Considering pros and cons...?

Question

Tell me...what do you think are the pros/cons of homeschooling children vs. sending them to public school...?

Answer 1

Sigh...the main con is all the ignorant people droning on and on about "limited social skills".  That's really about it.

Pros:  

-the ability to individualize your child's curriculum - this can cater to their needs, strengths and weaknesses, interests, and learning style.  I highly respect teachers and the job they do, but they'll often be the first to say that it's pretty much impossible to do that (logistically speaking) in a classroom of 20-30 kids.

-the ability to control your (and their) schedule - your child can pick the activities that interest them, and can participate in them anywhere in the community.  They aren't required to sit in a desk all day long, and can often finish their schoolwork much earlier.  This leaves time for playing with friends, extracurricular and family activities, and just plain being a kid.

-the ability to teach your child what is important to your family - this differs in every family.  For some families, it's important to them that they impart religious values to their children; in other families, it's important that they don't "push" any one view, but open their child up to many different views.  In still others, it's important to impart a sense of leadership and service.  And the list goes on and on.

-Homeschool kids, by the time they reach jr. high, are usually 2-3 years ahead of grade level and quite responsible for their own work.  This often opens up a lot of opportunities in high school, including college classes, mentorships, shadow programs, and travel.

These are just a few of the many pros.  Hope it helps!

Edit - OPM - no public or private school kid ever threw a rock?  Uh, ok.  Sorry that happened, but that wasn't because they were homeschooled.  It's likely because the kid got hyper and the parents never dreamed they'd start chucking rocks at others, so they hadn't made a rule against it.  Kids of all educational options sometimes have problems with self control.  It's called being a kid - every kid is still learning, in one way or another, what is expected of them in the adult world.  Apparently self control was that child's weakness.

Answer 2

For my family, the pros are that we can

-set our own schedule,

-tailor our curriculum and pace of learning to our children's needs and learning styles,

-choose what to teach our children

-choose how to teach our children

-spend more time together as a family

-have more time to pursue our interests and our children's interests

-help our children maintain a love of learning

-learn together (I graduated with honors and I am still learning right along with my children)

-keep our children from the negative peer pressure and bullying in public school

-better equip our children for real life

-develop independent thinkers, and self-confident, motivated children

For me the only con is that it requires more work to teach my children at home than it would to send them to school.  However, I have more control over my time since we determine our own schedule, and I also don't have to worry about un-teaching what the schools (and peers) have taught.  

Here is a comparison of homeschooling and public school:

http://www.successful-homeschooling.com/...

Here's a description of the pros and cons and disadvantages of homeschooling:

http://www.successful-homeschooling.com/...

http://www.successful-homeschooling.com/...

Oh, I see the comments about socialization are already coming.  Here's some info on socialization:

http://www.successful-homeschooling.com/...

I wish you the best as you evaluate your options!

Answer 3

Pros are numerous and include

*A close knit family.

*Better education

*More freedom to do as we choose when we choose.

*I don't have to wait for the school to decide it's time for a Field trip.

*I don't need a Dr's excuse because my kid had to get a physical.

*I know what level they are on and don't need to test them weekly to prove it.

*I can make appointments that fit our schedule and not the schools.

*Fewer hours spent "in school."

*Social activities that don't include the drug, alcohol and s*x scene that are at most teenage parties.

*Giving a true education not indoctrinating the students with the state religion (evolution). Showing them both side of the story and giving all conflicting theory's and evidence for each one.

*Better college preparation. After all what skill does a college student need the most? The ability to work by themselves. Professors won't hold your hand like a public school teacher will.

*Better grammar skills if the public school kids who post here are any proof. I think they forgot to teach spelling and grammar or they are just teaching text messaging instead.



Cons:

*My in-laws hate the idea that we do it.

*The cost can be substantial upfront. We spent a little over 900.00 for a curriculum. The way we look at it is this: we will use it for two years for each child. 900.00/2=450 450/3 kids = 150 a year per a child. Looked at in that light it isn't so bad.

My sister can make it an even better investment she has 5 kids (all home schooled) and hopes to borrow some of my materials when her boys are at the level we just bought.

*Mummifying chicken on the counter.

*Bug collection in the freezer.

*9 year old learning to cook and burning dinner. Dad wasn't watching as close as he should have been and I wasn't home at the time. Oops!

*Home school group may not be close enough to join.

*Kids at home all the time when you are dying for a few minutes peace.

*Running out of ink in the printer faster. We print a lot of stuff and ink is expensive.

Needless to say most of the Cons really aren't true Cons just little things I've have noticed in the year we've been doing this.

Answer 4

Cons:

I'm miserable and hate it!

No friends....

No social life....

No nothing!

I hate it!

Don't ever do this to your kids....Please....

Pros:

Possibly a better eduacation....

Get to do work on your own time....

=)

All my best!

-Max

Answer 5

There really aren't many "cons" at all!

Many, MANY pros though.

Cons are mostly in the public school arena.

Pros for homeschooling:

Better academics

Your kids don't get shot.

