Why I Choose Homeschooling

Taking advantage of an assignment for my English class I just took, I wrote a paper explaining why I believe in homeschooling.  I don't mean this to seem anti-public school but rather just a defense of homeschooling.

Why I Choose Homeschooling

I was not home schooled. None of my six siblings were homeschooled. Neither was my husband, my neighbor or my best friend. In fact, I grew up thinking homeschoolers were “weird” and in order to be “normal” one must go to public-school like everyone else. How, then, did I become such an advocate for homeschooling? The answer is a simple one; I had children of my own. Suddenly social normaties meant nothing! My only concern was for the ultimate welfare of my loved ones. I desperately wanted my children to receive a good education as well as proper upbringing. With these thoughts in mind, I began my research. Finding this to be quite the controversial subject, I took every possible opportunitiy to talk with other families about their personal education choice and their reasons for choosing it. I carefully weighed the pros and cons of each choice. With every new piece of information I began to lean closer and closer until I finally made my ultimate stance that I would indeed home school my children.

Homeschooling has many advantages, but some are more important than others to me. I do not believe that public schooling is necessarily bad and I am not saying that homeschooling is always right, either. However, I do wish to make clear why I, like many others, have made this important decision. Ultimately, it is because of the time and opportunity a parent has to personally ensure that proper values as well as education are being taught to their children that I stand firm that home-based schooling is the best education a child can receive.

Let's look at a typical school day for your average American child. He wakes up early and heads straight to school, sometimes without even seeing either parent. After seven long hours of “education,” the bell mercifully rings releasing him from his prison. Just two more hours of sports or clubs and he gets to go home to yet another couple of hours of homework and studying. Some evenings, even, are filled with games or other events. These activities also often extend into the weekend.

Now lets do the math. The previously discussed schedule can claim up to fourteen hours of an involved teenager's day. There are only twenty-four hours in a day and hopefully he is sleeping for at least seven of those. Subtract time for friends and personal routine and what is left? Parents are lucky if they get one decent conversation with their child each day. Compare that, now, to the time that is spent with teachers, coaches, friends and others associated with public schooling. Who, then, is having the most influence on our children?

As for me, I choose to raise my own children. I choose to claim my parental right instead of sending my child away beginning at the very tender age of five. I choose to use that time to engender in my child the things I, not anyone else, believe are important to know in this world. Why would anyone want it any other way? Of course a good parent can still teach and influence their public-schooled child; but what greater opportunity they would have to do so if they had more time with them! There is no getting around the one-on-one time that both parenting and education require.

That extra time is also beneficial to the child. This typical schedule is overwhelming! Linda Dobson, author of The First Year of Homeschooling Your Child, believes that "Homeschooling gives a family the greatest gift it can receive – time. There's enough time to try many different educational approaches to find the one that best serves your child's needs and learning styles. There is also enough time for your child to play, imagine, dream, and explore" (Lyman, “Answers”). Children are not meant to be stuck at a desk all day.

Homeschooling also gives the child the much needed personal attention that public schooling cannot. Parents become mentors who work individually with the child and focus on their specific interests, goals, struggles and concerns. No one knows a child as well as his mother or father! They know his personality, his style, his likes and dislikes and have at heart his very best interests. With this privileged information, they become his very best suited teacher.

Perhaps the biggest reason that I choose to homeschool is so I can instill morals and values in my children and keep them safe from unneccessary evils. Drugs, theft, assault and even bombings have become common in schools. In fact, a 1993 study reported that over 25 percent of students had been victims of violence at or near their public school (Lyman, “Homeschooling”). But, much more important than the physical danger our children face is the threat to their personal integrity and moral character. I don't believe that the danger comes as much from outside forces acting upon the child, as it does from the hollow, empty and lonely environment that public schools provide. Even in a case where there is a caring, good hearted teacher, the standardized curriculum and unavoidable depersonalization of public education leaves a child lost, confused and vulnerable. There is a lack of personal mentoring, nurturing and one-on-one friendship that is necessary for building strength, confidence and a sound character. As a child looks around in this lonely place, he sees various groups doing various things and he is left to choose – alone, without a guide – what things to fill his mind with and what principles to guide his life. In opposition, a child in the home does not have these restraints. Unlike public teachers, parents are able to include religious curriculum that will give the child strength and direction. They can also give the child the attention, love and friendship that make him feel valued. Because of this controled environment and curriculum, most of these unfortunate circumstances can be avoided.

