Home School Heartbeat Radio Program

Mike:
Dr. Robinson, do you think it’s a good idea for homeschoolers to participate in science fairs and competitions? What national contest would you recommend?

Dr. Robinson:
Well, I don’t have a national contest to recommend, but science fairs, things that occur in the community, things that may come about both from the community standpoint or the homeschooling group standpoint are fine. The most important thing about these is that they be done by the child. It’s very important throughout the child’s education, especially in the physical sciences, that he not pretend that he understands things he doesn’t. So if he has a science fair project, it should grow out of his own interests—out of things that he understands. It should not be some sort of gee whiz thing that makes it look like the child is already a rocket scientist because you want to win the science fair. It should be something that grows out of his own interests and his own hobbies and his own self-ability. That said, I think it’s a fine thing to participate in such fairs, and when they occur in the community, if the child wants to, he can. Doesn’t mean it’ll make him a scientist. Most of the scientists I know probably never participated in such events.