All parents face difficult decisions throughout the rearing of their children. One of the most common is the decision of where and how their children will receive their education. From the earliest of decisions regarding which, if any preschool their children will attend through elementary and high school, parents are forced to take into consideration the different aspects, weighing out the pros and cons of each. There is a federal law in place requiring that all children are to be enrolled and attending an educational program as early as five or six, though the age of entrance varies from state to state, and this same law requires enrollment continue until at least the age of sixteen. However, some states are pushing to increase the legal age of commencing education to 18. Regardless, parents are required to provide educational opportunities for their age-appropriate children. There are a few options available for parents when it comes to providing education for their children. Public schooling, private schooling, and homeschooling are the top three educational options available. So, which route is the best? This is entirely dependent upon the individual circumstances, access to resources and the religious and cultural beliefs of each parent. Because private school is not an option that is feasible for everyone, the comparisons throughout this paper will reflect upon the public school system versus the decision to homeschool.
Public schooling is available for all children
In 1980, homeschooling was illegal in 30 states. Later on, it was recognized as a parent's right across the country in the year 1993 (Martin, 2014). A survey was made to the respondents. They were asked if homeschooling was an acceptable means of education. As the results of Phi Delta Kappan Gallup survey, Americans have become more receptive to the idea of homeschooling. They think that homeschooling has become an alternative option to public schools because it is more socially acceptable (Moreau, 2012). In the previous related study, it was mentioned that the increase of homeschooled students had been consistent. It only shows that the acceptance of homeschooling has been broad as the years passed
Education in our society is a very important factor in shaping our future. One’s future is depended on the education they receive and everyone is somehow affected by this. Children from the ages of kindergarteners to seniors in high school, college graduates, and stay at home mothers, are all shaped by the education the government provides us. There are many different ways to acquire an education some through private schools, public, charter, and being homeschooled. However, homeschooling is growing more in popularity than it has ever been.
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.
An article from 2015 about homeschooling and public school stated that “it’s estimated that as many as 2 million American students are being educated at home.” There are several families that would prefer homeschooling over public school for several reasons, which will be discussed in this essay. The two topics that will be discussed are homeschooling and public school. There will be multiple topics discussed in this essay, such as pros and cons of homeschooling and public schooling, and which option would be the best option for certain types of families and students. These two topics will be contrasted by explaining which topic would be the better option for specific groups of people, and certain families. The purpose of this essay is to describe the advantages and disadvantages of home and public schooling. Also, the purpose of this essay to show statistics about which system of education would be best for certain families, specifically those who are low-income families, and want the best option for their children. Whereas public schooling is inexpensive and gives children a chance to make friends, homeschooling is the best option because it gives children a safe, and more compatible learning environment.
Different countries and ethnic groups posses a varying range of systems to educate their children: For example, public school, which is free for tax-paying citizens; and private school, an unfunded institution with a tuition fee. While all are capable ways to enlighten the younger generation, homeschooling, when taken seriously, has been proven the nonpareil through its percentage scores, morality level, and economical and relational benefits.
Thesis Statement: Many parents question what is best for their child’s education, home schooling or public school. Home schooling can sometimes provide a more direct and focused education than public schools, Public School is better in many ways including the child’s social development.
While the American public school system educates the majority of students today, a fast growing population is beginning to accept homeschooling as an adequate alternative. Anyone with kids desires only the best education and experiences for them. Those who face this decision have to take in the plentiful list of differences and decide which will suit their family best. For years, most people saw homeschooling as an ineffiecent replacement to the government-provided schools already in existence. However, in the last ten years, studies have proved that homeschooling well equipps a student for college and beyond, changing the minds of many(http://www.usnews.com/education/high-schools/articles/2012/06/01/home-schooled-teens-ripe-for-college?page=2). In order to make this crutial decision between public or home school, one must account for the social and extracurricular opportunites, the educational aspect, and what role the family plays in education.
Many may argue that homeschooling is the best because it is on the raise. With several options for schooling in today’s society, my topic best summarizes causal comparative research. The educational of children today is immensely important in order fro them to have a successful bright future. Students in school are taught the basic fundamentals but the concern of some parents is that the fundamentals taught are not beneficial to their children. Among the parents that decide to homeschool, 45% percent of parents claim they can give their children a better education than the public school system. Based on the surveys ad data collection, homeschooling is looking like it is a better alternative for
The greatly discussed dilemma of having a child be taught in a public school setting versus a homeschool setting has been evaluated by parents since the idea was first introduced in the 1970’s. Public schooling had been the standard method of teaching since it is a requirement for states to provide public, free education for children in grades K-12. However, the backlash against the system began when two educational theorists and supporters of school reform, John Holt and Raymond Moore, started to question both the techniques and the products of public schools. Some parents went on to support the ideas of them and began to teach their children in the environment of their own homes for several different reasons. Some included moral or religious reasons, a desire for high educational achievement, dissatisfaction with public schools’ instructional program, or concerns about drugs and peer pressure in a public school environment. Child development specialists believe that homeschooled children are isolated from the outside world, therefore making them socially handicapped. If being exposed to this type of education on an elementary school level, the child can suffer from the lack of fundamental development of effective social skills needed for a lifetime ahead of them.
Most parents hear the word “home-school” and conjure up many assumptions that are either false or overlooked at. The technology provided, as well as the teaching quality spent on home-schooled children requires a lot of time and effort from the parents; it is an act of dedication and total commitment. According to the Robinson Curriculum, the parents have “little personal time or time alone. If care is not taken to set aside time for yourself, it is easy to never have time alone. They are basically with their [children] 24/7” (The Robinson Curriculum). There are many positives as well as the negatives outlooks pertaining to “sheltering” kids from attending private or public schools. Many adults are
Homeschooling, not very well known, presents a new and affordable way to educate children. “Home school is a term used to refer to the education of children by their parents or guardians in a setting other than a public or private school” (Anderman & Anderman, p. 467). It has never been a new thing; it just has not been as popular as it used to be (Lines, p. 76). With this topic meaning so much to groups for and against the right for homeschooling and what should be legalized or not, the debate still rages on from local to even national government entities. Both sides of the argument have valid points, but ultimately it is the choice of the parents. There are many types of ways to educate children and that decision is difficult for both
When it comes to the education of today’s youth, the idea of home schooling is a highly debated topic. Many people are for home schooling; similarly, many people are against it. The basis of this debate is one of great importance: our children need an education that prepares them for the world. It is the parents right to decide how best to obtain this goal.
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”.
There is a variety of education systems that exist when trying to decide what’s best for the child. The three types discussed is public, homeschooling, and private schools. Not only are public schools free to attend, but also funding comes from the state government. Transportation is provided if needed. However public schools have a large body of students, which makes it harder for a student to have one on one assistance. On the other hand, private schools are usually a smaller environment with smaller class sizes. Also the funding for the school comes from private sources, and tuition from students. Nevertheless, private school’s curriculum tends to be more challenging then public schools. Last but not least homeschooling is the most flexible. Parents and children are able to choose the curriculum that meets their interests. Children get to move at their own pace. The only exception to homeschooling is the parents need to ensure that their child is getting a well-rounded education.
I chose to conduct my research on the public school comparing and contrasting to home schooling. I picked these two types of schools to analyses because I felt they are both out to achieve the same goals from completely different atmospheres. In this paper I will discuss the different goals of the two different school types, as well as curriculum, standardized testing, and why parents pick the type of school they do for their child.