| This article describes my experience as a | | | | are often just spoon fed information and never |
| homeschooler. Please, don't jump on me for only | | | | learn how to learn without being spoon fed. In |
| only putting the pros in the title of this article and | | | | fact, as I got to higher math, I pretty much |
| saying nothing about the cons of homeschooling. | | | | taught myself. When it came to math I was very |
| Each one of the 5 topics I will discuss could either | | | | motivated because to me it was a test of how |
| be considered a pro or con depending on how | | | | smart I was. I wanted to be and look smart. My |
| you look at it. Either way I am glad I was | | | | parents let me go ahead and learn the material on |
| homeschooled. | | | | my own and they would assign homework and |
| 1.Parents | | | | have me do tests. Seeing I did fine this way, they |
| I can't stress enough how much parents have to | | | | let me learn this way. I am so thankful they did |
| do with the process of homeschooling. Parents | | | | that because now I know how to learn without |
| can either be the greatest con or one of the | | | | being spoon fed everything. I consider this one of |
| greatest pros of homeschooling, depending on | | | | the greatest pros of homeschooling because I |
| how much effort they put into there children. If a | | | | saw how other college students did, even in a |
| parent is considering homeschooling then this is | | | | simple logic class. I realize that I am probably |
| the most important consideration. Are they willing | | | | ahead of many people in my logical ability (not to |
| to spend the time needed with there children or | | | | brag or anything) but many of the other college |
| not? It is without a doubt a full time job. | | | | students just didn't know how to think logically |
| As a young child I was a fairly slow learner. | | | | through these things. I contribute this to my |
| Reading was the worst. I would get headaches | | | | parents teaching me how to learn and think |
| while straining to figure out what word I was | | | | through things, rather then spoon feeding me the |
| staring at. Fortunately, I was blessed to grow up | | | | steps by which you come up with an answer. |
| in a home where my parents loved and cared for | | | | Again this is largely dependent on the effort a |
| me. My mom was even able to be a stay at | | | | parent puts into the child. |
| home mom. Despite my complaining, they kept | | | | 4. Friends |
| with me. Listen closely, this is one of the greatest | | | | Perhaps the number 1 complaint people have with |
| pros of homeschooling, they spent tons of quality | | | | homeschooling is something that could just easily |
| one-on-one time teaching me how to think | | | | be considered one of the greatest pros of |
| logically, how to read and how to write. As they | | | | homeschooling. People think that your |
| kept with me even reading became easier. | | | | homeshcooled kids couldn't possibly have any |
| Parents get the benefit of being a greater | | | | friends because they don't go to public school. I |
| influence in there child's life. The time spent with | | | | will be the first to admit I had my problems |
| my parents is beneficial to this day and as a | | | | socially. At the time I don't think I would have |
| result I have a better relationship with my parents | | | | even liked hanging out with most of the kids from |
| then I ever would have without the benefit of | | | | public schools. I didn't have the same interest as |
| homeschooling. | | | | they did. In fact, I had a couple of friends who |
| Because of the fact that as a child I was a bit | | | | were homeschooled when they were younger but |
| slow, I started school a year late. Actually, I went | | | | choose public school for Jr. High. Both of those |
| to both pre-school and kindergarten before my | | | | friends ended up in drugs and alcohol. If your like |
| parents made the decision to homeschool both | | | | most parents I know, then that is something you |
| me and another sibling. Though, I started school a | | | | don't want for your kids. There are loads of |
| year late I completed my Associates Science | | | | influences at public schools that are not good for |
| degree the same summer I turned 19. I | | | | any kid. Avoiding those influences could be |
| contribute this success largely to the one-on-one | | | | considered one of the greatest pros of |
| time my parents spent with me. As a result of | | | | homeschooling. I would suggest that parents get |
| the hours of one-on-one time spent with my | | | | together with a homeschool group in their own |
| parents I have not only learned to read (without | | | | area. In doing so, you can meet other homeschool |
| those terrible headaches) but I was even able to | | | | families and make up for many of the social |
| receive a full ride scholarship to the University of | | | | lackings of homeschooling. |
| Toledo for Computer Science and Engineering. | | | | 5. Entrepreneurship |
| 2. Ability to go at the child's rate | | | | Of all the great pros of homeschooling the |
| Another one of the pros of homeschooling for | | | | greatest is the entrepreneurship opportunities. Let |
| me was the ability to go at a pace that challenged | | | | me explain, as a homeschooler I could finish school |
| me. As I went on in math my parents had me go | | | | in half the time it took public schoolers to finish |
| allot faster then I would have been able to in | | | | school. You see, I didn't have to walk between |
| public school. In fact, I was about two years | | | | classes and I didn't have to sit through lectures |
| ahead of of my grade level in math. In other | | | | that were aimed towered the slowest student. As |
| areas such as writing I was probably somewhat | | | | a result I could Finnish my school and have allot of |
| behind. This is largely because I was not very | | | | time to spare before my neighborhood friends |
| motivated to do something that I didn't really like. | | | | got home (I wasn't completely separated from |
| Fortunately, my parents kept with me and I was | | | | public schools). It was during that time I learned to |
| getting A's and B's in my college writing. Because | | | | do computer programming. Eventually, I even |
| the success of homeschooling is partly dependent | | | | developed a business with what I had learned. It |
| on the how motivated the child is, parents must | | | | was a huge learning experience. Not only was it a |
| keep there children motivated. In other words, | | | | great learning experience but it also looks great |
| parents need to make learning fun. In writing, | | | | on a resume. Employers love employees who |
| have the child write about something they are | | | | show such self initiative that they even owned |
| exited about or play logic games with the child to | | | | there own business. In fact, My buisness is part of |
| increase there logical skills. | | | | what got me my full ride scholarship to the |
| 3.Children learn how to learn | | | | University of Toledo. Who wouldn't want there |
| Another advantage is that I learned how to learn. | | | | kids to have such great opportunities? |
| Let me explain, when you are in public school you | | | | |