How is home schooling better than a public school?

Answer 1

Not necessarily.

In the United States, homeschooling can be an option for parents who wish to provide their children with a quality of education they believe is unattainable in schools. At present, however, most children are institutionally schooled.

Families that homeschool in the USA are quite different demographically. 94% are non-Hispanic whites (compared to 71% nationwide). 97% of parents are currently married. (compared to 72%) 62% have 3 or more children (compared to 20%). Nearly all the mothers are stay-at-home housewives. 58% are Fundamentalist in religion (compared to about 10%) 64% of fathers have college or postgraduate degrees (compared to 24%) Average income was $52,000 in 1997, (compared to $36,000)

Thus the profile is a group of well educated, high income white parents with several children and a possible strong commitment to fundamentalist religion.

Opposition to home education comes from varied sources, including organizations of teachers and school districts. One example is the National Education Association, a teachers' union, which is the largest labor union in the United States. They are on record as opposing homeschooling outright; though, in recent years they have not been as outspoken in this opposition. Opponents state concerns falling into several broad categories, including: academic quality and completeness; reduced government money for the publicly-run schools; socialization of children with peers of different ethnic and religious backgrounds; and fear of religious or social extremism. Gallup polls of American voters have shown a significant change in attitude in the last twenty years, from 73% opposed to home education in 1985 to 54% opposed in 2001 [10].

Opponents view home-educating parents as sheltering their children and denying them opportunities that are their children's right, reducing the amount of government funds publicly-run schools would receive if more children were attending the publicly-run school, and providing an unfair advantage to home-educated children over students whose parents lack the time or money for home education. With regard to the latter point, however, parents choosing to homeschool often intend that to be the case.

Answer 2

Homeschooling is actually very beneficial for the child or children. Homeschooled kids usually have much more of a social life than kids who go to public schools because they attend more clubs, societies, etc., where they meet many friends- whereas public school kids do not usually have the time. When kids are homeschooled, their parents know exactly what their kids are learning and know where their weaknesses are and can help build those weaknesses one-on-one, which usually doesn't happen for public schools when there are about 30 kids to a classroom. Homeschooled kids go on trips more often, because they don't have to worry about holidays and school days missed. Parents can also teach them about, for example, lichens at a waterfall in a national park, bears at the zoo, and tadpoles in a puddle during a walk. And besides, they learn what life gives us, not what the school board's curriculum gives us, like algebra and geometry. Has anyone besides an engineer ever used those in later life?

Answer 3

For me personally Homeschooling has been way more beneficial then if I would have attened public school. I did attend a private school in 2nd grade and then a public school for part of 4th grade. I did enjoy the privite school, but I had a very bad experience with public school causing my mother to withdraw me in december and homeschooling me the rest of the year.

I learn better when I can read and figure out things on my own instead of a teacher standing in front of the class telling me things. I'm a visual learner and I really just can not learn verbally, at least to some degree. Plus I get easily distracted.

So for me homeschooling has been a wonderful experience and very beneficial. I hope to homeschool my own children. This is because of my own experience and because of things I know and hear about public school that I do not want my own children exposed to.

Answer 4

Better would depend on the alternatives for your child. I was home schooled during a time when it wasn't as fashionable (70's and 80's) and we weren't the usual demographic. (African-American living in an urban environment) it was because of the school in the area that my mother and father decided it was a better choice, though they always left the option open to us. I do feel it's better for many families, here are a very few of my personal reasons why I do think it's a good idea, if both parents (or at least one) have the time, energy, education and means to be able to do so.

Pros

* Interaction between parents and children

* One can focus on the specific academic needs of the child

* Learning can be so much more interactive and interesting than typical classroom schooling, thereby allowing the child to get more out of it.

* Screening the associates of classmates that aren't socially or emotionally healthy for your child to be around.

Cons

* Some children are “super social”; they might prefer to be in a regular setting with more people. (Of course they might not get a lot done in class if they are socializing.)

* Scheduling can be less rigid. Many children need hard and fast rules pertaining to getting up and getting out for school. This is harder to do when being home-schooled.

* After-school activities aren't documented so if you're trying to get into college with a scholarship based upon a sport, I would imagine that would be tough.


I hope these personal thoughts help you with your choice.

Answer 5

Wow, have I seen a lot of bigotry in some of these answers. It appears that the most misinformed individuals have decided that since there are fundamentalist Christians that are homeschooling their children, that all who homeschool must be weird wackos that keep their kids in a box all day and never let them see their friends, have any fun, or experience anything outside the home. Oh, and we all must be teaching them outrageous "intolerance" to different lifestyles, viewpoints, races, political opinions, etc. Bull crap.

There are as many answers to HOW home schooling is better than public school as there are opinions about whether or not redheads are cute. But to make generalizations about the supposed backward, intolerant, unsociable product of homeschooling is ignorant. But, that's the Yahoo environment (and anti-Christian bias) for ya.

