Introduction
Education, the most powerful weapon which can be used to change the world. Miriam-Webster dictionary defines education as the knowledge, skill, and understanding that you get from attending a school, college, or university (1). In today’s society, education is dispensed and received through different forms: campus-based, internet-based, distance, and home education. Home education or homeschool means a nonpublic school conducted primarily by the parent, guardian or other person having custody of a child (2). Though all states in the United States permit parents to homeschool, some states (such as California) require homeschoolers to register as private schools (3), while others (such as Pennsylvania) require children that are homeschooled to take standardized tests when they reach third, fifth, and eighth grades (4). It is the responsibility of the homeschooler to know and comply with all the requirements of the state in which he or she resides. The purpose of this article is to educate the reader on homeschooling of children in childhood developmental stage (Age three to twelve): its background, benefits, and position in today’s society, the reasons why parents opt for it, its impact on children socialization, and the difference in performance and behaviors among children in traditional school and those who are homeschooled.
Background, definition, and legal status of Homeschooling in childhood
Homeschooling: Back to the Future? January 7, 1998, is a
Thesis: Homeschooling environment is an effective approach in education due to evidence of higher achievement on placement tests, success through college, engaged socially with activities outside homes, and students becoming active members of society.
Education in our society is a very important factor in shaping our future. One’s future is depended on the education they receive and everyone is somehow affected by this. Children from the ages of kindergarteners to seniors in high school, college graduates, and stay at home mothers, are all shaped by the education the government provides us. There are many different ways to acquire an education some through private schools, public, charter, and being homeschooled. However, homeschooling is growing more in popularity than it has ever been.
Going to a school is something all children face from a young age. Schools teach children standard and advanced education in order to succeed in present and later life. The choices parents have when it comes to education is either home school programs or public school institutions. There is a difference in the curriculum of each choice and it is up to the parent to decide which best fits their children. For the most part, parents choose a public school because it is the social norm and easy. However, schools have evolved throughout the years and home taught education is now a contender for public schools. In order to make a better decision as to which method is best, this report covers the advantages and disadvantages of both programs.
The greatly discussed dilemma of having a child be taught in a public school setting versus a homeschool setting has been evaluated by parents since the idea was first introduced in the 1970’s. Public schooling had been the standard method of teaching since it is a requirement for states to provide public, free education for children in grades K-12. However, the backlash against the system began when two educational theorists and supporters of school reform, John Holt and Raymond Moore, started to question both the techniques and the products of public schools. Some parents went on to support the ideas of them and began to teach their children in the environment of their own homes for several different reasons. Some included moral or religious reasons, a desire for high educational achievement, dissatisfaction with public schools’ instructional program, or concerns about drugs and peer pressure in a public school environment. Child development specialists believe that homeschooled children are isolated from the outside world, therefore making them socially handicapped. If being exposed to this type of education on an elementary school level, the child can suffer from the lack of fundamental development of effective social skills needed for a lifetime ahead of them.
Throughout history, homeschooling has been practiced by parents, extended family, and tutors. However, a small number of children were being subjected to homeschooling as compared to the 21st century (Gaither, p.226). Homeschooling is regarded as the provision of education to young people in a private setting as opposed to public setting. Instead of being educated by the teachers, the children are educated by their own parents, relatives, or tutors hired and paid by the parents. Parents who opt to subject their children to homeschooling, do so for a variety of reasons ranging from religious demand, structure of public schools to personal preferences.
Parents are typically held accountable for making decisions on how their child is raised, what rules will be implemented, curfews, punishments, and nevertheless, their education. When it comes to education, parents are responsible in deciding where their children will be educated and this decision includes some enticing options. The topic of homeschooling has indisputably been up for debate in many eras, cultures, and locations. Ari Neuman and Oz Guterman (2016) state that the question relics, which educational strategy is more effective, which is better? Since every child benefits from being educated, the way in which their education is delivered is under substantial examination since every individual
According to (Lyman) Families are turning to home education as an alternate to learning in public or private schools. Several families have completely different reasons for selecting to pull their kids out of school and homeschool them. Reasons for homeschooling will vary from spiritual reasons to discontent with the government’s management over the curriculum and also the teaching methodology. Several parents who opt to homeschool all have a similar belief that the education of children, ought to be the responsibility of parents or guardians which it’s their own right to come to a decision whether or not their children ought to be educated.
