About homeschooling

Homeschooling has increased in popularity in recent years, with most countries around the world allowing it (Davis 7). Kreager claims that the rate of homeschooling in the United States, especially in the k-12 education system, is the largest (230). In reality, America now has 1.1 million homeschooled students, up from 15,000 in 1983. (Kreager 240). Parents have associated with the benefits of homeschooling and the ability to take an involved role in their children’s upbringing. Homeschooling can be attributed to a variety of influences, including proximity to a campus, parental religious beliefs, and the consistency of public schools in an area. In particular, technological advancements have facilitated homeschooling with most schools globally allowing their students to take online classes (McReynolds 37). Most states recognize the legality with homeschooling but require the candidates to go through some harmonized tests to check their progress in their studies. There has been a bone of contention regarding the benefit of homeschooling and the impact it has on the child. Some researchers argue that homeschooling makes a child antisocial which affects the way they interact with other people as an adult (Mazama, Ama and Lundy 16). It is hence important to ensure that the children interact with other children on a regular basis to keep their social life active. Homeschooling, however, is advantageous because it is flexible and parents do not, therefore, have to follow the mainstream timetable while educating their children (Shepherd 339). Besides, every parent can identify a child’ weaknesses, and strengths hence choose to focus on them while teaching their children. The public education sector is also plagued with policies that seem to curtail the children’s creativity hence homeschooling serves as a better option. Homeschooling is beneficial to the learners, parents and the economy.

Arguments For

Education goes behind the classroom walls. In most cases, people perceive education as having passed through a formal school system where one acquires knowledge regarding certain subjects. Education is however gained through life experiences, and this is mostly impacted at home (Mazama, et al., 16). There are different kind of learners, slow learners, quick learners and those that have developmental issues. Teachers in the mainstream schools often struggle trying to create a balance while teaching the fast and slow learners for instance. It is evident that the teachers may be too quick to the slow learners and too slow for the quick learners. In the end, the tests fail to reveal the true potential of the students. The schools also do not allow the students to explore their world and learn through nature what may never be learned in class. For instance, the schools have a timetable which the students have to follow. The short break is merely time to eat and connect with their fellow students which in effect restricts their experimental character. Homeschooling also has a better environment as compared to the schools. The child can hence learn with little distraction which also maximizes their understanding. In school, children often have to share classes, and there is a lot of noise that comes from either end meaning that the child’s concentration is affected. Homeschooling is, therefore, best suited for the different kind of students because it gives them the freedom to explore nature and their environment thus coming up with the most advanced education.

Homeschooling allows a parent to impact the right social and religious values to a child. A parent is the first teacher to a child and hence should never delegate that responsibility to someone else (Mazama, et al., 19). Once the parent allows other people to educate her child on what to believe and stand for, then they fail as parents. The mainstream schools were started off through some religious institutions, but that have changed to accommodate schools from the private sector. The teachers hence focus less on the development of a child and instead on the content that they are going to ingrain on the child. A parent, on the other hand, understands the value of having a well-rounded child, with the right attributes that allow him to fit in the society. The parent may hence strive to illustrate the proper behavior to the child through the way they talk, worship and even articulate their points. Homeschooling also ensures that the children are not brainwashed into following a particular religious affiliation while in school. Some schools hinder the children from worship (McReynolds 38). A Catholic public school, for instance, may discriminate against a Muslim child hence making them adopt their faith. Such a child may end up hating school because their freedom is curtailed which also reflects negatively on their performance. In the face of political campaigns, some parents realize that their children become political agents for the candidates that desire to win. Some of the politicians visit the school to sell their policies to the administration and by extension involves the children. Homeschooling may hence ensure that the child is not brainwashed and hence is an independent thinker. The parent may, therefore, seek to nurture the child with good moral standing and religion that will develop him into a wholesome person in the society.

Homeschooling minimizes negative social influence from one peer. There are different characters within a school which is dependent on their backgrounds. Some children may be drug addicts, violent, bullies and show offs. Once a child goes to such a school, she adopts the behavior depending on whom she associated herself with. The parent may hence realize that her child has turned violent or antisocial depending on the company that she keeps in school. Most radicalization also happens in a school where the child is made to follow a certain religious sect that impacts negatively on their behaviors (Lee Garth, Trefethren and Anderson 224). In fact, looking at terrorism, it is evident that most people were recruited from formal institutions such as schools. The only certain way to reduce the prevalence of drugs is allowing the children to homeschool. Certainly, no parent will allow their children to engage in the wrong company or even consume drugs hence saving their children from further calamities. Homeschooling, therefore, allows a parent to choose the kind of friends that the child associates herself with. There is indeed close monitoring of the child’s behaviors, and that means that the parent gets to correct the ill behavior earlier on. Homeschooling also ensures that the child pays attention to her studies by only focusing on the behavior and character that derives maximum concentration during learning (McReynolds 40). Homeschooling is, therefore, the best option for the children who want to raise morally upright and well-behaved children.

