The Many Drawbacks Of Homeschooling

An estimated 4 million children are currently home schooled with a 15-20% yearly growth rate. According to a California study by researcher Dr. Brian [D.] Ray, 92 percent of school superintendents believe that home learners are emotionally unstable, deprived of proper social development and too judgmental of the world around them. The latest claim against home schooling suggests that home schoolers are potential child abusers. Mr. Ron Barnard, a Holly High School teacher says that he would prefer public schooling for his children because of

Before the development of the United States education system it was necessary for children to homeschool, but that time has passed. Today students have the option to attend the school that best fits them due to the process of open enrollment. The United States educational system now offers students options such as religious schools, charter schools, private schools, and public schools. Therefore, no reason exists that they can not find a decent school that meets their academic expectations. Families that homeschooled have a distinct disadvantage to families that attend public or private schools.

Public schooling in the United States fails in providing a quality education for student in K-12. In 2015 the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA), which measures reading ability and math and science literacy among 15-year-olds in dozens of developed and developing countries, found that the United States is ranked 35th in math and 27th in science Desilver, D. (2016). The number one thing every parent wants for their children is for them to have access to the best possible education available. As a result of a low quality public education, parents are progressively looking for alternative ways of schooling. In particular, some parents have decided that homeschooling would better prepare their children in life. This paper will analyze both the pros and cons of homeschooling.

What do parchment, a feather quill, a CD, and even a horse drawn carriage all have in common? All of these devices have become outdated and replaced by something more beneficial and useful to society. Unlike these improvements, public education has remained relatively the same. However, the controversial and heated topic of homeschooling is about to change that. Many individuals have strong opinions on homeschooling either for or against it for various reason. Will public school become a thing of the past for the public good? Brian D. Ray, President of the National Home Education Research Institute, in his article, “Does home schooling promote the public good?,” ventures to argue this

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.

There has been an enormous increase in the number of parents who have chosen to homeschool their children. While their reasons for doing so are certainly valid, it is not the best education they can provide for their children. A public school education has more to offer in terms of curriculum, available resources, and social interaction. Public education has received much criticism for having low test scores and low graduation rates; however, millions of students continue to graduate every year from public schools across the country. (Baker) Public schools were established not only to teach the essentials of reading, writing, and mathematics, but also to reinforce core values of every student. (Baker) Choosing a public school education has all the benefits necessary to develop well educated individuals. Education has been the foundation of society for many decades. Education not only provides knowledge, understanding, and self-reliance but also empowers the mind to develop problem-solving skills, decision making skills, and social interaction skills that are essential within society. All of these can be achieved through a public education.

Homeschooling is on the rise in America. According to a 2007 NHES study conducted by the U.S. Department of Education there are an estimated 1.5 million students actively being homeschooled up from the 850,000 estimated in previous study conducted in 1999 (NCES, 1). Once seen as a fringe activity usually associated with the religious right, homeschooling now encompasses many mainstream families looking for educational alternatives in the face of such issues as violence, peer pressure, and poor academic quality in many public schools. Detractors on the other hand claim that homeschooling is a less effective method of educating America’s youth citing academic and social issues. Despite critics’ claims to the contrary, homeschooling is an effective and viable method of education as its participants not only do well academically; they are well socialized and are successful in college and later life.

Most schools show facts that the everyday socialization of students will help with the progress in becoming a better citizen for the future. However, statistics show “Seventy-one percent of homeschool graduates participate in an ongoing community service activity, compared to 37 percent of U.S. adults to similar ages.”(Romanowski 127) This shows that more individuals today partake in activities in the U.S. today that were homeschooled than people who went to public schools. “More important, the assumption that traditional schooling offers socialization experiences that homeschooling cannot is flawed. Schools are not the only place that children can learn these basic life skills.”(Romanowski 126) Children will have many other times in life that they can experience what’s like to be a round other people on a daily basis, get a better understanding of day to day actions. Myths about schooling are common, but when it comes to the benefits children acquire are far superior to public schooled

Mahatma Gandhi once said, “There is no school equal to a decent home and no teacher equal to a virtuous parent.” Parents have numerous reasons for homeschooling their children, may it be religious or a dislike of the local school system. The National Home Education Research Institute estimates over 2,000,000 children are homeschooled in today’s society (source). Some believe that the government should have stronger regulation over what the parents teach, to make sure the children are given a fair education and will be able to make their way in the world after school; while many believe it is the parent’s right to control what their child learns. Although some parents may not have an education degree, they have the right to homeschool their

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.

White’s argument shows evidence on choice of home schooling, the experiences people have, challenges that are for students, and advantages of why home schooling is so great for each student. Home schooling can be very flexible for those students who do sports or activities such as ballet. Having the flexibility helps students have more energy than those in public school and worry less about their tests. Parents can be just as hard on their kids as any teacher or tutor can. “But that 's changing. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2004 about 1.1 million children (or 2.2 percent of all children aged 5 to 17) were home schooled, a jump of almost 30 percent from 1999” (3). Home schooling is just as demanding as traditional schools such as public or private schools. “Moms can be much harder teachers then most other teacher’s students have had before” (par. 4). This shows how home schooling can be beneficial for lots of students. White gives great examples of how home schooling can be great for students who want to express their talents and still have their high school diploma.

Those who view that home-schooling is the best option believe they can teach their children, using home examples and guiding their children through their beliefs to impart a deeper appreciation and understanding of the education and information that is presented. Susanne Allen, 35, a home-schooling mother from Atlanta, claims that being schooled at home will make her children “better citizens” because home schooling gives children the opportunity to work together rather than working individually. Allen said, “They learn to be caring for other people by seeing older siblings care for them” (Cloud par.16). Home-Schooling test scores are typically higher than public or private schools. Some believe that home-schooling is the best option because public schools breed behavioral problems. Those who choose home-schooling believe that the pros outweigh the cons.

Over the last few decades, homeschooling has increased in popularity as a method of education. It “is one of the fastest growing educational options in the United States” (Pearson 1996). Parents choose to homeschool their children for a number of varying reasons. Since public schools do not involve religion in their teaching materials, many parents choose to homeschool their children in order to simultaneously pass down their religious worldviews and train their children in the family’s beliefs (Beattie-Moss, 2005). Some parents believe that, by homeschooling their children, their students will be in “a safer environment” than if they were to attend a public school (Ray 2015), “avoiding negative peer pressure” and the dangers

Homeschooling, not very well known, presents a new and affordable way to educate children. “Home school is a term used to refer to the education of children by their parents or guardians in a setting other than a public or private school” (Anderman & Anderman, p. 467). It has never been a new thing; it just has not been as popular as it used to be (Lines, p. 76). With this topic meaning so much to groups for and against the right for homeschooling and what should be legalized or not, the debate still rages on from local to even national government entities. Both sides of the argument have valid points, but ultimately it is the choice of the parents. There are many types of ways to educate children and that decision is difficult for both