Is homeschooling better than regular school?

Question

Is homeschooling better than regular school?

Answer 1

it depends. i think home schooling with a few other children is good. but if Ur child doesn't see other kids a lot it could be bad.

Answer 2

well its on the kid, im in home school an i lear faster then the other kids, but now i stoped an have to get back up an learn 5x faster then i did b4 its really hard

Answer 3

I think so, yeah. While me and my siblings were in public school, we were all having problems. I kept getting detention for being late to class, my brother had low grades and he and mom fought all the frigging time, my two sisters bickered and their grades were low.

Now we're home schooled and not only are we all getting a better education, we're a closer family. Fights are becoming rarer, we're all doing our work, I can't believe we didn't try this before.

Answer 4

Depends on the person and the school

A safe (no metal detectors), well equipped school (labs for science, radio station, tv production, drama dept, music dept, orchestra, choir, student newspaper with press, shops for auto, electronics, plastics) with a good record of college placement (40% of the 12 grade class or better) is an asset you can't easily beat at home without an investment in time and money.

Some people perform well in the fast paced, you must take it at our rate or lose out attitude of the brick school system, some do not.

Home schooling is for self-motivated, self-starters who learn on their own easily.  These are people that tend to do well in college and go on to graduate programs where you have to work independently and with minimal supervision.

If you don't fall into this catagory you'll fail miserbly in homeschool, because it's up to you to do the work.  At a brick school you are there, like it or not, and it's hard to block the teacher out so you learn at least 10% whether you want to or not, just by default.

A student who gets Fs and Ds in brick school still learns something.  A person who never opens a homeschool book or doesn't do the work learns nothing.

A homeschooler who majors in Xbox 360 never goes anywhere.

Now, the self-motivated, self-starter homeschooler can end up getting a 2200 on the SAT and being accepted into Stanford at the age of 17 or even 16, without EVER having stepped into a formal school.

It happens here all the time.

Today it is even possible to get a BA or MBA degree without stepping into a brick school and still getting a Stanford quality education because schools like Stanford are offering distance education via the internet for some majors.

I'm not talking Phoenix U here, but real brick schools founded in 1910 or 1875.

Homeschooling allows you to pick and choose methods of study, with brick school you are stuck with the book and course outline the state requires.

That book, by the way, can be 3-10 years old.

That history book may stop at President Clinton.

That science book may still show Pluto as a planet.

Homeschool materials are often updated regularly.

This is not to say you won't also find out of date homeschool materials, but they do have the ability to print and included updates in their packages.

Homeschooling is going to cost some money, how much is hard to say.  Anywhere from $100 a year to $5,000 a year depending on the system you use.

At least on college study shows the AVERAGE homeschooler is 2-3 grades ahead of brick public schoolers by age 9 and 1 grade ahead of private schoolers.

About 20% of homeschoolers fail miserably vs 40% in most urban brick schools, rural schools do a little better.

About 10% of the urban brick schoolers are in the A ranks with about 25% of homeschoolers in the A ranks.

Most of the urban brick schoolers in the A ranks are Japanese, Chinese, Persian, India natives or Arabic.

Most of the homeschoolers in the A ranks are whites with English as a first langauge.

In the brick urban schools whites are in the C ranks, blacks are in the D-C ranks, Latinos are in the F-D ranks.

Which is one reason why Conodoleze Rice's parents schooler her in the Church basement instead in public school for the first 6 grades (she finished in private Catholic school and got her BA at Catholic Notre Dame).

60-80% of homeschoolers are able to pass the GED exam.

40-60% of homeschoolers are able to get 1850 or higher on the SAT test.

This out performs brick school by almost a 200% margin.

What homeschool lacks directly is PE (you have to do that separately in little leage, dance, gynmastics, soccer), drama, band, shops (auto, metal, fibre glass), lab equipment for chemistry or physics, art.

But you can overcome some of that with extra $$$ investment (a good microscope, some physics toys from Edmunds), a learn to draw kit from a hobby store.

Homeschool also allows you to watch ETV, such as Discovery, Science, History if you have cable.

These usually give better lectures than brick high school teachers and have more up to date information.

Homeschool allows you to pick and choose your times to do work.  Some work better at night and do evening studies.

Some train heavily in gymnatics or ice skating and find they have more room and more time during the day to do those things before all the "school kids" come and mess up the ice.

there's also more time at the public libraries which are open all day but close early most nights.  There is also more computer time on the library systems.

