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Homeschooling Pros and Cons
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Where are all the home school geeks? You know, the unsocialized kids clinging to their mother’s legs, tugging on their homemade dresses. As a grade school student, I remember a small group of kids in my church which did not attend public or private school, but instead attended school at home. These were the “homeschool geeks.” But now that I’m much older, it’s very hard to find them. Not the home schoolers – they are relatively commonplace. But the “homeschool geeks.” The two terms no longer are synonymous.
Nowadays, parents are choosing homeschooling as a viable alternative to sending their kids to public or private schools. According to a recent poll, the number of homeschool students in the United States range from 1.5 million to 2 million. And the numbers are climbing.
Whatever the reason for homeschooling, it is another personal choice that we can afford in our society. So, what are some of the “pros” to homeschooling? There are many:
1. Freedom to choose your own curriculum
2. Flexible schedules – vacations, trips to see the relatives, unexpected emergencies
3. Fewer afternoons eaten up with homework battles
4. Children can learn at his or her own pace (fast or slow)
5. Learning can be made enjoyable. Creativity is not only allowed, it’s encouraged.
6. More freedom to shape the child’s heart as well as the mind. There’s plenty of opportunity to introduce faith-based lessons and history
Identifying the “cons” for homeschooling is more difficult because they are few and far between. But here are a few:
1. Teaching your children can be challenging when you’re exhausted.
2. Taking time off from your kids during the day is not always feasible.
3. Socialization may be hampered, depending on the parent. Socialization requires parental initiative to get their children involved outside of the home (i.e., youth groups, community kids, or homeschool groups that meet weekly or bi-monthly).
Another advantage to homeschooling is the quality of education received. In 2007, the Home School Legal Defense Association appointed Dr. Brian D. Ray of the National Home Education Research Institute to conduct a nationwide study of homeschooling in America. The study found that homeschool students are surpassing their public school counterparts, achieving 34–39 percentile points higher than the norm on standardized achievement tests.
And in regards to socialization, Richard G. Medlin who wrote Home Schooling and the Question of Socialization, "home-schooled children are taking part in the daily routines of their communities. They are certainly not isolated; in fact, they associate with--and feel close to--all sorts of people."
Everyone has an opinion on homeschooling. But is it for you? It all depends upon your preference and your current situation. Not all have the ability to do it. Regardless, strong evidence shows that homeschool kids have waded through the murky waters over the past several decades and have emerged a glowing example of personal achievement within the home environment.
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