pursuits

(1) Some people have religious or spiritual convictions that are a way of life. It is passionate and engaged. These people are often homeschoolers as their sense of purpose and passion keeps energizes them and keeps them going. They can choose their curriculum and shape it into what best suits them. They can incorporate into the curriculum the topics for special projects. These people come from all faiths and we welcome their enthusiasm, it can often be contagious.

(2) Children educated at home don't become social misfits as some people would have you think. One of the major arguments against homeschooling is that it deprives children of the peer contacts needed for normal social development. Well, according to a University of Michigan study of homeschooled adults, they found "no evidence that these adults were even moderately disadvantaged" according to J. Knowles, assistant professor at U.M. They were able to become productive participating members of a diverse and democratic society.

Academic excellence can be easily achieved by providing a custom curriculum constructed around the child's real grade level. We have a state of the art assessment team who evaluates, along with a learning style profile, just how each child learns best. Our kids move at their own pace but cannot go on until they have completed their projects or assignments. They also get excellent feedback from their instructors.

(3) The average child is in the traditional school setting by the age of 5 where they spend more waking hours of the day with "others" rather than their parents. We allow these "others" to formulate our children's morals, values, ethics, decision making and problem solving abilities. When children stay at home with their parents, they learn these valuable assets from them, not the institution. I don't know about you, but if I had had the opportunity to homeschool my children, I could have had more control of what they were learning and the behavior they were emulating.

The Key to successful Independent Study is for them to pursue other activities and by emphasizing elective lifestyles. Here are a few suggestions: 4H club, choir, drama (many of our students are professional actors) recreation centers, sports (i.e. dance, gymnastics, tennis, soccer, figure skating, surfing and equestrian training) is also a big motivator for homeschooling. Music is another, such as songwriting, singing or playing an instrument. As you can see, there are many ways a child can occupy their time other than in school.

Lauren Brenner-Katz and her two homeschooled kids have founded several homeschooling support groups, including Westside Homeschoolers in Los Angeles. Lauren is a writer, an artist, and a volunteer with several non-profit groups, including The Real Medicine Foundation. She and her youngest daughter host a TV cable show featuring people making a difference in the world. She lives with her children near the ocean in Southern California with a curly white dog, a couple of fish, some sea monkeys, and a box of silkworms. She's interested in non-violent communication, mind/body health, Buddhism, and the pursuit of silliness.