Homeschooling Essay

Not long ago, my parents received an endless amount of criticism, similar to the Walls’ family, for their decision to homeschool my siblings and me. Many “feared” for us, because according to them, there was no way we were going to learn effectively at home, what we could in a formal school. My mom tells me stories of how people she’d known expressed genuine concern over the idea of educating children in a different way than what is deemed “normal.” I do not blame these people for their concern, as they were raised in a society that emphasizes a single approach to learning. Although there were definitely times growing up when I wished to attend a brick and mortar school like “normal” people, after a certain age I genuinely appreciated my parent’s decision. Being home-schooled has taught me so much more than just the basic principles of education. I grew up being highly self-reliant due to my online school requiring students to be almost entirely responsible for keeping up with their work. Similar to college, I had a syllabus provided to me, and had no one other than myself to make sure I was on top of everything. This helped me to become a responsible and well-organized individual. I also gained a quality education, despite all of the fear and concern of those around me. I still have to answer the questions, “Why were you homeschooled?” and, “Didn’t you want to go to regular school?” more

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.

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.

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.

All throughout our lives parents tell us: “Go to school… you have a test to study for tomorrow get to to studying”. What if there was a way to flip that schedule right on its back? Homeschooling: a hassle free, no needed transportation kind of learning. Parents can’t even imagine what they're getting themselves into now.

Thesis: Homeschooling environment is an effective approach in education due to evidence of higher achievement on placement tests, success through college, engaged socially with activities outside homes, and students becoming active members of society.

B. Preview – Traditional homeschooling can be problematic to a student’s life skills and overall development. The social learning aspect of school, which is lacking in homeschool, directly transfers into college and the workplace. Most teenagers and kids need to be supervised at every moment or else they will not do their work and, while at home, it is hard to find the motivation to do schoolwork.

Students that attend home school are less likely to be stressed out because of school work, and less likely to be a victim of peer pressure.

“The truth is that my parents wanted to give me the freedom to pursue my passions so I'd be better prepared for college and career.” (I'm Homeschooled--Hold the Pity, Please). This quote is spoken by a student who was homeschooled and presents that homeschooling gives the freedom to learn much more than just the required education. Children in a homeschooled setting not only work towards their goals in their education, but learn life lessons that many traditional school children never learn. Traditional school provides science and writing but cannot give time to educate how to clean or organize or even complete a specific task that a child would learn in an in-home or a homeschool-based environment.

Imagine what it would be like to not get to have your first day of school as a child. For a child that is home schooled, they never get to walk through the doors on their first day with a new backpack, new school supplies, and new clothes. As little as this issue may seem, is it important for people to understand the effects that homeschooling can have on the cognitive development of elementary age children because by not being exposed to the resources and relationships children can get out of public school, they lack the benefits that come along with the system. Children cannot develop their emotions and problem solving skills, which could result in them being less successful in the future. The next generation is meaningful to society because they are the ones that will help American progress, so people need to ensure that they are getting the best education for their children. Although many parents believe homeschooling can be beneficial to their children because of the convenience and closeness to home, thoroughly examining the negative effects it has including a lack in the cognitive development, limited exposure to problems associated with the public as well as not having the benefits of a relationship with teachers and other students can prove that homeschooling are harmful to the cognitive development of elementary aged children.

Ray B.D. Homeschoolers on to College: What Research Shows Us // Journal of College Admission – 2004. – № 185. – p. 5-11.

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

Home schooling is an alternative to public education. It is a choice that many more parents are making today, and even more are projected to make by the year 2000. It is estimated that at the end of the year 2000 there will be 2,000,000 home schoolers in the United States (Gorder 1996). There are other alternatives to Public School education. Some examples are Catholic or Private schools or a privately hired tutor. There are many reasons why people home school their children. Religious beliefs, academic achievement, social development, moral and psychological reasons are all cited (Wade 1996). However, religious beliefs are often the main reason (Gorder 1996). Some parents feel as if their children are not learning

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.

Homeschool is a way for some kids to stay focused on their subjects and not have any distractions. Some kids have trouble with classroom settings, so the best option is for them to get away from others and focus on what is in front of them. Some kids have been bullied to the point where there is no other option but to be homeschooled. The effects of being homeschooled can be both good and bad and it can take a toll on what the child is feeling and also how they react to people and situations they encounter.A child that is being homeschooled can only so many social skills from their parents and the internet to the point that it will not be able to handle other people in the real world but that is false because most kids that I have met are actually very sociable. One effect being homeschooled can have is that the child has to learn everything from their parents or their tutor. This effect is a good one because a child that is learning from the same teacher will not be afraid to ask questions and voice their concerns about anything. Another effect of being homeschooled is that the child is focusing so much on the work they are assigned that can learn at their own speed and they do not have to slow down or speed up their learning from the others around them. A final effect of being homeschooled is that a child might always be stuck in their house and not get enough exercise.