YOU control their morals.

No peer pressure.

You get to spend more time with them.

LOTS more reasons, you may email to discuss if you like.

Answer 6

Each family is going to produce its own pros and cons dependent upon their values and how they go about homeschooling. Homeschooling is what you make of it!

Pros for our family:

-more time together as a family

-less stressful lifestyle

-my kids aren't as focused on material things as many schooled kids are (fashion, PSPs, etc.)

-kids can work at their pace, get the help they need, can explore their own interests--an education tailored to them

-positive environment to grow up in

-meet all kinds of different people regularly since each group activity has different people--and of all ages; much more natural social interactions and groupings

-they're not as peer-focused as schooled kids, and definitely not as age/grade-focused as schooled kids

-they get to be raised by us instead of handing much of it over  to a different adult each year

Cons

-lack of acceptance by those who don't understand homeschooling

Social stuff is not an issue for my kids. They don't spend all of their time at home, they do interact regularly with kids, they do play and have problems and all that.

Answer 7

homeschooled children have limited social skills, which become more apparent as they grow up.  Children need to be around other children, they learn from playing and making friends, not by sitting at home with their mom

Answer 8

One of the main problems with home schooling can be the lack of social life the children get.  If you do homeschool, make sure the kids get to do other social activities like scouts, for example.

Answer 9

Lack of a social life is by and large THE most often spouted misconception about homeschooling.

Pros:

--spending quality time with your child

--child can learn at their own pace

--more flexibility in scope and sequence

--child can learn in the way they learn best, be it visual, auditory, or kinesthetic

--freedom to hit museums and other attractions while other kids are in school

--child can pursue their passions

--no morning hassles

--no bedtime hassles

--no homework

--freedom to travel without the constraints of a school schedule

Cons:

--science experiments in the fridge

--messy house from multiple projects going on at the same time

--noisy house as kids explore

--so many opportunities, so little time!

--$$ spent on supplies, computers, travel

Answer 10

I once lived next door to some homeschool kids. One day we were playing war games in the woods, and one of them threw a rock at my head. I was furious, yet the kid didn't even know he did anything wrong.  Those kids had no concept of how to act properly. I realize this is merely an annecdotal account, but what do you want from me I'm 10.

Answer 11

This question gets asked about once a week. Just go back and check resolved Qs.

Answer 12

Six children...all homeschooled...four out of the house and two {11 & 14} still home....The principles are this...I have learned that it is more important for the child to grow in the home atmosphere than at large in the public school system. When a child is born they develope in three major areas. Physically-Emotionally- Mentally...when first born they cannot see very far and are cared for primarily by the mother...as their senses awaken they become aware of a larger world around them. Their emotional security being based on a solid foundation enables them to grow mentally and with physical needs being met this three pronged basis givews them a stable place to develope. {remember geometry...3 points determine a plane?} As the child grows in the family their pace is assured in love and they have a place to base their identity upon without any undue disturbances. This enables them to grow in a manner in which they are "even keeled". And they are to some degree unaware of themselves. When a child is put in school they are immediately surrounded with strangers and to find their place within the school and social situation they must now identify things within themself to either be accepted or rejected by their peers and instructors. To be liked is not now a given known but must be accomplished by their own ability to "make their mark" and be accepted by others. This is  pushing them into a "self awareness" that would not otherwise be upon them at such an early age. Social skills are best learned in the home in the context of the family where unconditional love is the accepted norm. To be asked to fit in with other children (all of the same age) of various cultural and social backgrounds when too young is not a good thing. They do not even know who they are yet and now they are being asked to interact with others who know not as well. Your personal identity is being developed at this time of life and in the school situation it is being developed in relation to how others percieve you. When this is true... later in life a person is affected more by those preceptions. An individual is such because they are what they are themself, not based upon what others percieve them to be.  When we are put in a position where we have to be perceptive of how another will recieve us and behave accordingly so we will be accepted there is the tendency to create an image of oneself to present to the crowd. Not good! In the home situation the "pecking order" of siblings is present but in a different manner. The child also participates in daily adult activities and learns more of the true world in so doing. (Who do you know that now out of school only socializes with people of their own age?)  The child also learns how to communicate with adults in a real world situation..not the artificial situation modern education creates.  A social worker friend of mine who was a guidance counsellor was at a N.E.A. meeting and they told him...All that is learned in 12 yrs. of school can be learned in a little over a year of intensive study. So...what are they doing with all of that extra time? They said it is the primary responsibility of the school to integrate the student into society as a functioning member of said society. Your children will do better in a homeschool situation...they grow up fast and are gone. You would do well to consider it as a viable option...they can go to school at a later date and will excell. The value is far more than memorizing the multiplication tables...you atre establishing them as a human being for the rest of their lives...do you really want to entrust that responsibility to someone you do not know? Afterall they are your children, don`t they deserve the best of you?  All four of my older children are leaders in their respective fields. This is because they know who they are and have been established as individuals..not replications in a cookie cutter one size fits all educational system...think about it...