Becky's Soapbox- #1

It has recently been brought to my attention by a friend that I should write something about all the things I am always going on about. Consequently, I've decided to post an infrequent "column" on my blog. Every article will be titled Becky's Soapbox, so that anyone who doesn't care to read my strong and numerous opinons on everything can skip over it. Here goes!
A recent article by professor Robin West is making some waves in academic and homeschooling circles. I believe her article is an excellent example of a very prevalent problem. It has become common in academic and scientific circles to thrust aside the practice of formulating opinons, and subsequently practices, based on evidence and rigorous research in exchange for the practice of repeating opinions as frequently and loudly as possible until they become accepted as fact by the general public who doesn't take the time to fact check what they hear (climate change is a perfect example of this phenomenon). While Professor West's article about the harms of homeschooling doesn't fail to upset me, I find her lack of proper documentation and research even more apalling. Not once does she reference the numerous studies done that reflct favorably on the practice of homeschooling. Of course one could argue that she is just being fair since she never once cites any studies or statistics that support the idea that homeschooling is evil. The real problem comes when one does fifteen minutes of research and discovers that there are no valid studies or research to support a negative opinion, but significant studies to support the benefits of homeschooling. Dr.West relies on the laziness and lack of education of the public on education. She banks on the fact that most people don't know that two thorough studies have shown homeschooled students to be more active in their communities as adults by a margin of 40%; adults who are homeschooled vote at a rate of 40-50% over the general population; homeschooled adults have a higher rate of satisfaction in their home-lives and a lower rate of divorce; homeschooled adults are less likely to live on government assistance by a factor of almost 100%. These figures are further supported by standardized testing numbers and growing numbers of homeschoolers who are actively being recruited by schools such as Stanford, Harvard, Johns Hopkins, and BYU. The audacity to promote an opinion based on nothing other than personal animosity towards any position should be roundly condemned by academia and the general population. The bottom line to all of this is that if you do not check what you hear, and consequently, what it causes you to believe, you are asking to be lied to. No longer can people expect anyone who has a platform to speak from to be honest. You are your own best defense against misinformation. Unfortunately, I will continue to be upset by tactics like this that perpetuate any kind of misinformation because, despite what I may wish, most people will not double-check, so lying loudly will keep working.
( double check my facts at National Home Education Research Institute)