Answer 5

SQDD

Same Question, Different Day.

Are apples better than oranges?

*** UPDATE

A really interesting exercise that I highly recommend is to look at a Questioners set of Q&A.

It is also entertaining to do the same for some of the Answerers.

It provides some insight into the "legitimacy" of the posts.

*** UPDATE

For those of you who homeschool (or thinking seriously about it)... following the above suggestion might just reaffirm your decision.

Answer 6

It depends...generally home-schooled kids are behind academically where they need to be because they are not adaquately prepared in reading, writing and math skills.  If your teacher is a "teacher" meaning they have a degree, then I would say you would be fine.  However, I do know some parents that have tried to be teachers that have no education above high school.  That does not mean that they are stupid or anything like that...but it does mean that they are ill-qualified.

Also, when you home-school you cut your child off from contact with the "real" world.  Sure there are activities that you can put your child in so they get to interract with other kids their age...but honestly, it's not the same.  Going to school is about getting different ideas as how people think...you don't get that in home-schooling...Thus, the child will be ill-prepared for college.

In short, I would say that home-schooling in some cases can be beneficial (child suffers from illness, or is located in a poor area where the school systems are poor) in some cases, but if at all possible, the child should attend a public or private school.

Answer 7

usually

Answer 8

Not neccesarily. You don't get enough social experience, and it's just something you simply need to survive in the real world. Like, you can have friends, but you need to learn to deal with people who aren't your friends, too.

Answer 9

Well, I'm a teacher... and I used to nanny some homeschooled kids, and I had to do lessons with them from time to time... I see the pros and cons of homeschooling.

For one: if the parents are highly intelligent and able to convey the information in a way that a child can understand while being rigorous and interesting--it could be a good thing for a child for a part of their educational experience. I think it's good for kids to be mainstreamed by junior high or high school just to let them gain some social experience and to let them get an idea of the normal school procedures and culture. At the same time, kids are socially stunted for those years in home schooling, maybe having a few friends and not knowing how to act in most situations. Also, when I was helping homeschool this family with three kids, one of the kids was obviously having problems with reading. His parents and I were trying everything we could to help him... but honestly, a teacher, special education or just a regular elementary school teacher, would probably helped him better than a Spanish teacher or some parents with no background education. So it's a toss up.

I think both are valid means to teach kids, but if the parents have no clue what they're doing you might as well mainstream.

Answer 10

i guess it depends

wheen i turned 16 i got homschooled and starting working a job all day rather then going to school and waking up at 6am

its alot better

you have alot more free time with your friends and stuff

YES homschooled people have friends.

amazing huh? ;]

Answer 11

It depends on how it is done, who is doing it, etc.  But statistically it is better.

Answer 12

In my opinion the regular school is better.IN regular school you have a lot of friends and you can communicate to all of them,while sitting at home and studying.Are you under a home arrest?If no,so go to regular school.Actualy you can try both schools.ANd whoch one for you will be better,choose that one.Remember,you make a choice not your parents.

Answer 13

Traditional school is probably a little better because of the interacting with peers and diversity of educators prepares students for a career world. Home school is probably safer though.

Answer 14

Homeschooling is worse than regular schooling because you don't have the chance to interact with your peers and develop your social skills, and regular schools provide better opportunities for university matriculation. Besides, there are counselors at regular schools, you can consult them on issues regarding career choice, universities... etc

Answer 15

It does really depend on the person. Some students enjoy the public school environment, and thrive on the crouds, the structure, the chance to fit in somewhere. Some kids often need to be taught by someone who is unconditionally their superior, someone who apparently knows best for them. Some need the administration to be working behind the scenes to make decisions like which classes you're ready for, when you'll take those classes, who will be in those classes with you, how long you'll spend on each subject, etc. But then there are those kids who do best as homeschoolers. These kids usually don't WANT to "fit in". I know I would never sacrifice my love for The Beatles (and other non-modern music), Computer Science and messing around with random electronics I've built, Fencing, prefering a good, friendly debate about world affairs, politics, ethics, and so on to the typical "OMG!!! So-and-so is sooo hott. Did you see him on American Idol last night? OMG!!!" etc, just so that society will consider me a "normal" 17-year old girl. I still have a lot of friends... My old public school friends, and new friends both PS and HS that I"ve met over the years, and I've had the same boyfriend for over a year now. The thing is, these people like me for who I am, and don't expect me to conform to a cookie-cutter teenage steriotype just to gain acceptance.

