Are there any websites that describe the cons of homeschooling?

Question

Are there any websites that describe the cons of homeschooling?

Answer 1

The only legitimate negatives that I have ever heard are:

1) It does cost some money (in lost wages and / or materials)

2) It takes hard work and a time commitment

There are ways to mitigate #1

For many, #2 is a work of love and both parent and child grow from the experience... so it is not seen by many as a negative.

I am not aware of any legitimate websites that list the "cons" of homeschooling.

I'll be very very very surprised if any are listed here (at least any that are legitimate and based on research rather than opinion and anecdote).

***UPDATE: Kate's post below has been well answered by others... but...

Time: Good points below about the time it takes for an INVOLVED parent with any educational option.

Expectations: High? Low? Realistic? I rather have high expectations of myself and my child.  Does that make them unrealistic? No. It makes them high.

Connections with other families: Oh brother!!!!  We are more connected and more meaningfully connected with other families than we have ever been (public, private and homeschool experience).

Parent Teacher Limits: Another bogus negative. For any subject you can imagine there is a treasure trove of materials and resources (including very highly trained people) available to help - often for free.

Lack of Recognition: Have you not heard of all the homeschool kids who take top honors in academic competitions of all kinds?  Merit Scholarships? Talent ID Program participation.

Accountability: To whom?

Sports: How about swimming, hiking, little league, martial arts, tennis, golf, etc?

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Please note that you have yet to be provided with a legitimate website that lists researched based negatives of homeschooling.  Kate provides several websites but they are all opinions - check the sites out - see if they seem trustworthy to you.

Creation provides a link to an article that actually discusses the negatives of public school and clearly supports homeschooling.

Answer 2

http://www.home-schooling-and-homeschool...

Arguments against homeschooling to parents

Cons of Homeschooling #1: The time it takes to homeschool

Homeschooling vs public schooling may be a good idea but do you have the time? The time it takes to homeschool a child is tremendous. If you already have a busy schedule, homeschooling may send you over the edge.

Cons of Homeschooling #2: Unrealistic expectation of results of homeschooling

When deciding to homeschool a child, parents often expect the results to be as high as their level of sacrifice. In another words, they want proofs that homeschooling works and they want immediate success soon. They want to prove that the arguments against homeschooling were either wrong or worth the sacrifices.

Cons of Homeschooling #3: Limits on family's connection with other families

One of the arguments against home schooling is the homeschooling family's limited role in the community and connection with other families. Homeschooling families have less chances to get to know other families and share faith, resources, and social activities.

Cons of Homeschooling #4: Cost of homeschooling

Another one of arguments against homeschooling for parents is the cost of homeschooling. Homeschooling is not always cheaper than the cost of attending a public school. Sometimes, homeschoooling can be more expensive.

Arguments against homeschooling for the child

Cons of Homeschooling #5: Limit of homeschool teacher

One of the arguments against homeschooling is the limit of the teaching ability of the parents or the homeschool teacher hired to homeschool the child. Sometimes, the child is brilliant at a particular subject that may be the parents' weakness or one of the subject that the homeschool teacher lack expertise on. This can severely limit the child's developing abilities.

Cons of Homeschooling #6: Lack of recognition

Recognitions have been proven to help with motivations. Homeschool children are less likely to get recognition from people other than parents or a small group of supporting family members. School students, on the other hand, often get praised by the local papers or by other classmates. This boosts the awarded child's motivation.

Cons of Homeschooling #7: Lack of competition

Some children thrive under pressure. With homeschooling, there are no other kids to compete with which is one of the main arguments against homeschooling.

Cons of Homeschooling #8: Lack of accountability

Lack of accountability is also one of the arguments against homeschooling. Lack of accountability usually leads to lack of discipline. Accountability and discipline will greatly benefit the child when he or she grows up.

Cons of Homeschooling #9: No sports involvement

Sports are very important part of the public and private school curriculum. This is a major argument against homeschooling. Without attending a public school, where can a homeschool excel in sports? What if the homeschooler is born to be a professional football player? Where can he or she realize his or her potential being a homeschooler?

Also:

http://www.homeschoolingexplained.com/di...

http://www.homeschoolinfo.org/consofhome...

Answer 3

Not valid ones!

Answer 4

As the gal above wrote, you will find lists like this one - however, most can easily be refuted.  

Arguments against homeschooling to parents

Cons of Homeschooling #1: The time it takes to homeschool

Homeschooling vs public schooling may be a good idea but do you have the time?

My kids have been in PS and now we homeschool.  It takes less time to hs then it did to do their homework from PS.  

