The Advantage of Homeschooling

What makes homeschooling better than traditional schooling? Lately, there is a rising trend in families choosing to homeschool their child than send their child to a traditional educational institution. ⁷

It is reasonable to ask, given advances in education over the last century, what are the advantages of home schooling? What on the surface may look like an old-fashioned teaching method is increasing in popularity across the nation. As it turns out, there are many good reasons for parents to home school their children, not the least of which is the fact that one-on-one tutoring has been widely recognized as the most effective method of education. ¹⁷

Please remember that home schooling is not an automatic cure-all. It takes much hard work to do it right, and no parents should begin unless they intend to do the job diligently. The decision whether or not to home school should be preceded by much careful thought, prayer, and planning. Many good books are available to help parents understand what is really involved. ¹⁵

Not only are they given the freedom to teach core subjects from a biblical perspective, but they can also incorporate their child's interests into the curriculum. Skills such as woodworking, cooking, managing money, and shopping for healthy food on a budget can be learned through real-life interactions and projects. The advantages of home schooling are both personal and practical. ¹⁷

You, more than anyone else, want your child to reach their full potential. This is usually not possible in a crowded classroom environment. A child, to learn at their best, must have one-on-one instruction from someone who truly cares for them. And who better than you can give that to them? Public school teachers are overwhelmed by the sheer number of students they must control every day. With the many different learning styles, discipline problems, regulations that need to be followed and other factors a public school teacher cannot spend the individual time with each child that is necessary to bring out that child-s best. Home schooling can help children to blossom and bring out a child-s full potential like nothing else can. ²⁴

Despite shorter schooling hours, home schoolers have consistently scored at or above average in virtually all subject areas on standardized tests. Studies have shown that children whose parents are directly involved in their education are more apt to excel in academics. Indeed, a home-schooled child is aware of the dedication of his parents to his educational success. ¹⁷

Many homeschooling families cite this as the number one reason they choose to home school their children and therefore one of the main advantages of homeschooling. In a world where religious freedom is attacked from all sides, parents are choosing to take back their rights and invest time into the character and beliefs of their children. ¹⁸

Public school teachers have their curriculum all laid out for them. They must follow programs and use materials that others have already approved for them. They must also move at a predetermined pace so that they can get through their study programs even if it means going forward at the expense of a child understanding what has been taught. You, on the other hand, can come up with your own homeschooling curriculum which can include religious or moral beliefs. You can take a field trip anytime you desire. You can make sure your child fully grasps a specific subject before moving forward. This will allow your child the opportunity to learn as they should be learning and at a pace they can keep up with. In a public system the slower children are often left behind. ²⁴

Britton Manasco, writing for Reason Magazine, looks at the advantages of homeschooling, along with some interesting facets of home education. Discusses the benefits of encouraging independent thought and decentralized learning practices. The article also takes a look at the state of today's classrooms and the limitations of traditional notions of education. There is also a discussion of the use of technology in the homeschool environment and how this relates to the issue of socialization. ²⁹

Religious learning is a sensitive issue hence most traditional schools shunned it. However, with homeschooling, parents can take control over the moral and religious learning of the child. Parents can impart their ideologies and deep beliefs into the child rather than let the school dictate what moral and religious education the child will be receiving. ⁷

Homeschooling is the best way to educate a child as you can see from the advantages listed below. If you have the time, the interest and the ability, why not give it a try? ⁷

B) MOVING AT THE CHILD'S OWN PACE: If the homeschooled child has completed the project or page or chapter assigned, then she can move on to another topic. She does not have to wait until the bell rings before digging into something else. Or, if the child is excited about the topic and really getting into it, she doesn't have to "change her mind" when the bell rings. ³

C) WORKING WITH THE CHILD'S LEARNING STYLE: Each child has a certain "learning style," a particular way they process in-coming information best. Intuitively, parents seem to know what will get the point across, and what won't. And with a day of training, a parent can find keys to unlock more doors to the child's learning style. This is quite different from what happens in the traditional classroom where the child must conform to the teacher's "teaching style." Students of average ability who are allowed to in-put and process information according to their natural learning style can become great learners. The traditional classroom is teacher-driven, whereas the homeschool can be student-driven, and the child allowed to master areas in the best way at the best time for the best results. ³

In America when the average child is in the traditional school setting by the age of 5 or 6, they begin spending more waking hours of the day with the peers than with their parents. Yes, more awake time with their peers than with their parents. Now consider this simple statement -- children become adults. No dispute with that, is there ? ³

Younger students have the advantage of learning from older homeschoolers who they encounter through support groups, field trips, homeschool ?classes? And one of the advantages for older students is that they develop a sense of responsibility and concern as role models for younger students. ¹⁸

Homeschoolers also have the distinct advantage of working with people of all ages, income levels, and professions. Parents need only tap into the endless opportunities to help their child develop their character, their social skills, and their ability to handle life. ¹⁸

In the home school, the teacher works directly with each student, progressing when the child is ready. Many students learn more in 2-5 hours daily than do other students who are gone from home 8-10 hours and then come home to several hours of homework! ¹⁵

However, parents can still feel free to fit in special learning opportunities that fixed classroom hours may not allow. Students can take special field trips, attend interesting events, or visit with informative people. Families can plan vacations during the off- season while other kids must be at classes. ¹⁵

All the positive socialization they learned came from home schooling. Public school couldn't (and wouldn't) do anything for them. Private school charged outrageous fees. Charter schools still wouldn't have been challenging enough. Appropriate social skills were not implemented at any of those choices. While public school can work for some, it just doesn't cut it for others. The same can be said for any schooling method. It's all about the individual situation and what's needed. ¹¹