| When it comes to your children's education, one | | | | come from learning how to handle social problems |
| has to wonder if homeschooling would the best | | | | themselves. Socializing and learning to cooperate |
| choice for your kids. The answer largely depends | | | | with kids from different backgrounds, different |
| on what type of learning and social experience | | | | settings can be challenging, but this sort of |
| that suites your child. | | | | environment is more of an accurate emulation of |
| Here is a comprehensive view of the pros and | | | | the real world than having the safe and familiar |
| cons of homeschooling compared to public schools. | | | | surroundings of one's house and one's |
| Advantages of homeschooling over public | | | | neighborhood. |
| education: | | | | Although educating and shaping your child in your |
| One of the most obvious advantages is the | | | | own home offers some parents control and relief, |
| one-on-one, custom tailored learning that public | | | | parents should be aware that homeschooled |
| education can never provide. All the lessons and | | | | children are cut off from a space where they can |
| curriculum are designed according to the child's | | | | create their own personalities, ideas, values |
| learning pace. Anything problems he/she | | | | outside of their cozy shelter. |
| encounters can be pinpointed and resolve faster | | | | Because homeschoolers tend to be 'molded' into |
| than a classroom setting. | | | | their parent's values, behavior, and mannerisms |
| Yes, homeschooled children tend to be more | | | | (from my experience with 10 different |
| advanced academically and more focused | | | | homeschool kids, they talk and gesticulate |
| compared to public school children because an | | | | *exactly* like their parents), homeschoolers may |
| entire element of social/peer distractions are | | | | appear stilted and awkward from the perspective |
| avoided (bullying, schoolyard cliques and social | | | | of peers. |
| hierarchy, peer pressure etc). | | | | Yes public schools can be a scary place (especially |
| And yes, it is possible to keep homeschooled | | | | depending on the district and neighborhood), but |
| children active socially with similar aged kids by | | | | the school yard is often times where the seeds |
| having them participate in extra-curricular activities | | | | of an entire new generation of expressions, ideas, |
| such as camping, clubs, and other community | | | | and culture grows. |
| activities. Finding a group of other homeschooled | | | | Yes, it would be ideal of our children never have |
| children is another way to keep your child | | | | to face bullying, taunting, peer alienation and |
| socialized. | | | | shallow popularity codes. But it would be equally |
| Disadvantages of homeschooling: | | | | ideal if the adult world does not have its own |
| A major disadvantage of homeschooling is lack of | | | | bullies, taunting, pressures and political/class |
| exposure for your child to different personalities | | | | hierarchy. |
| on a day to day basis, and the growth that can | | | | |