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The debate on homeschooling vs. public school has become louder in recent times. To begin with, it’s difficult for the child to part with you and spend hours in school away from you. And to do this every day is a task in itself, especially because they hardly have time for themselves after school. Therefore, some parents have been shifting to homeschooling. But is it practical and can it beat the time-tested tradition of studying in schools? We have compiled a list of the pros and cons of homeschooling to help you make an informed choice regarding your child’s schooling.
What Is Homeschooling?
Education is not the learning of the facts, but the training of the mind to think. – Albert Einstein
Homeschooling is educating the child at home. Also known as home education, this parent-led schooling is legal in several parts of the world, including the UK and the US. Dissatisfaction with the curriculum, traditional methods of teaching, and religious concerns are a few reasons parents choose not to send their child to a public school.
Like a public and a private school system, homeschooling also has its pros and cons. But how do you determine if homeschooling is better and works for you and your children? Keep reading to know.
Difference Between A Homeschool And A Public School
Each system offers distinct approaches to learning, shaped by divergent structures, resources, and ideologies. These differences influence educational outcomes, social experiences, and family dynamics, making the choice a critical consideration for every family.
1. Socialization
Public schools foster broad social interactions through daily contact with students and faculty. Conversely, homeschooling often involves limited social exposure, relying on structured activities and groups.
2. Cost
Public education is taxpayer-funded and generally incurs minimal direct costs to families. While fees for private schools tend to be the highest, homeschooling can also incur expenses for educational materials and other resources.
3. Parental involvement
Homeschooling demands extensive parental involvement in all aspects of education, from curriculum selection to daily teaching and extracurricular management. In contrast, public schooling allows parents to rely on certified educators to guide their children’s academic progress, reducing the need for day-to-day parental involvement in educational activities.
4. Extracurricular activities
Public schools often provide a wide array of extracurricular activities, from sports to arts and academic clubs, facilitating a well-rounded education. Homeschoolers, however, may find these opportunities more limited and typically need to seek out or even create their own extracurricular experiences.
5. Special education services
Public schools are equipped with specialized programs and resources to support students with special needs, ensuring they receive appropriate educational accommodations. Homeschool settings may lack specialized resources, requiring parents to find and finance external support services.
6. Educational resources
Public schools benefit from access to extensive educational resources, including libraries, science labs, and technology, all funded by public finances. Homeschoolers, meanwhile, often depend on personal investments to provide similar resources, which can vary widely in quality and accessibility.
7. Diversity of instruction
In public schools, students benefit from learning from multiple teachers with different specializations and teaching styles, enhancing educational breadth and depth. Homeschooling typically involves instruction from one or a few individuals, which can limit the diversity of pedagogical approaches and subject expertise.
8. Accountability
Public schools operate under strict accountability to educational standards and school boards, ensuring a consistent level of education across institutions. Homeschools, however, face varied accountability standards, often determined by less stringent state regulations, leading to a wide range of educational outcomes.
Advantages Of Homeschooling
Abraham Lincoln, Virginia Woolf, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Alexander Graham Bell, Julian Assange, and Emma Watson.
These are some of the many who were homeschooled for some or most of their childhood. And they became successful. Then there were some who were not as successful and wished they had a proper public school education.
The graph represents the percentage of homeschooled children, ages 5-17 years, from 1999 to 2016 in the US. There was a moderate increase through the years until 2012, from 1.7% in 1999 to 3.4% in 2012, but the percentage slightly dropped to 3.3 in 2016 (4).
Percentage of home-schooled students in the US, ages 5-17
Source: Parent and Family Involvement in Education Survey of the NHES, 2003, 2007, 2012, and 2016.Although it is considered to be an alternative form of education, homeschooling is one of the oldest forms of education in the world. That’s right.
People were taught at home by parents or designated tutors before the onset of the public schooling system. Public schools and private schools may have become the norm these days, but there are people who prefer personalized homeschooling to the modern education system. Here are reasons why.
1. One-on-one teaching
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The average teacher-student ratio in American public schools is 1:35, where a single teacher teaches 19 to 35 students, depending on the region. A public school teacher has to focus on all the children in the class, while in homeschooling, the parent mostly focuses only on one child.
