Ah, Groundhog Day! What a fun and bizarre American tradition! Each February 2nd, we wait in rapt anticipation to see whether or not the groundhog will see his shadow. If he spots it – 6 more weeks of winter. If it’s cloudy and he doesn’t see his shadow, spring will come early.
Frankly, there is much I don’t understand about this tradition. Namely, wouldn’t a sunny day rather than a cloudy day be a better predictor of nice weather coming? And how exactly do you know the groundhog actually saw his shadow? After all, Punxsutawney Phil could have been eyeing any number of interesting things in his vicinity – a delicious looking morsel of some sort, a rock that wasn’t there when he had settled down for his winter nap, or perhaps the flock of cameramen and journalists on hand to capture the moment. Who’s to say?!
A fun novelty but hardly a way to make an accurate prediction!
Statistics on Homeschool Success
To make a true prediction, we like to see facts, statistics, research, some good old empirical evidence! For example, want to predict if your child will succeed in a homeschool program? Take a look at this list from the National Home Education Research Institute (www.nheri.org/research/research-facts-on-homeschooling.html) –
- The home educated typically score 15 to 30 percentile points above public school students on standardized academic achievement tests.
- They also score above average on achievement tests regardless of their parents’ level of formal education or their family’s household income.
- Homeschooled students typically score above average on the SAT and ACT tests that colleges consider for admissions.
- These students are being increasingly recruited by colleges
- They are typically above average, on measures of social, emotional, and psychological development. Research measures include peer interaction, self-concept, leadership skills, family cohesion, participation in community service, and self-esteem.
Adults Who Were Homeschooled as Children
Homeschooling has been around long enough now to show the long term benefits in the lives of these children in adulthood. They grow up to be well rounded adults who:
- participate in local community service more frequently than does the general population
- vote and attend public meetings more frequently than the general population
- go to and succeed at college at an equal or higher rate than the general population
Now perhaps you’re ready to make a prediction! And whether Punxsutawney sees his shadow or not, chances are pretty good you’ll be seeing a successful homeschool student!
Need some help with your homeschool adventure? Global Student Network offers six online learning programs. Check out our curriculum demos or talk to one of our enrollment specialists.