Education is often addressed through standards, but often these standards fail because children are individuals with unique personalities and needs. The educational system is structured, and children must be sorted within that structure, most often according to age rather than ability.
When abilities are figured into the sorting, students contend with labels which bog them down in their pursuit of learning. The discouragement and difficulties that plague such a system lead many to the alternative of home schooling.
Home education, however, is not a quick fix to the educational ills of society. Committing to bringing your child home for schooling involves a commitment to managing curriculum and activities while continuing with your daily responsibilities.
There are lots of benefits in home schooling, but there are also some challenges that need to be considered in the decision making process. It’s important to weigh these considerations before diving into your home education experience:
1 – Curriculum and Qualifications
Many opponents of home education insist that parents are not qualified as instructors because they lack specific training to be able to adequately instruct their children. At upper grades, there may be challenges in teaching some subjects, especially if a parent is not confident in his or her understanding of that subject. This is particularly true of math and science courses, but it can also be true of languages or English studies.
Fortunately, there are many options in home education curriculum that provide DVD instruction. In some communities, parents network to share skills, with parents helping in the instruction of the more specialized studies. In other cases, home educating families may actually take advantage of community college courses for these subjects.
It’s important to recognize your strengths and to think ahead in terms of your weaknesses.
At middle and elementary school levels, subjects are much more general. In most cases, parents and children can learn together, which makes the endeavor interesting and exciting. A parent can learn to ask good questions and to explore a topic together with the children. In most cases the curriculum selected will provide parents with ample direction in how to teach special skills.
2 – Socialization Concerns
One of the most famous arguments against homeschooling involves the issue of socialization. Many opponents suggest that home educated students will be deprived of interaction and opportunity to form friendships. In many cases, though, home schooling families network with other home schoolers in order to provide the opportunity for interaction. Students often learn to associate with individuals in a wide range of age groups.
Meanwhile, in the classroom setting students are isolated by age and often move in the same circle of peers throughout the year.
A social pecking order can surface in such surroundings, and issues of bullying and peer pressure become serious concerns because of the amount of time this social setting surrounds a student. While not all students are influenced negatively by the social environment of a public school, it can be frustrating to focus on learning when there are so many social distractions.
Some families elect to home school precisely because of the social setting in public schools. Crowded classrooms mean that there is minimal personal interaction between student and instructor. Additionally, crowded classrooms leave room for serious disciplinary problems. A parent may find that there is little academic ground gained in this environment. Other families opt to return their children to traditional classroom settings because of the limited opportunities for interaction at home. These are important concerns and need to be weighed carefully by every family exploring the home education possibilities.
3 – Future Opportunities
Many parents worry that their children won’t have opportunities to pursue college educations or successful careers if they are home educated. Though there was a stigma associated with the home schooling movement at one time, this is no longer such a big concern. Many home educated students perform well on college entrance exams, qualifying for scholarships and meeting admission standards easily. Home schooled students often enter college with credits already earned toward their degrees through earlier community college studies. In most cases, home education allows students to develop goals and to pursue dreams just as much as public education.
Home schooling is a topic that can stir debate quickly among those involved in public education. Home schooling families face scrutiny and criticism from many directions. However, the public education system faces its own set of problems and criticisms too. Neither is perfect, and deciding on a direction for your child must be based on your family goals and interests. Your child’s needs are the starting point for determining whether home education is a good fit.
About the author: Claire Smith is a business writer for Indemnity Insurance.net, a dedicated business resource.
Credits: Photo courtesy of JBLM PAO.