Reasons to home school

The homeschooling trend is spreading across the nation and around the world. Many parents have decided, for a variety of reasons, that schooling their children at home is the best decision for their family. What are some of the reasons parents are motivated to teach their children at home? The reasons vary.

Disagreement with Curriculum at Local District

One top reason cited is that the parents disagree with the curriculum being used in their local school district. For example, some parents believe that a one-size-fits-all approach to education stifles the natural creativity of their children. Other parents are concerned with the inevitable peer pressure that exists in schools and the negative impact of being exposed to alcohol and drugs which exists in many schools. Please consider visiting my Amazon store, if you are beginning to warm to the idea of home schooling, we urge you to take a look at some of the recommended educational activity ideas, that have been expertly curated by a School Psychologist.

Disproportionate ESL or ELL Investments

Other parents are angered by the English as a second language (ESL) or English Language Learner (ELL) programs which they feel slows the progress of their children. Another reason some parents school their children at home is because they want to provide advanced, or remedial, classes for their child that is not offered at their local school. There are obviously many reasons why a parent would be motivated to school their children at home. However, many experts still disagree whether it is the best decision or not.

Some advocates of home schooling argue that because children schooled at home are able to progress at their own level; whereas, children educated at traditional schools are either pulled down by slower learners or left behind by faster learners. Many advanced and remedial students are unable to progress properly in traditional classrooms. Home schooling parents are able to teach a curriculum they approve of without the distraction of peer pressure, behavioral problems and at a speed which works for their child.

Perception of Low Educational Standards

Many parents in the United States have discovered that the public school system does not have the best standards. Confronted with a failing public school system they have opted for a home school education for their children. Many public schools are still using outdated texts and have rundown buildings and equipment which is falling apart. Home school education allows them to avoid all of these negatives and provide better texts and facilities for their child. Home school education also allows them to teach their child in a sanitary and safe location.

Decreased Parental Influence on Child’s Life

Another reason for the popularity of home school education is because schooling children at home allows parents to choose what and when their child will be learning. They are also able to avoid many of the negative social influences which are present in most public schools. They can also teach their religion to their child in home school education. Home school education also allows parents to impart their values to their child and allow them to learn in an environment of peace and acceptance (something which is sadly lacking in many public schools).

Concern for their Child’s Safety

However, one of the main reasons many parents choose a home school education for their child is because they are concerned with their child’s safety. So many violent crimes have been committed in schools in recent years that parents are not willing to send their child in to such an environment. Some parents feel that the situation is out of control and not a place where they would ever like their child to be.

Inability of Formalized Schools to Differentiate Instruction

Some advocates of home schooling argue that because children schooled at home are able to progress at their own level; whereas, children educated at traditional schools are either pulled down by slower learners or left behind by faster learners. Many advanced and remedial students are unable to progress properly in traditional classrooms. Home schooling parents are able to teach a curriculum they approve of without the distraction of peer pressure, behavioral problems and at a speed which works for their child.

Contrarian views against Home Schooling

Obviously there are problems with home school education — it isn’t the perfect solution for everyone. Many parents find that the consistency required to make sure their child is getting the best education is difficult. They also may be troubled by the stringent requirements of their local school district or state. They may also find social opportunities for their child harder to find. In a traditional school setting it isn’t necessary to make sure the child is getting much social interaction because they are interacting with their peers all day. In a home school education setting it may be harder to provide them with these opportunities.

Some experts admit that for some children it may be the best decision. The most commonly cited reason against home schooling is the development of social skills — those against home schooling claim that children schooled at home don’t have the opportunity to develop important social skills. They claim that this will hurt the children when they try to enter the “real world” of college and employment.

They say that a traditional school environment allows children the opportunity to make friends and socialize with others in a variety of projects. Home schooling parents disagree with this argument because they recognize that even without entering school their children are able to make friends in a variety of settings such as church, sports, clubs, and the neighborhood.

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They also make the argument that traditional schools are a contrived setting and not a replication of the “real world.” They also claim that developing social skills, which are best nurtured in the family, are not necessarily an important part of a quality education. Home schooling advocates also cite the numerous studies which have discovered that children schooled at home are usually better prepared to excel at college than children who have attended traditional schools.

There are also a wide variety of educational philosophies which parents are able to consider when making the decision to home school their child. There are many pros and cons to both sides of the argument and parents need to consider all of them when choosing what is best for their child.

Home school education has grown in popularity over the last decade. Many parents, and their school age children, have discovered how much fun and success they can have with home school education. Their reasons for choosing home school education are many. For example, some parents have decided they wish to have greater control over what their child is learning. Another reason they have chosen home school education is because they are concerned with the physical safety of their children. Also, many parents have discovered that traditional schooling does not work for their child.

Obviously there are problems with home school education — it isn’t the perfect solution for everyone. Many parents find that the consistency required to make sure their child is getting the best education is difficult. They also may be troubled by the stringent requirements of their local school district or state. They may also find social opportunities for their child harder to find. In a traditional school setting it isn’t necessary to make sure the child is getting much social interaction because they are interacting with their peers all day. In a home school education setting it may be harder to provide them with these opportunities.

Home school driver education is one area where home schooling provides an obvious advantage. It allows the student to work at their own pace and have hours in which to practice. It also allows them plenty of time to fill out the required paperwork and study for the driving test. There are also videos available for students who are undertaking home school driver education.

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