A school teacher cannot always help a student when he or she needs it. But in homeschooling, your child gets help with the subject immediately. If more than one child is learning the same lessons, the parent’s attention may be a bit divided.
In individualized teaching, the teacher has an idea of what the student knows about the subject and what they don’t. In addition to this, a homeschooling parent also has the freedom to dwell on a particular topic for longer, if the child needs time understanding it.
2. Flexible schedules
If your child goes to a public school, you certainly need an early alarm every day! You may race against time every morning in an attempt to get your child to school on time. In all the chaos, the child sometimes misses breakfast, the most important meal of the day.
With homeschooling, mornings can be more relaxed, your study or play schedules are self-paced or according to your child’s comfort.
That said, it is recommended that you have a daily schedule and try to follow it to teach the child discipline. You can change the schedules weekly, fortnightly, or monthly.
3. Learning for knowledge, not grades
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School going kids need good grades to move up to higher classes. Competition encourages them to do better than the others and score more to get into premier universities. This remains their focus when they go to school. While they do learn the subject, the learning may not be enough for the sake of knowledge.
The absence of competition in independent studying or homeschooling encourages the child and the parent to focus on learning for the sake of knowledge and implementation.
4. Control of the curriculum
Have you ever thought, “I wish they taught this to my kids at school”? Well, if you choose to homeschool, you get the option of diversity and inclusivity of subjects. You can teach them what you think is important. Whether it is religious studies, humanities, or simple manners, you can add it to your curriculum. Similarly, you can decide how much of a subject the child is going to learn and when they are going to learn it.
In distance learning, you can include more subjects that your child has a keen interest in, and remove what you think is inappropriate or irrelevant for their age. You also have the freedom to include your family’s values, which is not necessarily compatible with a public school curriculum.
You can also choose your own learning styles or tailor your teaching to fit the child’s dominant learning style. You can make it a combination of online modules and text book reading, or you can limit your teaching to online modules alone.
5. Saves time
You need to take care of several things when the child goes to school. A lot of time is spent every day getting ready for school. Traveling to and fro, waiting for the school bus, and much more. Homeschooling saves you that time and also removes the need for homework. You can make the child learn and remember what he or she learned during the study hours so that you can use the rest of the day for other activities.
6. Parent-child bonding
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Homeschooling allows you to spend more time with your child every day, and you get to know each other better. Spending productive time together is also one of the best ways to teach your child manners, social or public behavior, and personal boundaries.
7. Safe learning environment
The world is not a bad place. But there are people who can considerably harm your child. Bullying, peer pressure, sexual assault, negative influence, and mental or physical abuse are some of the things that the child is vulnerable to in the outside world. Homeschooling ensures your child’s safety as they are protected from the harmful social elements to an extent.
Also, you won’t have to worry about sending the child out to school on a bad weather day!
8. Less paperwork
Projects, assignments, tests, and homework – these are the things that a school-going kid is usually bombarded with. Add to it the pressure of completing these tasks on time, you have a stressed out child or teenager. Homeschooling is sans such paperwork, and therefore less stressful.
In fact, you can use technology to teach your child at home. For instance, you can use online learning resources to deliver lessons on complex topics in math or science.
Point to consider9. Focus on child’s talents
Public school education focuses on exposing the child to multiple subjects and topics. So a school-going kid may know more at a broad level but only to a limited extent. That is not necessarily the case with homeschooling. In homeschooling, you can focus on one subject or a specific topic that your child is interested in.
Disadvantages Of Homeschooling
In the US, there are around 73.8 million children, who are below the age of 18. Of them, only around 2.3 million children are home-schooled, while the rest go to public or private schools (1). Homeschooling may be better than public schools in some ways, but it is not for everyone. Here’s why.
1. Expensive
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When you choose to homeschool, you don’t have to worry about tuition fee, transport, food, and stationery costs. So you may think that homeschooling is less expensive when compared to public schools.
But is it? Think about it.
When you choose to educate your child at home, you (or your spouse) have to put your career goals or ambitions aside and shift your focus to teaching the child. That means you have one less paycheck in the family and more or less the same expenses.
