As of 2009, there were over 2 million homeschooled children in the United States, encompassing the full spectrum of class and income levels, with a whopping 74% of homeschoolers going on to college as opposed to 44% of the general population.
Despite growing in popularity over the last three decades, homeschooling remains a controversial subject, with fierce loyalty in both camps. Home schooling advocates, however, have provided solid evidence of the benefits of such a program, and the results are hard to ignore.
The most obvious benefit of homeschooling is the teacher-student ratio, with quite literally one teacher per child (or perhaps one or two more depending on the size of the homeschooling family). In public classrooms the attention is divided among many students, and if the district is crowded that could make for unimpressive results.
There is flexibility in homeschooling that is not found in public schools. Public teachers are required to complete a given curriculum or syllabus within a given time. Homeschooled students can complete their syllabus at an accelerated rate, or take as much time as needed to grasp difficult concepts or problems.
Homeschooling teachers can better address strengths and weaknesses of the child and adjust the program accordingly, concentrating on the one child instead of thirty others. In public school, weakness in certain areas can cause students to lag behind without proper attention to address the issue.
Homeschooling is fun because the parents know what works for the child, what time of the day they are most attentive and effective, and can allow much in the way of flexibility on time and schedules. There is also great freedom in not having to be tied down to car pools, school bells, and exams.
Homeschooling also provides a much more peaceful learning environment, without the social drama, cliques, and bullies all too often associated with public schooling.
In the end, it boils down to what you believe is in the best interests of your child.
There is much more stability present in homeschooling, especially in cases of illness, emergencies, or other requirements. The stress and fatigue so often present in public schooling is rarely evident in homeschooling.
Homeschooling results in efficiency on the part of the student. One on one with the teacher results in less time being needed to complete complicated assignments.
Of course there are downsides to homeschooling that must be considered. Parents have to honestly ask themselves if they are qualified to teach, and if so, do they have the time during the day to do it effectively.
Homeschooling requires at least one parent to be at home full time. This may mean going from a two income to a one income family.
The social implications of home schooling are well documented, namely that home schooled children miss out on the social interaction that public school provides.
In the end, it boils down to what you believe is in the best interests of your child. Homeschooling can be a challenging and rewarding endeavor, for both parent and child. Weigh the ups and the downs, make your decision, and give your child the best educational experience possible.
About the Author
Billy D. Ritchie is the Director of Content for LeadsByFone, LLC, a lead generation company servicing the water clean up and damage restoration industry.
When not writing and educating folks about the perils of water damage, he is also a freelance writer, sometime actor, and formerly professional musician. He also enjoys spending his weekends building and flying model rockets.