Is homeschooling better than public/private school for kids? Why have parents chosen to homeschool over conventional schooling? Despite the bad rap it gets, homeschooling has become a prevalent practice all over the US.
Over time, homeschooling has evolved into a practical option with growing popularity among parents. Maybe the most crucial point on which the decision to homeschool revolves is the belief that education is a parental right and responsibility.
Additionally, homeschooling gives parents more control over their children’s education. The idea is to provide children with greater flexibility, freedom, and personalization.
Is homeschooling better than traditional schooling, and what are its benefits? That’s a question I’ll be answering in this article.
What Is Homeschooling?
This is the process of educating children at home or in places other than a standard school. A homeschooling program, alternative schooling, or elective home education involves teaching children at venues other than a regular classroom.
This typically involves a parent or tutor acting as the primary instructor for a given subject(s). Also, the role of the student is to learn the material and complete assignments.
Elective home education is becoming an increasingly popular choice for many parents. One that enables them to play a full part in their child’s development through the early years in a way that suits their family’s needs and circumstances.
Also, in some countries, home education is a legal option within the statutory school system and provides a genuine educational alternative to attending a school.
As a parent or carer (usually referred to as ‘home educators’), you need not follow the national curriculum. However, many choose to do so only part-time at certain stages of their child’s development.
For example, many home educators send their children to college to gain qualifications after training them to write GCSEs and A-levels. Sometimes, more than one family with teenagers home educates together in one geographical area.
Is Homeschooling Better than Traditional Schooling?
Yes, homeschooling is better than traditional schooling in most cases, depending on factors like learning style and family values.
Homeschooled students achieve better results on tests than their traditionally schooled peers. That’s according to data from the National Home Education Research Institute.
Different kids have different needs, and what works for one child might not work for another. Some kids flourish in a traditional school setting, and others need more flexible or alternative education settings to reach their full potential.
Many parents choose to homeschool their children instead of sending them to a traditional school for many reasons. It’s important to consider the pros and cons before deciding how to educate your child.
What Are the Benefits of Homeschooling?
The advantages of homeschooling include letting children discover their strengths and weaknesses at their own pace. Also, the student-teacher relationship allows for more flexibility in what and how subjects get taught.
That way, children who are struggling with or exceptional at a particular topic become challenged and supported in an individualized manner.
In addition, your children can focus on activities that interest them. The home environment is also less distracting than other learning environments. That means that children are more likely to retain and understand the information taught to them.
Additionally, the most obvious benefit of homeschooling is tailoring a program to suit your child’s needs and personality. Home education offers an environment rich in opportunities to nurture specific talents.
Furthermore, homeschoolers can personalize the curriculum to meet their needs, providing a more individualized approach to learning.
How Is Homeschooling Better than Traditional Schooling?
Homeschooling is better than traditional schooling because it allows your child to learn at their own pace and avoid the constant disruption of peer pressure.
Listed below are certain advantages the home educational system has over traditional schooling.
1. You Can Tailor the Education to Suit Your Needs
Home education is a viable alternative to traditional schooling, allowing parents to make the best decisions for their child’s needs.
You’re the parent and know your child/children better than anyone. As a parent, you’re in a unique position to tailor your kids’ education to suit your needs. Each family is different, each child is different, and each learns differently.
Home educators, therefore, focus on discovering learning styles and adopting teaching methods that suit those best suited to their children.
2. Homeschoolers Test Higher than Traditional Students
Educational researchers agree that homeschooled children, on average, perform higher than their traditionally schooled peers. They have confirmed this in numerous state and national studies.
Homeschoolers typically achieve higher assessment test scores than students in public schools. They score approximately 30% higher on standardized tests.
3. The Pressure to Make Friends Is Removed
In homeschooling, the pressure to make friends goes away. By letting your child be themselves, they can form genuine friendships with others. By not having the pressures of a classroom, your child will be better able to learn.
Also, students are not forced to interact with unreasonably large numbers of others, but rather have the freedom to do so only when they wish.
4. It Aids Parental Involvement in Education
In contrast to public schools, home education allows parents to participate more actively in their children’s education.
They have the power to set what appears in the curriculum. Also, they assume a more involved role in the education process than parents who have children at traditional schools.
5. Learning at Your Own Pace Is Possible
Homeschooling allows you to concentrate on your interests without being distracted by the demands of the world. How fast or slow you learn is entirely up to your level of understanding.
Time is not a constraint and you have unlimited time to review anything. In addition, home education removes labels and judgment, competition between pupils, and other factors that hinder learning.
6. Children with Learning Disabilities Thrive in Homeschooling
For children who have learning disabilities or attention problems, homeschooling can help them thrive. By making a few adjustments to the home environment, families can create a positive learning experience for children with disabilities.
