Abstract

        In what ways do children who attend private or home school turn out better, or worse than children who attend public or separate school? How important is the type of school in their overall education? These questions are examined in this study by review of both detailed tables of quality of home and child indicators, and by analyses of behaviour.

        The private/home schoolers are more likely to be girls than children in either public or separate school. They are also more likely to be older. About 71% of the children ages 6 to 11 in 1995 attended public school, 24% a publicly funded separate school, and 5% a private or home school.

        Few of the positive indicators of child quality (characteristics most parents would value in their child) are below the Canada average by 10% or more: child does things with friends six or seven days a week; child often invites bystanders to join in a game; and child comforts a child who is crying or upset.

        The rest, 20 in total, are extra high for the private/home schoolers. Parents may especially value the following: child never ignores MP's punishment; child is doing very well overall in school; child takes lessons in the arts (music, dance, art) weekly; no school days missed; child watches TV or videos 1 hour or less per day; and child worshipped at least weekly.

        All 14 positive indicators of teen behaviour and character reveal that the private/home school children turned out better. Parents and many teens might especially value the positive view of the future, happiness with life, non-smoking and drug use, non-drinking, non-intoxication, avoidance of sexual intercourse, and non-destructive behaviour.

        Some 16 positive indicators of family quality are found for the private/home school children, and eight for the separate school children as well. These eight include little problem making family decisions, the child and parent worshipping weekly, the parent and spouse and child having the same religion, and the parent volunteering.

        Both positive and negative indicators are presented for the main parent, family, neighbourhood or school, and for the same groups of children when they are aged 14 to 19.

        In the analyses, after controlling for the effect of age and sex of parent and child, marital status, biblical faith affiliation and education of the main parent, worship frequency of child, and region of residence, all measured in 1995, the child's type of school had several statistically significant effects on teen behavour: most in favor of private/home schoolers.

        The advantage of private/home schoolers over separate school children was observed in terms of non-smoking, having no close friends who drink, fewer times intoxicated, fewer attempted suicides, less tendency to get upset easily, and happiness with life.

        Many more advantages of private/home schoolers over public school children were detected in the analyses, though three disadvantages too: less chance of using birth control, a less close relationship with one's mother, and less happiness with life.