Cons of Homeschooling #2: Unrealistic expectation of results of homeschooling

I don't think most people go into it thinking that their child will come out a genius on the other end.  We just want kids that actually think for themselves and are able to find the answers to any questions they may have.  

Cons of Homeschooling #3: Limits on family's connection with other families

Why on earth would homeschooling limit our connection with others?????   We spend a lot more time with other families and friends now then we ever did when the kids were in school and had homework after school and on weekends.

Cons of Homeschooling #4: Cost of homeschooling

It can be as cheap or as expensive as you want it to be.   It does not have to be expensive at all.    

Cons of Homeschooling #5: Limit of homeschool teacher

Thankfully, since we are so connected with other families, if you really need help with something chances are one of those other families knows the answer.   Not to mention the great resources of the internet and local libraries.  Anything can be learned.

Cons of Homeschooling #6: Lack of recognition

My kids do not need to have their pictures in the local paper in order to achieve anything.  

Cons of Homeschooling #7: Lack of competition

Again, we don't sit at home.  A lot of people are in homeschool groups where there are a lot of other kids to "compete" against if you really want to do that.

Cons of Homeschooling #8: Lack of accountability

If the parents are teaching the child and keeping them accountable, where is the lack of accountability?

Cons of Homeschooling #9: No sports involvement

In some States you can be involved in the PS sports if you wish.  There are always community sports teams and university/college teams as well.

Answer 5

http://www.homeschoolutah.org/pages/Mero...

About midway it has some negatives of public schooling.

I'm sorry but I can't find the original article, this one is very similar to it.

Answer 6

Just in response to some of the cons posted by "Kate"

"Cons of Homeschooling #1: The time it takes to homeschool

Homeschooling vs public schooling may be a good idea but do you have the time? "

Have you SEEN the amount of homework kids are sent home with now? I know parents who say the kid gets 2+ hours a night. That is how long it takes me to cover -in depth- the whole day's work with my kids, and they are all several grade levels ahead.

"Cons of Homeschooling #3: Limits on family's connection with other families

One of the arguments against home schooling is the homeschooling family's limited role in the community and connection with other families."

Yeah, right.  We homeschoolers have TIME to volunteer for things like Meals on Wheels and other volunteer activities. We spend a tremendous amount of time with entire families, so when something tragic happens (like a family in NJ whose home was burned last night) you should see how fast they get help from the homeschool community.  Please. My kids know many people in the community from regular interactions with them in our daily lives.

"Cons of Homeschooling #4: Cost of homeschooling"

I've got two words for you: Library card

"Cons of Homeschooling #5: Limit of homeschool teacher"

Yeah, because all those science and math teachers I had in high school were such experts.... Hey, I may not know everything there is to know, but I am smart enough to know how to find someone who does!  (and care enough to do it)

"Cons of Homeschooling #6: Lack of recognition"

While I personally think motivation needs to come from within to be of the most benefit, what about all those spelling bees, science fairs and the like? One of my children won a writing contest last year, had to give a speech in front of a large crowd and was recognized by the newspaper. There are plenty of ways to get "recognition" of you seek them out.

"Cons of Homeschooling #7: Lack of competition"

Ever met any homeschoolers with siblings? LOL

"Cons of Homeschooling #8: Lack of accountability"

Again - that NCLB has helped SOO much for the public schools. Give me a break - parents care more than any teacher how the child masters a subject. After all, they are the ones who will be hosting junior in 20 years if they do a lousy job!

"Cons of Homeschooling #9: No sports involvement"

Did you know that one of the top girls basketball players in the country right now is a homeschooler on a homeschool team? Bet you didn't!  

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/16/sports...

There are certainly good things homeschooled kids will miss out on from not being in traditional school. However, traditionally schooled kids miss out on a lot by not having the homeschooled experience.  That is the way it works when you choose one thing over another!

Answer 7

Probably.  You could probably find websites describing the cons of most anything...including breathing. (smile)

I think you will find what you look for.    If you want to find the positive things about homeschool you will find them... if you want to find the negatives... you will find them.

Not to go all  filasofikal on ya, but that's the way it is.

Answer 8

Just a few cons from an honest Homeschooler.

Time, you sacrifice some of your own free time and sometimes the state of the house suffers, immaculate is not my standard.

Burnout,can  hit at different stages.

An inability to supply some of the positive school experiences. Let's face it, a grad ceremony can be an amazing thing and though we do have a grade 8 ceremony for the, usually3-4,.  kids a year going past grade school.There isn't a huge high school one.

