GEOLOGICAL EDUCATION: REACHING OUT TO THE HOMESCHOOLED

Numerous studies have shown that homeschool students, as a group, frequently outscore their public school counterparts in most subjects on standardized tests. This population of bright, nontraditional students could help fill the projected shortage of qualified geologists facing our nation in the future. However, homeschool students and the parents who teach them have many unique requirements and constraints. Some students are homeschooled for religious reasons, which may be problematic in the context of teaching many aspects of modern geological theory. Others are homeschooled because of poor quality or non-existent public education in their area, or because they have special needs that are not met by their school systems. These students are often hampered by standardized homeschooling curricula that either inadequately address the earth sciences or exclude earth science components completely. Specific strategies for promoting geological education among homeschool students are presented from the perspective of a university educator and former homeschool parent/teacher.