2. Lack of structure
Public schools are more structured and have a better-planned curriculum than home-schools. The school’s system has tried and tested teaching methodologies, credible sources of information, and standardized assessments .
A homeschooling parent has limited resources and has to rely on self not only to create a structure but also to adhere to it. That is easier said than done.
3. Limited coverage of subjects
Public school education exposes your child, although minimally, to a variety of topics. From different branches of math, science, humanities, literature, and language, your child has some knowledge about each of these subjects. Children have to learn and understand these subjects to get good grades and move up to higher classes.
In homeschooling, parents can choose to limit or even eliminate the subject from their curriculum, leaving the child with no knowledge of it. Also, it is not always possible for a parent to teach complex topics in subjects such as math, physics, chemistry, or calculus unless they are experts. This limits the amount of information that a child gets through homeschooling.
4. Absence of skilled and trained teachers
Homeschooling parents are not necessarily trained or skilled in delivering education. In most cases, parents do not have first-hand homeschooling experience, and they are still learning the subjects. So for most part, homeschooling is an experiment for all of them. This may prevent the child from getting the quality education that trained and skilled teachers can provide in public or private schools.
5. No time apart
When you choose to homeschool, you are doubling up as a teacher. So you are going to spend most of your waking time with the child on a school day. Public schools allow you space for you to cultivate your own interests and care
Don’t get us wrong. Spending time with the kids is an excellent thing to do, and every parent agrees on that. But sometimes, you need time for yourself, away from the kids which a public school can give.
6. Justifying to family and friends
It is not common for a parent to choose to homeschool over public schools, especially if no one in the household has been homeschooled before. So you may find that you are needing to justify your decision to your friends and family.
Parents who homeschool children also face social criticism often, as there are fewer advocates of homeschooling than there are for public schools. Yet, the trends seem to be changing with the number of people opposing homeschooling decreasing from 73% in 1985 to 54% in 2001 (2). Is there a new statistic? It seems it may have decreased more since the pandemic.
Another aspect that you may want to consider is the misguided notion among children and youngsters that homeschooling kids is weird. All this criticism and questioning can even sow seeds of doubt in your mind and sooner or later, you’d end up wondering if you made the right choice.
7. No socialization
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When a child is educated at home, he may have less interaction with other kids their age. Even if he does, he does not get to experience the same things as school-going children. They do not get to experience the school or class trips and projects, lunch with friends, those first crushes, and more!
Not that homeschooled children are not good at socializing but they may miss out on certain milestones or moments that school-going children may experience.
8. Limited access to sports
You may teach your child to play a few games and sports when you homeschool them. But they may have fewer opportunities to play lay team sports regularly. Homeschooling also limits their opportunity to get into professional team sports, which can even get them into universities for higher education.
Most homeschooling parents also don’t get to enjoy their summer vacations as the other parents. A lot of their time is spent preparing for the curriculum and researching for the next school year.
Is Homeschooling The Right Choice For Your Family?
Homeschooling presents a unique opportunity to tailor education to the specific needs and pace of each child, potentially enhancing learning outcomes and deepening family relationships. However, it comes with its own set of limitations and might not be suitable for everyone. Here are eight factors to consider before finalizing homeschooling for your child.
1. Parental commitment
Choosing homeschool requires a substantial commitment from parents, who must dedicate time and effort to not only teach but also plan and organize comprehensive educational activities. Parents need to evaluate whether they have the time, energy, and skills to effectively facilitate their child’s education, as this role is crucial to the success of homeschooling.
2. Educational goals
Setting clear and achievable educational goals is essential in homeschooling. Families should define what they aim to accomplish through homeschooling, including specific learning objectives and desired outcomes. This clarity helps in ensuring the education provided meets all intended educational standards and personal aspirations.
3. Social opportunities
In contrast to public schooling, conventional homeschooling offers fewer socialization opportunities. As a result, it might impact a child’s personality and behavior with others. Parents should plan for and facilitate opportunities for their children to interact with peers through sports, clubs, and other community activities.
4. Financial impact
The financial implications of homeschooling can be substantial. Parents should consider costs related to curriculum materials, educational tools, and potential lost income if one parent is teaching full-time. It’s important to assess these financial aspects to determine if homeschooling is a viable option for the family.