If anyone would care to review census data, they would find that only 33% of homeschooling parents cited RELIGION as the reason they home school. The primary reason? According to the report it was EDUCATIONAL QUALITY. Hmmmm.
Additionally, the data only support ONE generalization: "Sixty percent of home schooled children have a non-working adult in the home, compared with thirty percent of other children. If home schooling is limited to a particular subgroup, it is probably this one." So home schooled kids are more likely to have a stay-at-home parent.

Wow. Does that mean that home schoolers might, in most ways, be "just like us"? Scary, isn't it?

Is it really that hard to accept that there might be people that are more academically focused? Folks who want their kids to have an excellent education? Folks who found out the hard way that they can do a better job teaching their kids than the government monopoly can? Geesh.

The fact is, it is up to the parent whether or not the quality of the education received by the home schooled student is worse, same as, or better than the public school. Parents are individuals, so there is no one generalization (other than the one listed above) that you can make. Parents can choose to involve their kids with local sports, music, arts & crafts groups, play groups, historical societies, volunteering, library activities, health clubs, 4-H, FFA, garden clubs, service organizations, community theatre, etc., etc., etc., all of which provide exceptional opportunities for socialization in a POSITIVE environment. All of that mentioned above is available within a 15 mile radius, and I live in a RURAL environment, so I'm certain those living in suburban or urban areas have those opportunities available as well.

Golly, all those activites will really put them "so far behind socially" they will never recover, or "retard their mental and social development for years".

Whatever.

Answer 6

You've gotten good information from both Barb and Monica. I would echo what they said...and repeat do some serious research. Start with a search on "homeschool myths" and read for awhile. Most of the answers people have posted here are common myths about homeschool. Socialization is one of the biggest ones. According to medical research children are better socialized by their parents, not other children. Also there is a difference between socialization and social development. Socialization is learning to follow the pack, blend in, adapt to a group. Social development is learning to develop a strong sense of self, who you are and what you believe in so that you can make a contribution to the group rather than being a mindless follower. Homeschoolers have so much more available to them than public school children do. They have plenty of friends, activities, interests etc. Adults who were homeschooled are happier and more satisfied with their lives. They also tend to be more involved in the community, in politics, and their unemployment rate is much lower! Also interesting factoid for you...the idea of compulsory schooling...aka public school...is only 187 years old! It was invented in Prussia in 1819 and adopted in the USA in 1852. Although some believe the Aztecs had a form of compulsory schooling, it wasn't adopted in modern times until the mid 1800's. So forced attendance in public school is really the new radical thing.

Answer 7

Home schooling can be alright for certain situations. I have looked at the data and have not found that home schooled kids have it better than the ones in public schools. Where I am from in the United States it is almost near to impossible to make sure the social end of it is kept up because most of the area is rural or out in the country as most would call it. Also given the way a kid is can make it impossible to teach them with their attitudes. I am one that might be able to teach my kids but then again most times they hear it from another source and actually get it better. PLUS they need to learn to deal with other people in lots of ways. You can not expect them to get a job and then handle an angry customer or hard core bosses. But the social part and being able to get through to the kid is not always the problem....

HOW MANY OF THOSE PARENTS ARE REALLY QUALIFIED TO TEACH?

I am not claiming I have a degree in every subject but I do know I could teach them something. But a lot of people argue that question because they do not think most parents have enough education to teach the critical and core subjects.

Then there is graduation from a high school? Will your son or daughter be able to do that? It is a big day in their life as it is to get a driver's license or turn 16 or even get asked out on that first date.

All in all, both have the upside and downside....

Answer 8

In a couple of weeks, when schools start up, my eight year old will be staying home with her younger sister and me. (my husband works 9-5 but is eager to participate in projects when home) We are all excited. We have so many books we want to read together, so many "field trips," so many fun learning projects, experiments. We are not "converting" to homeschooling and we are not religious. We simply enjoy each other's company and all like to learn new things. Where we live, there are lots of homeschoolers, and lots of extra-curricular activities. We have friends in public school, private school and homeschool. Here's what I don't want to do: talk badly about the public schools, or any schools. I expect the same in return. There is no perfect solution; just the best for your family at the time.

Answer 9

Home school is better because the child gets to move at their own pace through the coursework. The child also gets more one-on-one attention and assistance. Also, there is a lot more flexibility in the learning environment. Also, no matter how good a teacher is, they can't be all things to all students, especially all at the same time.

I teach in public school. Ihave 32 students in my class. With the school day as it is, I can only spend about 10 minute per child, each day. It isn't how I want to teach, but it is the reality of it.

If I had children, I would home school them.

Answer 10

It isn't always. It can be a lot better if the pubic school involved is overcrowded, underfunded, etc. More one-on-one attention from teacher/parent can really help children, especially those who may learn at a slower or faster pace than "normal". The flexibility of home-schooling is ideal for these children. It is also good in areas where the trip to school takes an hour or more. Extra care needs to be taken to be sure the children get the appropriate social skills and interaction with other children their own age, and to assure that the children are exposed to various viewpoints, rather than seeing only their parents' side of things.

Answer 11

People say home schooling is better because it gives a child one-on-one attention and the child can progress at the speed that they need to learn rather then having to wait for other kids to catch up or maybe even slow other kids down. There are a lot of other reasons some may consider home schooling better.