With the one-on-one attention, they are able to receive while homeschooling, they can learn at their own pace and truly grasp a subject without falling behind because of a lack of understanding.
7. Homeschooled Children Are More Confident
Home education produces children who are more confident and independent. These children develop stronger bonds with their families and community and learn to live meaningful lives.
Some studies have shown that homeschooled children are more confident, exhibit greater self-esteem, and are more socially adept than their public school counterparts.
8. Your Child Doesn’t Have to Experience Bullying or Harassment in School
Traditional schooling does not provide children with the security they need and deserve during their years of development.
School-aged children are at a greater risk of bullying and harassment in today’s society. Consequently, your child will learn at his or her own pace without having to worry about a bunch of unruly children.
Your child doesn’t have to experience bullying or harassment at school. They can be the unique person they were born to be. And you’ll be there with them all the way.
9. It Improves Your Ability to Focus During Study
Studying at home allows you to better concentrate on your work, as you aren’t distracted by peers, conversing with classmates or other people who would otherwise weaken your focus.
Homeschooling eliminates unnecessary distractions and improves your ability to focus on individual projects.
10. Students Get To Learn in an Environment with Less Peer Pressure
There are many reasons homeschooling is better than traditional schooling, and students learning in an environment with less peer pressure is one of them.
While there is no doubt that your children need to be aware of and experience the outside world, you have the ability as a parent to limit exposure to negative influences and severe peer pressure.
What Are the Disadvantages of Homeschooling?
Homeschooling can be expensive or result in lower academic standards, there is no built-in support system, and kids may miss socialization.
Key disadvantages of home education include choosing the curriculum to follow and making sure your child meets the state standards. Another disadvantage is that you need to take on the responsibilities of being a teacher.
Other disadvantages of elective home education include:
1. Homeschooled Children Miss Out on Basic Social Skills
Children in home schools miss out on basic social skills, and emotional intelligence (EQ) isn’t learnable.
Parents who choose to home-school their children should take steps to ensure they are exposed to other kids and are getting the socialization they need to be successful later in life.
2. Homeschooling Can Be Very Isolating
Being a homeschooler can feel very isolating at times. It can be hard to find ways to get your child or children out of the house and meet other kids their age. I found that getting involved with local homeschool groups really helped with this.
3. There Is Limited Access to Teachers’ Support
Home education allows you to tailor your children’s education to suit your individual needs and requirements, but there is limited access to teachers’ advice and support.
4. Finding Extracurricular Activities Can Be Tricky
Finding extracurricular activities for your child can be tricky. Luckily, you can connect with other homeschooling parents in your area and find resources on several websites dedicated to homeschooling.
5. Not Everyone Has the Time and Resources to Homeschool
Lacking the facilities, time, and resources to homeschool your child can make it difficult for you to do so. In cases like this, traditional schooling supersedes home education.
Why Is Homeschooling Important?
As a homeschooler, you can create a curriculum that is both personal and unique. Curriculums typically rely on testing with specific grades in mind. Homeschooling also offers fun ways to personalize learning while being creative.
Parents have several reasons for homeschooling their children, but the main motivation is to provide individualized instruction geared toward their child’s unique learning style.
Other reasons include;
- Protecting children from negative influences
- Allowing more time for family and religious activities
- Fitting learning to a child’s specific needs and interests
- Improving academic performance
- And avoiding the problems of the traditional school system.
FAQs
Do you need any special certification to homeschool a child?
No, you don’t need any special certification to homeschool your child. However, some states require you to have a GED, high school diploma, or bachelor’s degree.
Also, the Education Act states that the parent or guardian of any child between the ages of 5 and 16 needs to ensure the child gets a suitable full-time education. It, however, does not specify how to provide home education.
Is homeschooling suitable for special needs children?
Yes, home education is suitable for kids with special needs. In many cases, homeschooling offers children with special needs the same academic, emotional, and social opportunities as private schooling.
However, children with special needs require individualized care and attention which traditional public schools cannot provide. Thus homeschooling is often the best option for these children, allowing them to thrive academically and emotionally.
Do homeschoolers write exams?
Yes, homeschoolers do take exams. Homeschoolers register as independent candidates to sit for exams like A-Level and GED. Students enrolled in home education can take various national tests, depending on the country.
However, developmental assessments often take place by parents or home educators in the form of exercises or tests. This helps assess the child’s progress and identify weaknesses that need improvement.
Conclusion
There are lots of reasons why homeschooling is good for kids. Families who decide to raise their children at home do so for various reasons, such as better education, and more freedom for them.
Also, home education allows children to gain greater exposure to culture and focuses more on their individual needs. However, while home education is conducted far away from the conventional classroom, it isn’t the same as distance learning.
Finally, understanding distance learning will allow you to understand the differences between these learning styles. Learn more about distance learning and how effective it is.
I hope you found this article helpful.
Thanks for reading
