Do you ever feel bored in class, because you're way ahead of everyone
 else? Or do you ever feel stressed, because you're way behind, but 
don't have enough time to catch up? Well maybe you should consider 
homeschooling!  Homeschooling is a thing that more and more people have 
been doing over the years.  Some people think that the disadvantages to 
homeschooling are sufficient reason not to homeschool, but I, based off 
experience and research, take the position that homeschooling is at 
least as good as, or possibly better than, public school. The number of 
homeschoolers has been increasing noticeably over the years.  According 
to the website statisticbrain.com in 1999 there were only about 875,000 
homeschoolers, but by 2015 there were about 1,770,000!  This shows that 
many other people share the same view as I do.  But when thinking of 
homeschooling, there are many things to consider.  There are good points
 and bad points to homeschooling.  But I personally believe that, though
 the bad points should be considered, they can usually be overcome, and 
the outcome is very beneficial. 
              The first reason I believe that 
homeschooling is beneficial, is that kids get taught at their own level.
 At public school, all the kids, though they have different levels of 
learning, are taught at the same level.  If a student is ahead of the 
class, they have nothing to do, but sit and wait, play silly games or 
other completely un-educational things (kids may think that's fun, but 
if you aren't learning, what's the point of school?), while they wait 
for the rest of the class to catch up. When homeschooling, learning is 
more consistent. And what if a kid is behind? In public school they 
don't really get all the time they need to finish their work. While the 
rest of the class is already working on the next project, they could 
still be struggling on the previous project.  Without any proper 
one-on-one work, they may never get it done! 
             Which brings me to 
another point. The second reason I think homeschooling is beneficial is 
that the kid gets one-on-one teaching that leans towards their own 
specific way of learning, and their own interests!  When kids are in 
public school, they usually only learn what the school is teaching. And 
perhaps, the method of teaching is making it so that they don’t learn 
anything at all!  When homeschooling, the kids can learn whatever they 
want, however they need to! Kids like freedom: My siblings, and any 
other kid I know, Likes having at least a little bit of freedom, and is 
always excited when their parents leave them home alone for the first 
time, let them walk to a close friends house, or let them start taking 
on more serious responsibilities. And homeschooling gives them the 
chance to exercise their freedom and responsibilities. But you 
need
 to be careful not to only focus on kids' strengths. Kids need all of 
the skills and knowledge taught at public school too. So make sure that 
kids also learn the basic necessities. It's also a lot easier to take 
vacations!  You can just continue schooling wherever you are, and get 
some real life hands on experiences! While people in public school are 
learning about the revolution, you could be standing on bunker hill, 
taking a tour of The Old North Church, where Paul Revere got his signal 
that the British were coming by sea, or touring the Alamo! Field trips 
are rare in public school. Not so much in homeschool! 
               And then, 
this reason is probably what kids will like the most: way more time! 
When you go to public school, you have to wake up early, eat breakfast, 
pack a lunch, pack everything you need, and then go to school, all in 
about two hours! If you are homeschooling, you can sleep in! And, once 
you’ve finished everything you need to do, you can do whatever you want!
 You could do some math, some writing, some history, and then you can do
 whatever you want! You could make a movie, you could build a Lego 
tower, you could experiment with a chemistry set!  I got to go watch a 
man use a 3D printer!  That's what is so awesome about homeschool!   
             And
 kids also get to spend more time with their parents, and don't have to
 endure as much peer pressure.  This allows parents to train kids in the
 way they want their kids to grow up.  As Mahatma Gandhi said “There is 
no school equal to a decent home and no teacher equal to a virtuous 
parent.”  Instead of being out in public life with all kinds of beliefs,
 theories, and influences, they grow up, sheltered from any bad 
influences, in their own home!  The parents can teach children their own
 beliefs.  It can be argued, and it is true that the kids are going to 
grow up in an environment where their beliefs probably won't be 
contradicted. So when they get out into the real world they won't be 
prepared for contradiction and questions. But, there are places where 
homeschoolers can go to take specific classes and meet with the same 
group of people once or twice a week, where they will meet people with 
other ideas, beliefs, and ways of thinking.  
            This brings me to 
another thing you should consider: Some people may argue that if parents
 are the only ones teaching the kid, than they may have schedule 
problems, and the kid probably won't have a very big social life.  In 
public school, though they may not be learning very well, they get a 
very good social experience. They see the same group of people almost 
every day!  A very good way to make friends.  But when kids homeschool, 
they have a limited social life.  This is true.  So, as I mentioned 
before, there are homeschool groups!  For example, I go to a program 
called BFPP at the school Larrabee, which has been turned into a place 
where homeschoolers come and pick some classes to do.  Parents, though 
they may love teaching their kids alone, may not be qualified to teach 
their kids in all subjects. So sending their kids to a place with 
qualified teachers would probably be a good idea. 
             If you need to 
study and work at your own pace, want to spend more time with your 
family, take more vacations, get more hands-on experience, and sleep in,
 then homeschooling 
may be what you are looking for!  If you 
consider all of this information, (although this is obviously supporting
 homeschool,) I think that you will agree with me: Homeschool is at 
least as good as, or better than, public school.  If you're considering 
homeschooling, I hope you consider this essay. And one last thing to 
consider: the child of the author of familyeducation Homeschooling Pros 
and Cons, Isabel Shaw's child (Bev) said one more thing that cannot be 
ignored: "When you need a hug, there's always one to be found!"  
                                                                    The End 
Great article...makes me with I'd homeschooled my kids...hey, I did homeschool my kids...so so so glad you're doing well..love you tons, Grandma
ReplyDeleteHi Emma
ReplyDeleteIt's Faith. Grandma gave me the link via email, and I thought I would pop over here and say Hi. Hi! Do you check your email much? Because I just got one, and I would love if we could chat over there.
Love you,
-Faith
Hi Faith! I'll email you!
ReplyDeleteLove you,
-Emma