Despite an “excellent” rating from the state, Athens City School District has one of the largest numbers of home-schooled students in Athens county — a statistic that could indicate the public is dissatisfied with the area’s education.
Kevin Mattson, professor of history at Ohio University, said he pulled his son out of Athens schools after the first grade because he said his son was not receiving adequate services.
“He wasn’t getting any attention or services for the learning disabilities he had, including ADHD and dyslexia,” Mattson said.
There are 54 students in grades K-12 who could be attending Athens City Schools, but are home-schooled instead, said administrative assistant, Judy Stanley. That does not include the 71 students enrolled in the state-approved
Electronic School.
Three of the other four districts in the county have much lower home-schooling rates.
Nelsonville-York School District has 12 home-schooled students, Federal Hocking Local School District has 13, and Trimble Local School District has only one.
Alexander Local School District has a combined 58 students who are home-schooled and in electronic schooling. The district was unable to separate the two categories.
Parents whom home-school their children typically choose to do so because of religious or “left-leaning” reasons, Mattson said, adding that Athens has a majority of the latter.
“I think parents are upset with the obsession about testing in public schools and want their kids to be free of rote learning and testing,” Mattson said. “I’ve seen a lot of that among fellow Athens home-schoolers.”
Mattson said his son, now 13, decided to start attending Athens Middle School this past fall and is enjoying it.
Lydia McDermott, a visiting assistant professor at Ohio University, said she and her husband decided to home-school their two sons mainly because of their dissatisfaction with the American public school system.
“One of the primary concerns for us is the institutionalization of public schooling, where learning is divided into “subjects” that are taught in short segments and end when the bell rings,” McDermott said.
McDermott added that she understands Athens City Schools are “very good” but said that teachers are working under a flawed system that hinders their success as educators.
Although home schooling can offer a better educational environment, it presents difficulties in time management and financial stability for parents, McDermott said.
“One parent needs to stay home or both parents need to work out a flexible work schedule,” McDermott said. “Also, if you are paying for curricula, that is very expensive.”
McDermott and her family belong to two home-school co-ops in the area. The co-ops are groups of home-schooling parents who have joined forces to bring their kids into a social, educational environment.
She said these group meetings and science projects are her nine-year-old son Fionn’s favorite part of being home-schooled.
“I think every parent needs to make the best decision for his or her own child and their family in regards to schooling,” McDermott said. “This might change over time and for different children, but the point is to be open and responsive to what your children need.”
ls114509@ohiou.edu
