Pro-Homeschooling: Philosophy
Guest Post by Josh
Disclaimer: No disclaimers required. (Hey, at least mine are shorter!)
In Rae’s first post on the subject of homeschooling, she quotes The Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church which says:
Parents are the first educators, not the only educators, of their children. It belongs to them, therefore, to exercise with responsibility their educational activity in close and vigilant cooperation with civil and ecclesial agencies. “Man’s community aspect itself—both civil and ecclesial—demands and leads to a broader and more articulated activity resulting from well-ordered collaboration between the various agents of education. All these agents are necessary, even though each can and should play its part in accordance with the special competence and contribution proper to itself.” (109)
While it is this passage implies that governments and the Church should be involved in education, it doesn’t seem to imply that there is anything wrong with homeschooling.
“Among all educational instruments the school has a special importance” – Vatican II
It is quite true that the school is of special importance to education. It is the normal mode of education for the vast majority of the populace. It doesn’t follow, though, that all children should be enrolled in traditional schools.
Rae suggests that “parents must make use of all tools at their disposal to best educate their children.” While I agree with the substance of this, I think a better way of putting it is that “parents must make use the best tools at their disposal to best educate their children.” In many, maybe most, situations this means traditional schooling, but not all.
“At its best, Homeschooling is the least problematic option available among various less-than ideal options.”
Indeed, but so is public schooling. It isn’t as if homeschooling is unique in this regard.
“If a Catholic family is homeschooling, then one should immediately look at the local parish. Is there no school? If so, why not? If there is a school, is there something wrong with the quality? How could that be remedied? If there is a good school, what is the cost? How wealthy would a family with five children have to be in order to afford the school?”
All good questions, to be sure. But it is frequently (usually?) beyond the reach of families to effect improved quality, lowered cost, etc.
To sum up: Catholic social doctrine requires government and Church involvement in education for the good of society, but the choice of how a family should educate their children in any particular circumstance depends entirely on the “facts on the ground.”
I got more quotes from Church documents in than you did. Clearly that means that I won.
If you changed “but it is frequently (usually?) beyond the reach of families to effect improved quality, lowered cost, etc.” to specify that you meant *individual* families, I think that I can agree with everything. But if all families join together, then change is quite possible.
Yes we can. In the unlikely story that is Catholic Education, there has never been anything false about hope.
I agree there is nothing “wrong” with homeschooling – but the absence of it being “wrong” does not make it “right” for your family (or mine).