The prom, well actually just the good part, dressing up for a special night.

Limited competition, it's seldom that most kids are put into competition against two or three hundred in their age group.

Emotionally soft kids,(that was from my son), having less exposure at a young age to bullies and hatefulness and nastiness and uncaring environments can lead to kids who are more sensitive and optimistic about people. I've been told my kids are "soft"

The biggest con has got to be dealing constantly with the annoying rudeness of strangers second guessing you as a parent, as an educator and as mentally sound or conversely putting you on some sort of pedestal ,which is, frankly just as or perhaps even more, annoying.

Dealing with the fanatical homeschooler, and there are a lot of them out there. Ones who refuse to accept a parent's decision to never homeschool or to put their child back into school.

Having said all that, it's more than worth it and outweighs the cons of the alternative, because when it comes right down to it, there are many ways to raise a child and none are perfect..

Answer 9

Well, the "cons" that Kate listed are mostly fictional, so you can't really go by them.

Cons of Homeschooling #1: The time it takes to homeschool

Homeschooling vs public schooling may be a good idea but do you have the time?

Well, my son is completely done with school - lessons, practice, homework, and projects - before the ps kids get *out* of school - then they still have to do homework and chores.  Meanwhile, he's playing catch in the yard with his dad and being involved in things he enjoys.

Cons of Homeschooling #2: Unrealistic expectation of results of homeschooling

My expectations of him are that he learn and achieve according to his abilities.  Somehow, I don't think that's terribly "unrealistic".

Cons of Homeschooling #3: Limits on family's connection with other families

Huh?  We're with other families all the time.  We actually have a lot more time to spend time with others *because* we homeschool.  He's not up till 9 or 10 every night (at age 10) doing homework, so he can get together with his friends - during the day, even.

Cons of Homeschooling #4: Cost of homeschooling

We homeschool for around $300 per year.  I don't think it'll break us.

Cons of Homeschooling #5: Limit of homeschool teacher

His limit isn't my ability - it's his desire to learn, which is nearly unlimited.  Half of his outside instructors have been college instructors (he's entering the 6th grade).  I have friends who are professional artists, degreed scientists and mathemeticians, engineers, doctors, and writers, all of whom are happy to work with him when needed.  I really don't think he's held back too much by my "limits".

Cons of Homeschooling #6: Lack of recognition

Well, he doesn't need to be on the news or in the newspaper to feel like he's done a good job (though both of those have happened, due to his achievements).  He is confident enough in his own abilities to have pride in his own good work.  He doesn't need to beat a class full of kids in order to feel good about himself.  He works hard because he wants to, not because he thinks he can beat out someone else.  (That's a direct quote from him, by the way - he's reading over my shoulder.)

Cons of Homeschooling #7: Lack of competition

Well, between auditioning for plays and playing sports, I think he gets enough competition in...in everything else, he naturally competes against his own expectations, rather than against what others expect of him.  (His expectations are generally way higher than others, anyway.)

Cons of Homeschooling #8: Lack of accountability

To whom?  He's accountable to himself, to me, and to his dad.  He's several years above grade level in nearly every subject.  Who else does he need to be accountable to - the state, who would bring him backward 3+ years?  Yeah...

Cons of Homeschooling #9: No sports involvement

He plays baseball every year, will likely be starting basketball next year, and has the option to play golf, tennis, competitive swimming, football, gymnastics, martial arts, or whatever else he'd like to do.  He picks and chooses his activities according to what he likes and what he feels is worth the time and effort.  There are more in our area to choose from than one child could ever do.

As you can see, the above "cons" are not cons...they're stereotypes.  

There are actually no proven "cons" to homeschooling as an educational option.  The only cons that could exist would apply to individual family situations.

For example, it often does cause a financial change in a family.  I previously held down a well-paying, very demanding professional position, which I left in order to homeschool my son.  Yes, that changed our financial situation, but I don't consider it a con - we make due.  We change our habits and don't spend as much.  It's something that's definitely worth it to give my son the education that he needs.

And yes, you will be spending a lot more time with your child...but again, I don't see this as a con.  I didn't become a mother so that I could ship my child off to be raised by others all day long.  If school was the best place for him, I wouldn't have a problem with him being there, and I'd be as involved as humanly possible.  However, it's not - home is.  I love getting to spend time with him and be a major influence in his life.

The only other con I can think of - and this is one that all of us deal with - is fending off the ignorant remarks and stereotypes from people who can't imagine anything outside the status quo.  It gets annoying, but if that's the worst of it, bring it on :-)

Hope that helps!