Persuasive Essay Homeschooling

Homeschooling a child can drastically affect their lives in the future, and put them in a clouded state of mind for seeing what the world is. Schooling your child from home will hold them back from learning a wide variety of basic skills that can be easily provided in public or private school systems. Although some see homeschooling as a good way to shelter their children from the world they view as harsh, it is not giving them any chance to gain common social skills. Social skills cannot be taught to a child, they are something the child must learn from interaction with his or her peers. Furthermore, homeschool teachers are not required the level of training and experience that a teacher at a public school are required (Hudak). Diversity is something widely portrayed in school systems; however, homeschooling doesn't allow students to bear witness to the diverse nature found in school systems.

Before the development of the United States education system it was necessary for children to homeschool, but that time has passed. Today students have the option to attend the school that best fits them due to the process of open enrollment. The United States educational system now offers students options such as religious schools, charter schools, private schools, and public schools. Therefore, no reason exists that they can not find a decent school that meets their academic expectations. Families that homeschooled have a distinct disadvantage to families that attend public or private schools.

Homeschooling is a type of education which typically occurs in the home with the child’s parent or guardian serving as the primary educator. Currently, homeschooling is legal in all 50 states and is considered to be one of the fastest growing segments of K-12 education in the United States. In 2007, homeschooled students represent approximately 3 percent of children attending K-12 in the United States (Cogan 19). Since homeschooling is outside the control of the traditional education system, questions have been raised as to whether or not homeschooling can adequately prepare students for a college environment and the rigors of college academics. One side of this argument claims that homeschooling does not adequately prepare students for a college environment. Supporters of this side believe that homeschooling isolates students from the outside world, rendering them socially and educationally handicapped (Romanowski 125). Since their schooling experiences are limited to their homeschool setting, they are at a disadvantage with their postsecondary studies (Romanowski 127). The other side argues that homeschooling is an adequate form of schooling for college preparation. I BELIEVE THAT HOMESCHOOLING CAN ADEQUATELY PREPARE STUDENTS FOR A COLLEGE ENVIRONMENT.

First, homeschoolers score superior percentages on tests than any other form of tuition. “In five of seven areas of the Woodcock-Johnson Test of Achievement (word identification, phonic decoding, science, social science, and humanities) structured homeschoolers averaged at least one grade level ahead

Research claims that homeschoolers usually exceed expectations in college compared to traditional-school students. According to Michael Cogan, author of “Exploring Academic Outcomes of Homeschool Students,” majority of admission staff located at different colleges believe homeschool students either meet or exceed expectations of traditional-school students (Cogan 19). These expectations include GPA, how many college credits were earned prior to enrollment, and how well they retain information. Homeschool students were also reported as to having significantly higher ACT-Composite scores. The average ACT-Composite score among homeschool students is a 27, while the average score among traditional-school students is a 25 (Cogan 24). Not only are homeschool students’ standardized testing scores higher, their GPA scores are usually higher as well. The average GPA of homeschool students is 3.64, and traditional-school students’ average GPA is between 3.54 and 3.44 (Cogan 24). In addition, homeschool students earn more college credits prior to enrollment than traditional-school students because few public schools offer concurrent classes (HSLDA). The

Homeschooling is on the rise in America. According to a 2007 NHES study conducted by the U.S. Department of Education there are an estimated 1.5 million students actively being homeschooled up from the 850,000 estimated in previous study conducted in 1999 (NCES, 1). Once seen as a fringe activity usually associated with the religious right, homeschooling now encompasses many mainstream families looking for educational alternatives in the face of such issues as violence, peer pressure, and poor academic quality in many public schools. Detractors on the other hand claim that homeschooling is a less effective method of educating America’s youth citing academic and social issues. Despite critics’ claims to the contrary, homeschooling is an effective and viable method of education as its participants not only do well academically; they are well socialized and are successful in college and later life.