5. Learning environment
Creating a conducive learning environment at home is crucial. This space should be quiet, organized, and equipped with the necessary resources to facilitate effective learning. A well-prepared environment can greatly enhance a child’s ability to focus and absorb information.
6. Support networks
Access to support networks, either local or online, can greatly benefit homeschooling families. These communities provide resources, guidance, and support and also offer social opportunities for both children and parents, helping to enrich the homeschooling experience.
7. Child’s needs
Consideration of a child’s individual needs, learning styles, and preferences is central to homeschooling. Tailoring education to these factors can help maximize the child’s engagement and success, making homeschooling a particularly effective educational choice for many children.
8. Long-term planning
Families need to consider how homeschooling fits into long-term educational and career goals. This includes planning for transitions to higher education or vocational training and ensuring that the child remains on a path that will support their future ambitions.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What are the similarities between homeschool and public school?
The roles of students and teachers in homeschool and public school are similar in most ways. For homeschool and public schools, a standardized testing system is required to evaluate the students’ progress. Dependency on online and libraries to gather information is also a common point.
2. How much does homeschooling cost?
In the US, families spend a minimum of $600 to homeschool one student (1). The cost may increase based on the choice of curriculum, subjects, extracurricular activities, and the number of children.
3. How many hours a day should you homeschool a child?
The North Carolina Department of Administration suggests that you should homeschool a child for at least five hours on most school days (3).
4. What are the potential social challenges of homeschooling?
Homeschooling with limited exposure to peers and society can be detrimental to children and pose serious societal challenges. Such homeschooled children often miss out on the joys of interacting and playing with their friends. Due to this, they develop a lack of confidence while interacting with others in their day-to-day life, which may lead to problems in adulthood.
5. What is the impact of homeschooling on family dynamics?
Homeschooling can significantly impact family dynamics in various ways. First, it typically increases family bonding time, as parents and children spend more hours together during learning activities. This can strengthen relationships but may also put pressure on parents to balance educational duties with their personal and professional lives.
Many parents are now opting for non-traditional homeschooling over conventional schooling. Most parents who choose to homeschool do it because they do not like the current education system, they don’t want to be separated from the child, they want to avoid the overuse of technology, etc. However, homeschooling needs a lot of perseverance and hard work from the parents as they may have to put their careers on hold. Further, the education system may lack funding to develop a good structure, children may be deprived of a fun school environment, and they may not get as much exposure to co-curricular activities. It may also impact your child’s career preparation. Consider all the factors to decide the mode of schooling that would best suit your child.
Infographic: Advantages And Disadvantages Of Homeschooling
With the availability of several modes of teaching and virtual learning, you might need help deciding if you should homeschool your child or send them to a public school. To make the process easier for you, we present the pros and cons of homeschooling your child. Read on and decode accordingly. Illustration: Momjunction Design Team
Key Pointers
- Educating your child at home has advantages such as undivided attention and focus on the child’s talents.
- Homeschooling provides a safe learning environment and improves parent-child bonding through spending more time together.
- Parents can choose their preferred curriculum and have flexible schedules with homeschooling.
- However, homeschooling is expensive, lacks structure, and may be difficult to teach complex subjects unless you’re an expert.
- Homeschooled children may miss out on activities such as sports, projects, and class trips.
Image: Stable Diffusion/MomJunction Design Team
Are you wondering which educational environment is best for your child? Watch our video to find out if school or homeschooling produces better student outcomes!
References
- RESEARCH FACTS ON HOMESCHOOLING;
https://www.nheri.org/research-facts-on-homeschooling/ - Homeschooling;
https://web.archive.org/web/20071114144844/http://eric.uoregon.edu/trends_issues/choice/home_schooling.html - Home School Requirements & Recommendations;
https://ncadmin.nc.gov/divisions/non-public-education/home-schools/requirements-recommendations - Parent and Family Involvement in Education Survey of the NHES, 2003, 2007, 2012, and 2016;
https://nces.ed.gov/blogs/nces/post/a-fresh-look-at-homeschooling-in-the-u-s
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