In this blog post, we would like to discuss the pros and cons of homeschooling. However, we realize that people have different opinions on this subject. You may not like what you read, even though we will treat the topic objectively. We will discuss the homeschooling pros and cons everyone knows. However, we will also touch on the homeschooling vs. public school debate. At the time of writing, the homeschooling statistics are as follows:
- Currently, there are around 2.2 million children that are receiving home schooling in the US.
- The homeschooled population has been growing at a rate of around 8% per year for the last 5 years.
- Homeschooled children have been found to perform between 15 and 30 percent better than both public and private school students.
- Homeschooled students score higher on standardized tests. They are also able to get better scores than non-homeschooled students at both the SAT and ACT.
Even though the statistics above are presenting the benefits of homeschooling, there are also cons. Just read our pros and cons of homeschooling to the end to get the big picture.
Who Is Interested in the Pros and Cons of Homeschooling?
But what is homeschooling? Also known as home education, homeschooling is basically the education children receive at home or at other places that are not schools. Parents, tutors and even online teachers can provide homeschooling services. But who is really interested in the pros and cons of home education? Of course, parents are the first group. They want the best education for their children, after all. However, most children are also interested to find out how homeschooling benefits them. So if you are a student trying to find the history of homeschooling and to decide for yourself if home education really helps you, congratulations!
So, How Does Homeschooling Work?
How does homeschooling work? Is there such a thing as easy peasy homeschooling? The first thing you need to realize is that homeschooling works great with public and private school curriculums. If your state does not have compulsory school attendance laws, you are free to homeschool your child without sending him to a public or private school. However, we strongly recommend against this practice.
We consider homeschooling to be complementary education that should not replace the traditional school. Also, keep in mind that each state has different regulation for homeschooling. Before you think about a home education program, you should check the requirements carefully. Remember that some states require you to have accountability. In our opinion, the best states for homeschooling are:
- Alaska
- Connecticut
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Iowa
- Michigan
- Missouri
- New Jersey
- Oklahoma
- Texas
- Nevada
- Utah
- New Mexico
- Wyoming
- Nebraska
- Arkansas
- Wisconsin
- Mississippi
- Alabama
- Delaware
These states either require no notice to the school district or then have relatively low regulations that are easy to comply with. But again, you should consult the regulations (if any) before you even think about how to start homeschooling.
The Clear Benefits of Homeschooling
It has been proven that homeschooling high school children have plenty of benefits. Homeschooled children generally do better on standardized tests. Regardless of the homeschooling program you are using (classical homeschooling or online homeschooling), here are some of the most important benefits:
- Your child has academic flexibility, which means he or she can focus on his or her interests and not bother with classes that are of no interest.
- As a parent (or tutor), you are in charge of everything from learning approach and curriculum to graduation requirements and schedule.
- There is no wasted time. Your child will get one on one education at all times. He can always ask questions and will get the right answers every time.
- Your child can learn about things schools don’t include in their curriculum.
- Your child won’t be subjected to the “teaching to the test” method.
- Studies have shown the homeschooling has many benefits when it comes to physical health, mental health, and even social development.
- Perhaps best of all, home education helps children learn more, in a relaxed environment. This is probably why they get better scores on the ACT and SAT.
Another thing we consider very beneficial is that fact that you can homeschool children with dyslexia with very good results. However, keep in mind that homeschooling with dyslexia is not easy. You will have to be very flexible and fine-tune your strategies until you find what works and what doesn’t. However, unlike a professor, you have all the incentives to do your best to find the right blend of curriculum and teaching style. To learn more, we advise you to read about homework benefits.
Most Important Cons of Homeschooling
The most important con of homeschooling is its cost. The only real free homeschooling program is the traditional approach (and not even that is entirely free). You, as a parent, will have to teach your child everything he needs to succeed in life. You can get some help from homeschooling blogs and homeschooling books, of course. However, when it comes to educating your child, you are on your own. And truth be told, most people are not very good teachers.
And because we are objective, we want to present some other cons of homeschooling, besides its cost:
- Homeschooling is a huge lifestyle change. The parents and the children must be able to accept it. Busy people will not be able to provide effective home education to their children. Also, people with a precarious financial situation should not attempt to homeschool their kids.
- Homeschooling prevents children from interacting with many other children, like it happens in public or private school.
- Being a parent and a teacher at the same time can be a daunting task. Your stress levels will quickly skyrocket.
- Homeschooling requires time, so you will most likely experience a loss of income.
- You will not have the same resources as a school (think about technology and lab equipment, for example).
If you want to make sure your kid gets excellent education, you should look at homeschooling online. There are various homeschooling options out there, but they all come at a price. Some tutors ask for incredible amounts of money. So, how much does homeschooling cost? The answer to this question is rather tricky. If you use the traditional approach and you do everything yourself, you will spend around $400 to $600 per year (books, games, curriculum, etc.).
If you get help from a tutor, costs will go up. The general consensus is that homeschooling costs more than public school, but less than private school. Nowadays, there are companies that are offering excellent, affordable homeschooling online. The curriculum can be discussed with the parents and the tutors are very flexible. These programs are designed in a way that allows the parents and the tutor to work together to achieve excellent results. There are even kindergarten homeschooling programs available.
Is Homeschooling Better Than Public School? Great Question!
You now know both the advantages and the disadvantages of homeschooling. Hopefully, you’ve accustomed yourself with the homeschooling requirements of your state. Now, before you make a decision, you are probably interested in one last thing. Is homeschooling better than public school? While the benefits are clear and they outweigh the disadvantages, there is something you should always keep in mind: homeschooling is as good as the person doing it!
Yes, homeschooling has been proven to be more effective than both public school and private school. But there is as catch. It is more effective only when it is done correctly! You will be in charge of the education of your child and there is no room for errors. This is why we will conclude this blog by advising you to seriously consider an online homeschooling program. It will help you and – most importantly – your child immensely. Working with a seasoned assignment helper can prove to be invaluable. And besides, you will definitely need some assistance with parts of the curriculum sooner or later.