Parents have many options on the quality of education that they want to impact on their child with homeschooling. The government seems to interfere with public schools which in effect affect the quality of education being passed on there (Morrison 33). The government cannot, therefore, be trusted with setting the right standards of education within the country. The funds channeled to the education sector are also inadequate meaning that the teachers and the learners have to deal with the little available resources which reflect negatively on performance. Whenever a school, for instance, is unable to hire enough teachers for their students that end up affecting the children since they lack sufficient resources to develop the skills that they need to progress in life. There have been instances of teachers go-slow and strikes that hinder the children’s earning capability. Parents that may not afford to take their children to a private institution, therefore, have to bear with taking their children to the public schools yet they do not approve of the way the children are taught there. The parents, therefore, have various curriculums from which they can choose to educate their children with. Parents globally can also choose a curriculum that identifies with the child’s unique ability and talents thus benefiting the child in the end. The government also tends to set the national exams that should be taken by every student which may not reveal the real potential of a student (Kreh 237). Homeschooling hence ensures that the parent can monitor the child’s progress through regular tests depending on the level that the child is in. Homeschooling should hence be encouraged because the children end up with better education and content than those who learn in a school.

Homeschooled children perform better academically and socially compared to their schooled counterparts (Drenovsky, Cynthia, and Cohen 20). Within the public institutions, the teacher to student ration is low meaning that it will reflect negatively on the performance. Back at home, the parent or the tutor can solely focus on the student and hence give him the skills needed in life. For instance, if a child is talented in social sciences, the tutor may choose to focus on that and also teach the students more in the physical sciences to ensure that the student performs well in all subjects. Drenovsky, et.al, note that the traditional schools fail to nurture talents within the schools which are reflected by graduates who lack social skills (20). A home tutor can recognize a child that can sing, draw or dance for instance and nurture those skills. After completion of the school, such a child is seen to be creative and hence adapt to the world because one is also not assured of a readymade job after completion of school. Homeschooling has also garnered much social following, and most parents have hence adopted it for their children. Once in a while parents allow their homeschooled children to gather and share ideas on what they have learned so far. In this case, the children are also allowed to socialize, and this builds on their social skills. Parents that desire to have well-rounded children who will not suffer after graduation should hence adopt homeschooling because it will benefit the children at the end.

Parents should not be cajoled to follow customs that may not suit them. Every parent, therefore, has the right to choose the kind of education that they would desire for their children (Kunzman 23). It is hence important that the government recognizes this right and allow the students to homeschool even if they will still do the generic tests once in a while. Parents who cannot afford to take their children to a private school can hence achieve their desired quality by tutoring their children in their specified style. The mainstream schools have a defined way of teaching meaning that children cannot get creative with their studies (Ripperger-Suhler 6). For instance, some students grasp concept better at night, and others are morning students. Parents back at home can hence determine the best timings for their children and hence maximize their potential (Tanya ,Gates and Schwarzer 70). Homeschooling is hence the best choice as it allows parents to draw the preferred curve for their children’s destiny.

Homeschooling allows parents to bond with their children (Miller 24). Parents have become so busy that they dedicate a little time for their children. The harsh economic times dictates that parents engage in various economic activities to afford essential commodities. In this case, if a child goes to school, the amount of time that they spend with their parents reduces significantly. Homeschooling, therefore, ensures that the parents are in close touch with their children and can hence impact positive values and affirmation to them (Ripperger-Suhler 5). Most of the schools going children lack confirmation that is needed from a parent since they spend a little time with them. Such children are likely to suffer from self-esteem issues, lack of trust and even personality disorder since they rely on the outside parties to affirm them. In fact, research shows that most of the children that are convicted of crimes have no bonds from their parents which explain their rowdy behavior (Miller 27). It is hence important that parents designate some hours with their children so that they can do the tutoring and hence also create emotional bonds with them. Moreover, parents that actively homeschool their children can tell when their children have health and social issues and hence deal with them soon as they occur instead of waiting for a bigger disaster (Waddell 57). In the face of economic advancements and the need to have a child-parent bond, homeschooling remains the best option for the children.

Homeschooling allows the teacher and the child to focus more on learning and acquiring information and not on grades and positions (Tanya ,et al., 78). The public schools, on the other hand, pay more attention to the position that a child attains in class. A child that is last in their positions labeled stupid while one who tops is considered a genius. Surprisingly, the genius child may not be the brightest but rather lucky based on the circumstances given. The daft child may only be struggling to cope with the education system that demands that they are taught in a certain way. The bright child may end up being proud thus missing out on other information that can improve their performance. On the other hand, the last one in class may be discouraged that they no longer find a compelling reason to improve their grades. Homeschooling, therefore, prevents the grading and the teacher can hence focus on an individualized teaching plan (Ripperger-Suhler 4). In this case, the teacher is likely to repeat concepts until the student gets it without rushing through to save time and resources. Homeschooling thus ensures that the child is given adequate time and resources to maximize their strengths and also improve on their weaknesses.

