Comparing Views on Education Reform: Class Size and Homeschooling
This paper critically compares two opinion articles on education reform. John Rosemond's "Smaller Classes Not Always Better" argues that class size has little bearing on student performance, attributing outcomes primarily to discipline. Cal Thomas's "Homeschooling Can Be New 'Exodus'" urges Southern Baptist parents to remove their children from public schools in favor of private Christian academies or homeschooling. The paper evaluates the strengths and weaknesses of each argument, noting that Rosemond's case is undermined by anecdotal evidence and an offensive allegation against teachers, while Thomas's position reflects moral self-righteousness and ignores the financial realities facing low-income families.
- Introduction: Overview of both articles and their central claims
- Rosemond on Class Size and Discipline: Rosemond argues discipline matters more than class size
- The NEA Allegation and Its Effect on Credibility: Rosemond's attack on teacher motives undermines his argument
- Thomas on Homeschooling and Christian Education: Thomas urges Baptist parents to leave public schools
- Moral Tone and the Limits of Thomas's Argument: Thomas ignores financial barriers and shows moral bias
- Conclusion: Both articles weakened by their own rhetorical overreach
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What makes this paper effective
- The paper maintains a clear parallel structure, addressing each article's strengths before critiquing its weaknesses, which keeps the analysis balanced and easy to follow.
- The writer supports evaluative claims with direct quotations from the source articles, grounding personal reactions in textual evidence rather than mere opinion.
- The conclusion is concise and ties back to the central contrast established in the introduction, giving the paper a satisfying sense of closure.
Key academic technique demonstrated
This paper demonstrates comparative critical analysis: rather than summarizing each article in isolation, the writer evaluates both pieces against shared criteria — use of evidence, logical consistency, ethical tone, and awareness of social context. This technique allows readers to see not only what each author argues but how well each argument holds up under scrutiny.
Structure breakdown
The paper opens with a brief dual-article overview, then devotes separate sections to each author. Rosemond is addressed first (class size, discipline, NEA allegation), followed by Thomas (homeschooling call, hostile undertone, financial accessibility). A short conclusion synthesizes both critiques. This block-by-block organization is appropriate for a short comparative response paper at the undergraduate level.
Introduction
John Rosemond's article Smaller Classes Not Always Better and Cal Thomas's article Homeschooling Can Be New 'Exodus' offer two distinct and thought-provoking perspectives on education in America. Thomas's article urges parents to pull their children out of what he calls "Godless" public schools and enroll them in private Christian academies or homeschool them. While his concern for instilling values in children has merit, the article is undermined by a disturbing sense of moral self-righteousness and a failure to account for the financial realities facing low-income families. Rosemond's article, by contrast, argues that small class sizes do not necessarily lead to better student performance, and that discipline plays a far more significant role. However, his piece is tainted by an offensive allegation that teachers advocate for smaller classes only out of a desire for political power rather than genuine concern for students.
Works Cited
Rosemond, John. Smaller Classes Not Always Better.
Thomas, Cal. Homeschooling Can Be New 'Exodus'.
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