In every situation there are pros and cons. Homeschooling is no
different. It is important for parents who are considering
homeschooling to see both sides of the picture as well as the options
available to them.
The Pros
1. Educational freedom: Homeschooling allows parents to choose what
their children will learn. There is growing concern that parents of
children in public schools will not be allowed access to the curriculum
that their child is learning. When parents choose to homeschool, they
are making a decision to be actively involved not only in their
children’s lives but in their children’s education.
Parents may choose to include religious education in theirchild’s
studies. Parents will make decisions about the age children will be
when they are instructed in sexual education, alternate lifestyles, and
social injustices. Rather than children being presented material that
they are not ready for, homeschooling parents can judge when the student
is ready emotionally.
2. Individualized education: In some ways the idea of
individualized education is a natural outgrowth of the idea of education
freedom. No one should know a child better than a parent. And no one
should be a better advocate for a child than his parent. When you take
that into consideration, homeschooling is great because it allows the
education to be tailor-made for each child’s learning styles, abilities,
and gifts.
Homeschooling allows students the benefit of learning at their own
pace, as opposed to learning at a pace determined by teachers, based on
the needs of 20-30 other students. If a student needs more time to
learn a particular topic, then homeschool allows that time. This also
applies to asynchronous learning. Students are not always on the same
level in each subject.
Homeschooling allows for the student to be in
one grade in math, a different one in science, and yet another in
social studies.
3. Personal freedom: Homeschooling offers a level of personal
freedom that is not accommodated in the traditional school system.
Schedules for school time are based on what works for each family.
Vacations or breaks can be taken any time
because the timing is
determined by the family, not by the school system. Homeschool can be
accomplished anywhere, and because of that it allows families to move
for jobs when needed without worrying about children having to adjust to
a new school. Homeschooling also means that families are not tied to
housing in a particular neighborhood because of the school district.
This personal freedom extends to trying family circumstances as
well. Homeschooling allows flexibility in education so that life can be
accommodated. Sickness of a relative or the student, birth of a baby,
injuries, etc., can be worked into homeschool schedules more easily than
into traditional school schedules. Essentially, homeschooling makes it
possible for the family to be in control of their time, rather than
having a schedule dictated to them.
The Cons
1. The Stigma: Many people who are against homeschooling think that
all homeschoolers are religious fanatics, or odd in some other way.
Because this is a long held belief, and because at one time it might
even have been truth, most homeschoolers are looked on as outside the
norm. Homeschoolers are considered to be socially inadequate, and
isolated.
Because the belief that homeschoolers are weird in some way persists,
families who choose to homeschool will have to deal with doubters, and
people who will question not only the ability of a parent to homeschool,
but the wellbeing of the children as well. While the stigma is not
entirely true, homeschooling families must deal with the prejudice. If
their conviction
to homeschool is not strong, such negative views will often prevent a family
from choosing homeschooling.
2. Financial concerns: For one parent to stay at home full time to
educate the children, the potential income of the family is reduced. In
today’s uncertain economy, with lay-offs common and reduced work hours
more likely, some families are not comfortable with only one income
coming into the house. In fact, some families will be unable to make
ends meet if both parents are not working.
Sacrifices may have to be made for a family to homeschool. There are
a number of things that might help mitigate the financial impact of
losing one income. Some of the pros of homeschooling might also weigh
to counteract the financial concerns.
3. Emotional concerns: Emotional concerns are both a positive and a negative where homeschooling is concerned. On the
negative side, some children who are homeschooled feel isolated and lonely, as do the parent who is the primary instructor.
Also
a potential negative, remember that homeschooling is a lifestyle, and
places you in contact with your children for many hours every week that
might otherwise be spent apart. If you do not think you can stand the
emotional strain of being in your children’s
presence 24/7,
homeschooling might not be a good option for you. Consider also the
possible stress between parents when one parent spends many hours a day
educating children as well as homekeeping.
Homeschooling can have positive emotional impacts as well. Family bonds are strengthened, peer pressure is reduced. Anxiety of
parents
and students about safety in the school are also reduced when children
are homeschooled. Students do not have to deal with bullying in
homeschool, so that stressor is removed.
The pros and cons listed here are just a few of the things to
consider if you are thinking about homeschooling. It is important to do
your own research and see if homeschooling is a viable option for your
family. There are as many situations in homeschooling as there are
families who homeschool. Things that might be a con for one family
might be considered a pro in a different situation with a different
family. Make your own pro and con lists, talk to families who already
homeschool, look for support groups in your area, and decide if the pros
outweigh the cons of homeschooling for your family.
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