There are about 2.2 million home-educated students in the United States. There were an estimated 1.73 to 2.35 million children (in grades K to 12) home educated during the spring of 2010 in the United States (Ray, 2011). It seems the homeschool population is continuing to grow (at an estimated 2% to 8% per annum over the past few years). Homeschooling is on the rise based on the fact that parents can customize and individualized curriculum. Parents feel they have a say in what their children are learning. Many parents want their children to be taught in a positive learning environment they can control and trust. It is important for parents to be hands on with leaning; through homeschooling they feel that they can be involved in a meaningful way.
A tremendous decision a parent or guardian has to make once their child is of age is whether to put him or her in a public school or school them at home. Homeschooling is slowly growing in the US “from nealy nonexistent in the 1970s to roughly two million students in grades K to 12 by 2009” (Ray, Brian D). Home education has it’s pros and cons, but for me, and a lot of others, the things that homeschooled students are missing out on are sufficiently outweighing the benefits. Having been homeschooled kindergarten through seventh grade, and going to public school eighth through twelfth, I have a pretty good perspective on both and the dynamic difference between them.
Homeschooling something that’s grown over time and is become popular in homes. The children are taught at home, by either the parents or a teacher that comes to the home a few times a week, or every day like normal schooling. Children being schooled at home get many options when learning, and also get to grow around the home. Homeschooling is a smart idea for parents to consider for their kids because of different socioeconomic factors in the child's life, keeps the child safer, and gives them more opportunity to use religious instruction in what they are learning.
Home schooling has become one of the most popular ways of learning in recent years. What is homeschooling? Homeschooling is the way to teach the children at home by their parents' instead of sending them to a public or private school. Homeschooling represents an additional choice for parents to teach their children by themselves. The number of homeschooled children has increased over time. It has increased from 0 to 2 million students (Institute of Education Science, 2013). Families have various reasons for homeschooling, including concerns about the school environment and dissatisfaction with the academic instruction at a traditional school (NCES,2008). Also, research shows that homeschooled children achieve higher academic scores than students
Public school and homeschool carried the same traits from each other. Many communities have formed their own opinion about public school, which others favor it and opposed it. When it comes to education of a child, parents and guardians want to ensure that they have the best education and safety as possible. Homeschooling allows parents to make reasonable decision for their child, while public school enhance their students on social economics. Public schooling and homeschooling has become a serious decision for parents. While there are some benefits and drawbacks to both education options, the major dynamics in deciding which decision is best are the education background, the syllabus, and enhancing the knowledge of the child. Home schooling can give a child a more direct and focused on education than public schools; however, a public school develops various ways of enhancing a child’s social development.
Being home-schooled provides a completely different experience than attending a regular school. A person who has attended a regular school would grow to be an entirely different person if he or she were home-schooled. Most parents have blindly chosen regular education because it might be less of a hassle, but not all children are the same, of course, therefore not all of them can handle attending a regular public school. Before the type of education is chosen for a child, his or her parents should consider which option will provide their child with the best education environment, mental state, and, ultimately, future. This Paper will outline several important aspects of regular school education in contrast to home-school education
“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” Nelson Mandela. Education, undoubtedly, is a great tool to make one’s mind flourished by prospects in his/her life. We cannot ignore the betterment and open doors of opportunities in the future by gaining knowledge. Hence, education enables us to interpret the world by our own eyes and logic. My concept in childhood on education was limited to the school subjects and the same for the careers in the society. However, I could imagine an endless path towards education later on. Since then, I was very keen on learning new things especially the languages were fun to me to acquire. I would say that acquisition, no matter which field, needs desire and commitment- which are the two important elements for that.
Nelson Mandela said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” (“Top 10 Education Quotes) Education is a highly debated topic and many countries are in constant competition to be on top. Two countries who focus heavily on education are Japan and Germany. These two countries differ in a multitude of ways as to how they choose to educate their youth.