Despite home-schooling’s controversy because of the lack of teaching credentials for parents and socialization, homeschooling has big benefits for children. The first benefit is that while homeschooled, students receive individualized education. Parents spend all their time and attention to their children. Parents can devote all their time and attention to their children. Martin points out that parents understand their children best (Martin). Therefore, they can choose the best method to motivate their children to learn. “Parents are also able to evaluate their children on a daily basis and provide further instruction if needed” (Martin). Individualized education also provide necessary help as needed. As a result, homeschooled students achieve

Homeschooling vs. public school has been a public debate for quite a while now. Some parents choose homeschooling because of the protection their child gains and some choose public education because of the atmosphere. Most would claim that public schools aren’t teaching, less trying to create a religious fringe. However; both provide your child education but there are many advantages and disadvantages for both. When a child is homeschooled, parents naturally take a greater interest in their child’s progress and they have a better oversight of grades. A student that’s attending home school can work at their own pace without feeling rushed to complete assignments and the test

People think that because these children have never been in a real class room before that after they graduate their twelve grades in the homeschooled setting they couldn’t possibly get used to the idea of a community college or even worse a university. Joan Bress states that “Colleges that have accepted homeschooled students appreciate the maturity and self-direction these students demonstrate. They believe that because homeschooled students have been involved in shaping their own education, they tend to be motivated learners and are comfortable assuming positions of leadership, both in class and in social situations” (17). It is a fact that homeschooled children actually score higher on test scores than children from public schools. This is due to the fact that the one-to-one learning time really helps a student and these kids are smarter because of

Secondly, homeschooled students can receive a similar level of education or even better than those in a traditional school. Students can take online courses at home and have their parent assist them when needed. Online courses can provide all the necessary required materials to bring the student to success. Research has shown that homeschooled students have equal to or higher test scores than traditionally schooled students. McReynolds (2007) explains that homeschooled students are successful, “Nevertheless, a variety of studies suggest that by traditional standards, homeschoolers do pretty well. They tend to score higher than public school children on standardized achievement tests (Rudner 1999), advanced placement exams (Richman 2005), the SAT (King 2004) and the ACT (Golden 2001). Homeschoolers attend college at higher rates than public school students (Richman 1999)” (p. 37). McReynolds proves that homeschooled students can score better on a test than traditionally schooled students. This proves that homeschooled students can be just as

Although home school parents have worked hard to keep their children academically and socially involved, the stereotype is still there. If a child is to be socially able to deal with situations, a child and parent must be involved in social situations. Most home school parents have their children involved in more social encounters and opportunities than the typical public schooled child. Home school children usually have home school learning groups that they attend and do other things within the community. Home school children have more time to volunteer and work on talents and abilities that they want to pursue. Public schools tend to not be academically ahead of home school children. Because of this, home schooled children are able to attend college sooner and move quickly through their education since the child sets the pace and they do not have to slow down for children that are not up to their speed in the classroom setting.

Pulling children out of public school to homeschool has become more and more common around the country. But then what? Parents proceed to educate their children at home in the best way they know how. Some rely on the public school system for their curriculum and resources. Others find their own tools and curriculum. Using whatever resource is available is great. Even if the choices are limited because you are home with your children there are better ways if parents take the time to think about what is the best way to homeschool.

Yet, many home schooled children come from families of accountants, professors, doctors, lawyers and small- business owners. At first, homeschooling was a sort of a marginal political movement. It has evolved into a separate lifestyle of parents and children that has many supporters in the USA. However, public school systems today are in a decline, which is why many parents turn to home schooling education. The progress in school education has stagnated since 1970s and, unfortunately, existing solutions to this problem do not seem to work well. The question is whether homeschooling is a kind of solution we all need.

The popularity of home school began rising in the 1970s and growth continues to increase. (Murphy 336). The National Center for Education Statistics estimated in 2007 that 1.5 million students were homeschooled in the United States (Drenovsky and Cohen 20). This number is now reported at around two million, and Murphy states, “ . . . it [homeschooling] remains the fastest growing form of education in the United States” (342). This information proves that parents are searching for an alternative to traditional public-school education. Many wish to educate their children due to their own experiences, beliefs, and values. While other people argue that home school provides students with no social skills and complications when applying for college; however, these are misconceptions. Home school is an appropriate option to provide an education to children, and it does not leave them incompetent to survive in the “real world”.

Surprisingly, there are a variety of people that do homeschooling. Both people from high-income to low-income families. There are parents that even have doctorates or even a diploma in a general subject. Families with either one or two parents and differing ethnics and religious or secular inducement choose to homeschool (Ray 2002). Researchers come to the conclusion that homeschoolers, for the most part, have free reign when it comes to their homework and school pace that they feel that suits them the best.