Homeschooling presents a safe environment for the child to learn. A lot of bad and equally good things are likely to happen in the public schools (Kunzman 9). As mentioned earlier, in most cases, the teacher to the student ratio is low meaning that the students may not always get individualized attention. Children especially those in kindergarten require personalized attention throughout (Kunzman 18). Such a child may end up being beaten in school, ridiculed or even incur an accident. So many accidents occur within the public schools since there are inadequate resources to focus on the preventive measures. A homeschooled child is always on the watch of the caregiver and is less likely to incur an injury or an accident (Rud 78). In case the child becomes sick while learning, the teacher can easily rush him to the hospital hence getting immediate attention. For the children that take online campus classes, the parents can also closely monitor them to ensure that there is little peer influence directed at them. Homeschooling is hence important because it ensures that the child is protected from external harms and more focus is hence shifted to the child’s lessons.

Homeschooling is evidently interactive as compared to going to a school (Sutherland 87). Children are freer with their parents and would hence be less shy asking questions as opposed to class. A child understands that they can always run to their mothers for instance for their advice instead of friends or strangers. A homeschooled child is hence likely to perform better because they ask more questions and get clearance on certain concepts taught, unlike a child (Tanya, et al.,73). The parent also ensures that they pick a curriculum which a child identifies with best (Carlson 4). For instance, if a child loves waking up to math’s lesson and not home science, the parents can ensure that the child’s wish is granted. Homes schooling hence enhances efficiency in learning as both parties’ wishes are followed.

In conclusion, it would be best, therefore, that parents adopt homeschooling. A child does not need to be confined within a school to learn. In fact more education is achieved when a child is outside a school’s confinement. Homeschooling ensures that a child receives maximum attention from not only their parents but also the tutors at home. Schools are likely to impact negative attributes to the child, something that can be prevented by homeschooling. Homeschooling, therefore, keeps the child away from radicalized ideas and brainwashing which tends to affect their decisions as an adult. Allowing the children to learn at their pace enhances efficiency and also ensures that the child grasps all the concepts in the end. A child needs to be affirmed that they are constantly progressing. Homeschooling, therefore, favors the various kinds of children. Some children are indeed slow learners and others fast learners and hence allowing the child to school at home ensures that the child learns at their speed. Parents need to bond with their caregivers and their parents, something that may be difficult at school. Children who grow seeing their parents have a higher self-esteem and they are also likely to form close bonds with their peers. Finally, schools have become expensive since the private sector has turned them into a profit-making venture. Homeschooling hence ensures that every child is educated despite their financial standing in life.

Works Cited

Carlson, David. “Homeschooling and Bilingual Education: A Well-Kept Secret.” Encounter (2009): 4. Document.

Davis, Aislin. “Evolution of Homeschooling.” Distance Learning (2011): 7. Document.

Drenovsky, Cynthia K., and Isaiah Cohen. “The impact of homeschooling on the adjustment of college students.” International Social Science Review (2012): 19-34.

Dumas, Tanya K., Sean Gates and Deborah R. Schwarzer. “Evidence for Homeschooling: Constitutional Analysis in Light of Social Science Research.” Widener Law Review (2010): 25. Document.

Kreager, Jr., Ronald. “Homeschooling: The Future of Education’s Most Basic Institution.” University of Toledo Law Review (2010): 27. Document.

Kreh, Alicia. “Where do we belong?:A Call for Consistency in Homeschooling Regulation.” University of LaVerne Law Review (2015): 37. Document.

Kunzman, Robert. “Education, Schooling, and Children’s Rights: The Complexity of Homeschooling.” Educational Theory (2012): 15. Document.

Mazama, Ama and Garvey Lundy. “African American Homeschooling and the Question of Cultural Relevance.” Journal of Negro Education (2013): 16. Document.

McReynolds, Kate. “Homeschooling.” Encounter (2007): 6. Document.

Miller, Nathaniel. “Keeping Home in Homeschooling: Examining Illinois’s Loose Homeschooling Laws in Light of Heavier International and Domestic Regulation.” Regent University Law Review (2014-2015): 23. Document.

Morrison, Kristan. “Homeschooling as an Act of Conscientious Objection.” Journal of Thought (2014): 24. Document.

Ripperger-Suhler, Jane. “Homeschooling: An Alternative to Traditional School.” Brown University Child & Adolescent Behavior Letter (2016): 2. Document.

Rud, A. G. “Midday Eating While Learning: The School Cafeteria, Homeschooling, and the Open Campus High School.” Journal of Thought (2014): 11. Document.

Shepherd, George. “Homeschooling’s Harms: Lessons From Economics.” Akron Law Review 49.2 (2016): 32. Document.

Sutherland, Jean-Anne. “Home is Where the School is: The Logic of Homeschooling and the Emotional Labor of Mothering.” Social Forces (2015): 3. Document.

Vigilant, Lee Garth, Lauren Wold Trefethren and Tyler C. Anderson. “”You Can’t Rely on Somebody Else to Teach Them Something They Don’t Believe”: Impressions of Legitimation Crisis and Socialization Control in the Narratives of Christian Homeschooling Fathers.” Humanity & Society (2013): 24. Document.

Waddell, Timothy Brandon. “Bringing It All Back Home: Establishing a Coherent Constitutional Framework for the Re-regulation of Homeschooling.” Vanderbilt Law Review (2010): 57. Document.