How do Creationist homeschoolers get around state exams?

Question

I've never looked into these testing procedures, but how exactly does a child get school board approval if he hasn't been educated about such things as evolution, etc.

Do the school boards tend to dance around the issue?

Answer 1

Thanks for not assuming all home schoolers are creationists!

-an atheist home schooler

Answer 2

They learn about the Theory of Evolution just as they learn about Creationism. As previously stated, the main difference is that it is taught in the context that it is just a theory. But they still know all about it.

How sheltered do you think home schooled kids are?

Answer 3

I seriously doubt you have ever seen the inside of a Christian High School biology text, because they usually extensively teach about the Evolution as a theory, and go on to explain the incredible number of holes in the theory.  

If you go to this site:

https://apologia.securesites.net/store/i...

and look at the table of contents you will see that Module 9 of this book devoted to Evolution.

You may not like the WAY it is presented, but the entire theory is laid out and kids are tested on their knowledge of it.  You do not have to believe in something to learn it.  If you don't believe me, go over to the R&S board and see how many of the atheists are well versed in the Bible.

But really, how well they know evolution is not how they pass they tests, most standardized tests focus mainly on Math, Reading Comprehension, Spelling, Grammar, and Writing.  Biology is not a required subject in most states, Science is, but most states allow students a choice of a variety of Science classes.  

If you doubt the quality of the text book I linked to above, you should know that my friend used it with her daughter in High School, then this year when her daughter went to a State Secular University, her biology instructor (not realizing he was speaking to a formally homeschooled student)  made the offhand comment, "Whatever biology class you had in High School was excellent, you know most of the material already."

EDIT---- EDIT----- EDIT----- EDIT

Batgirl is clueless.  First, most homeschool parents WANT an honest assessment of their children's academic abilities.  Second, most states that do require testing allow the homeschoolers to test at the Public School along with everyone else.  Thirdly, even in cases where the test is not at school it is usually proctored.  Finally, even if a homeschooler *did* cheat on every exam all through elementary and Junior High, eventually they would find themselves at a SAT or ACT testing facility, and would have to KNOW the material to get the scores homeschooled students usually receive.

Answer 4

Well, in most states, there is no reporting or testing necessary, just like for all private schools (HS's are private in most states).  So for a vast majority of HS'ers, they don't have to take any state, or national, standardized tests.

Even if a HS'ed child has to take a test with evolution included, it would only make up a very small portion of the science subtest.  So a student could bypass those or guess, and still do fine on the exam.

My son has been HS'ed for 5.5 yrs.  We use a secular curriculum that uses evolution as a base.  Even though we don't believe in it, DS still studies it.  He can't refute what he doesn't know.  So along with creation science, he also learns what evolutionist think, the time periods, etc.  He is starting high school biology soon from a creationist view, and there is one long unit on evolution and Darwinism.

My son also reads a lot of creation science materials.  Then he's been allowed to choose between the two w/o our influence.  He ended up on the creation science side and is now a great apologist.

The past two years he's taken the "secular" EXPLORE test from ACT.  It's typically given to 8th graders to see how prepared they are for high school.  He took it in 3rd & 4th grades, as a believer in creation science - and scored better than 99% of *publicly schooled* 8th graders in science.

FWIW, in regard to batgirl's rant, err answer, there are many ways for a HS'ed student to take a standardized test.  I had to become a certified test administrator to test my own son.  Other HS'ers take them with a group and a certified teacher.  Some take them with their local public/private school.  Some take them at a local testing center (ours is proctored and at the community college).  Batgirl's attitude about giving tests just shows one more reason why I homeschool.  I would hate for my child to be in her bigoted classroom.

Answer 5

The school board is not connected to home school in our state.  

Science is very interesting and our family studies the theories.   We are not closed minded to facts.   We are skeptical of speculations.

I'm not sure how we would handle it if we were required to take a state test.    I suppose we would give the answers that the state thought were correct and then make a note on the test that the 'correct' answers were from the text book and not from scientific research results.

Answer 6

Home schooled children are very much educated about evolution, but it's presented in true light- it's only a theory that can be disproved in some cases.

Criticizing home schooling mothers is highly offensive! It's absolutely uncalled for! Interestingly enough, I'm aware of public school who used to encourage 'below average' students to stay home on test days to  improve the overall test score. Hmmm!

Answer 7

Homescholers generally do not need the approval of a school board for their educational decisions.

Just like private schools.  :)

Answer 8

No mandatory tests or exams, state or otherwise, up here and no 'need for school board approval' either, so no need for us to 'get around' anything!

Answer 9

I am not a Creationalist teacher but I thought I would answer the rest of your question since I remember you from R&S. I teach out of the same textbooks that are used in public schools and those books include evolution. I live in Oklahoma and we aren't required to have our children take the state tests. Since I am not religious, I don't lean towards any view. I'm open to educating my kids in any way that will help them have a real understanding of their environment.

Answer 10

Actually, all creationist texts that I've ever seen (have read and used a lot) explain evolution as well - usually as well as a lot of secular texts.  The difference is, they don't state it as fact, but as one interpretation of the evidence.

My son studies them side by side and, at 10, knows as much as most adults.  (Not as much as degreed scientists or anything, but hey, he's 10.) :)

He understands both the evolutionary and creationist interpretations; his creation texts have often done a better job of explaining it than his secular texts.  He studies both and then makes a decision about which one stands up to the evidence the best.

Hope that helps!

Edit - many homeschoolers aren't required to take the tests - those who choose to do so simply for their own evaluation.  Only a few states require testing at all, and they are backed up with evaluations by teachers.

About batgirl's comment about Mommy changing little Johnny's test scores - how insulting.  Our jobs aren't contingent on our children's test scores, yet they often test much higher than public and private school kids - and most of them are tested in group situations or by proctors.  How would you react if I commented that classroom teachers should be directly overseen while testing because their funding and position depends on the results?

Homeschool kids often test higher because they have a chance to truly understand the material, with one on one instruction and a more flexible schedule - not because they need Mommy to change the test score.  I'm sorry, but that's just insulting and condescending.

2nd edit - sorry to hear that.  Apparently you haven't met any of us, or the families that we know.  We do exist, though, promise :)