Homeschooling: More Than Just a Trend?

            More parents are choosing to homeschool their children than ever before. With roughly 2.2 million homeschooled children in the United States as of 2015, one must ask what makes homeschooling such an attractive option for parents. So what is it about homeschooling that has lead 5-12% of families to adopt this controversial method of education?

            Many families prefer homeschooling due to the ability to pace the curriculum according to the child’s needs and skill level, being able to take more time in subjects the student struggles with while also not having to waste extra time with subjects the child excels in. This aspect of homeschooling not only helps children who have learning disabilities, but also helps children who are of above average intelligence, both of which tend to struggle in mainstream public school systems. It has also been shown that the specific one on one care that homeschooling provides greatly benefits students. On average, homeschooled children score 15 to 30 points higher than publicly educated children on standardized academic achievement tests, including the SAT and ACT. These scores are consistent amongst all homeschooled children, regardless of parental education levels and family income levels. This leaves the question: what is it about homeschooling that leads to these results?

            One answer could be the fact that homeschooling allows opportunity to build upon familial relationships and bonds, which is not only important in a students ability to learn, but also for emotional health. On this front, homeschooling also allows parents to enforce and encourage certain morals, ideals, and belief systems as well as protect children from negative influences such as drugs, alcohol, and violence. Homeschooled children also are enrolled in more extracurricular activities than publicly schooled children, and tend to score better on social development assessments. It is a widely accepted thought that a positive family life and steady emotional state is one of the most important factors when it comes to success in education.

Some say that sheltering children from the outside world hiders their ability to thrive as adults, which is a fairly reasonable assessment. How could a child grow into a fully functional adult without experiencing what some may call the most important parts of childhood and adolescence? Homeschooling has also been used commonly to hide things such as child abuse and other important issues that are caught and remedied by teachers and other school officials. Other families use homeschooling to indoctrinate children into cults or teach them harmful ideals and belief systems.

            In conclusion, many parents are adopting the burden of educating their children at home, as opposed to public schools. This is due to the ability to support their children academically and emotionally, while also being able to tailor the curriculum to fit the needs of the child and the beliefs of the family. Homeschooling has been proven to have many positive effects on students socially and academically. Despite this, can we trust parents to use this unconventional method of schooling for good rather than as another tool to raise their children into clones of themselves?

Oregon Rent Control

Housing: a Luxury or a Right?

            Tensions rise between landlords and renters in Oregon in the midst of a housing crisis. With over 13 thousand homeless people residing in Oregon, according to 2017 statistics, and cost of living steadily increasing, the Oregon senate is pushing to pass Senate Bill 608, a bill that would protect renters from no cause evictions and put a limit on rent increases. If this bill passes, it would make Oregon the first state with state-wide rent control. A similar bill was shut down in state congress in 2004; despite this, endorsers of this bill are confident it will pass. Many renters are overjoyed with this new piece of legislature, but it is leaving landlords less than happy.

            The new bill would eliminate no cause evictions, with the exception of landlords who own less than 4 units and landlords who live on site. In the case of an eviction, the landlord would be required to give a 90 day notice and to pay a relocation fee equal to 1 months’ rent. It would also make it illegal to raise rent more than 7% within a 12 month period and require a minimum 30 day notice.

            Many landlords are claiming that this new development in renters rights is infringing upon their rights as landlords; some claiming that these new rules and regulations are making it too difficult for newer landlords to make a profit, while others worry about what would happen if mortgage prices and property taxes increase. Although, it seems the majority issue with this new bill is seeded within an overall disapproval of government getting involved with small businesses. There is a small group that questions whether or not the bill would actually help the housing crisis, or if it would make it worse, though those claims seem to be unfounded.

            Governor Kate Brown has endorsed this bill, stating “We… need to help Oregonians who have homes but are struggling with the high cost of rent”. While Governor Brown has been popular in the north, she has also been quite controversial in more rural areas of Oregon due to her liberal leaning beliefs and bisexuality. Many people seem to oppose any bill she proposes out of spite or general dislike of her as a person and politician. Democrats in Oregon have a lot ahead of them this term, and it seems this housing bill is just the tip of the iceberg. Though I doubt any of the upcoming legislature will have issues passing in congress, selling the ideas to the public might come to be a herculean feat.