With all these perks, why then do most children still get sent to public schools? This is the very question that I have asked many a parent. The numerous answers I have received are quite varied. Some parents feel they need that time alone for themselves while the child is in school. Some have conflicts such as work or other small children to tend that prevent them from staying home. Others doubt their own ability to adequately teach their children. Like I once did, many people think homeschoolers are socially awkward and lack the skills to survive in the real world. While these arguments are sometimes valid, I believe these cases to be rare and usually avoidable. I will focus on the two most common homeschooling concerns: quality of education and socialization.

Many people doubt that parents can offer the same quality of education that trained teachers do. Thanks to recent studies, though, there should no longer be much debate over academic abilities of home schooled children. One such study, Progress Report 2009: Homeschool Academic Achievement and Demographics, holds title to “the most comprehensive homeschool academic study ever completed” and was conducted by internationally recognized scholar, Dr. Brian Ray. The results? Home schooled students scored on average 37 percent higher than public schooled students on academic tests. These results were consistent across every subject from math to science to language arts. Whats more, the very aparent achievement gaps found in public schools simply do not exist in home based education. The study interestingly found that factors such as parent's education level, family income, level of state regulation and amount of money spent on education had little to no effect on the results of the homeschooled students' tests. True to the beliefs of the Home School Legal Defense Assosication, “homeschooling is a thriving education movement capable of producing millions of academically and socially able students who will have a tremendously positive effect on society” (Slatter).

Many parents and students choose home-based education because they are actually dissatisfied with some of today's public teachers and curriculum and wish to “accomplish more academically” (Ray). Public education can hardly be called an “education” when it produces students who can barely speak or read English. America is now spending millions to correct these errors that could have been prevented had someone cared or spent a little more time with that child. We should take a que from our country's history. In the past, brilliant men such as Thomas Jefferson and George Washington were educated at home and homeschooling continues to produce bright and literate students today (Lyman, “Homeschooling”).

The most popular argument against homeschooling, the belief that homeschooled children miss out on the opportunity to socialize, is ill based and generally false. Research has confirmed the advantages home education has on personal enrichment. Studies have found that homeschooling gives students a unique opportunity to discover themselves, develop strength and resistance and find what they want out of life. Much research has been conducted analysing the life of adults who received home-based education as children. These studies have indicated that these adults participate in community service and vote and attend public meetings more frequently than the general population. They also go to and succeed at college at a higher rate and internalize parental values at a very high rate (Ray). Another study was conducted where trained, unbiased conselors observed several children of mixed educational backgrounds at play. Using developmental tests as a guide, the counselors found absolutely no difference in self-concept or assertiveness between home and public schooled children. In fact, the only noted difference between the children was that the home taught youth displayed better behavior (Lyman, “Answers”). A home-based education does not deprive a child of social development.

As you can see, there are several advantages to schooling your child at home. The disadvantages might include extra work, time and sacrifice on the part of the parent, but these are hardly losses when you realize the great reward you are giving to your son or daughter. Your child will experience a personally customized schedule and curriculum, more meaningful and successful teaching and education, a greater sense of identity, strengthened character, as well as plenty appropriate social interaction all under the direction of the one who cares for him the most!



Works Cited

Lyman, Isabel. “Answers to Homeschool Questions: knowledgeable answers to seven frequently asked questions about homeschooling explain the benefits of home education and dispel some typical misperceptions.” The New American. 6 May 2002: 31.

---. "Homeschooling: The Best Education Reform." The Cato Institute. March 24, 1998. 1 Aug 2010

Ray, Brian D. “Research Facts on Homeschooling.” National Home Education Research Institute. 10 Aug. 2009. Emwd. 2 Aug. 2010.

Slatter, Ian. “New Nationwide Study Confirms Homeschool Academic Achievement.” Homeschool Legal Defense Association. 10 Aug. 2009. Homeschool Foundation. 2 Aug. 2010. <://www.hslda.org/docs/news/200908100.asp>