Many homeschoolers also thrive on the independence they gain through homeschooling. We prefer to decide for ourselves, or at least play a major role in deciding what we're going to study based on our own academic goals. We decide how quickly or slowly we move in each subject area individually, rather than having to move as slow as the teacher, even if you're ready to move on, or having to squeak by with just a D and move on even if you haven't mastered the material yet. We learn to manage our time independently, and you'll often find that HSers finish the same ammount of work as a PSer would do in a day in about 4 hours or so, especially in the middle and highschool years. And no, this does not compromise the quality of the work. It just means we have fewer interuptions. You'd be surprised how short a school day would be if you cut out bells, moving between classes, teachers having to reorganize, disciplinary problems, and just all the general interuptions that go on. You'll find that many homeschoolers are involved in more extracurricular activities, sports, clubs, music classes, etc, and have more time for things like field trips, creative projects, reading for fun, and just hanging out with friends than their public school age-mates. Homeschoolers also tend to be at least a grade level (often two) ahead of their age-mates in at least a few subject areas. Homeschoolers also have the freedom of self discovery. Many learn they have a specific learning style, or a unique interest they've never explored within their first few months of HSing. They then have the freedom to tailor lessons and adopt study habits that work with their learning style, and explore their new interests in deapth. HSers often know where they want to go in life, and what they have to do to get there.  For many, it is also the better choice in preparation for college. Since it does require so much independence, time-management skill, and self-motivation... Since you do know yourself, and how you'll need to modify your study habits to continue serving your learning style...Since you've probably spent a lot of time outside of the house learning about different people, new ideas, and the things adults have to do to lead productive lives, and since you've probably started doing some of these things (cooking, making grocery lists, budgeting, handling your own finances, handling your own appointments, and gaining work experience through community service, or even a part time job) on your own at a reasonably early age, you should make the transition a lot more smoothly than public schoolers tend to. Some people blossom in public schools. Others do best as home schoolers. For me, homeschooling definitely is the better choice for the above reasons and many more.

Answer 16

This question is asked daily. Do a search and you will find many answers. The short answer is that it depends. Home schooling takes commitment from the family. It works best in our family with our situation.

As for Vals answer: do you think home school students simply sit at home all day? My kids are gone daily to activities and when they aren't in dance, clubs, church activities, or sports they are out hanging out with their various friends. No socialization issues here. When you are in school I believe teachers discourage you from talking in class, right? So that gives you a very few minutes between classes and them maybe some time at lunch. My kids are done with classes early then have time to do all kinds of socialization out in the real world, not with a bunch of kids that are grouped by age.

By the way, until children reach the age of 18, it is the PARENTS choice.

Answer 17

I think it depends on 1) the education level of the parents, 2) the amount of time they have to spend with the child, and 3) if the parents are involving the children in a community of other homeschooled children so they get opportunities to develop social skills through structured activies (like sports, music, theatre, etc.)

Answer 18

Whether or not homeschooling is better than regular school depends on who is doing the homeschooling and the child who is receiving the homeschooling. Some children thrive in settings away from their parents, while other children thrive in settings close to their parents. For children who have a hard time taking orders from their parents or taking their parents orders seriously, homeschooling may be a constant struggle between whether to play or to do work. For some children, they have to get out of their home setting to get into a school work mode. For other children, a classroom setting scares them. They are thrown into panic and nervousness and they cannot think or function and they may suffer from headaches or stomach aches on a regular basis.

The parents in the picture also determine whether homeschooling is better than regular school. The parents commitment to their children's education determines how effective the homeschool program will be for their children. If the parents are not willing to make an effort then the children will most likely fail unfortunately.

For many special needs children homeschooling is much better than regular school because they can get one on one attention, sign language classes, or other special needs classes that are specially designed to meet their specific needs. This is something that cannot always be provided by public schools due to lack of funds and the sheer number of students in the average public school classroom.

From an educational standpoint, homeschooling may be better or worse than public school depending on the education standards in the state where you live. For instance here in California, homeschooler's have much higher education standards and stricter curriculum than the public schools do. It varies from state to state however.

Whether or not to homeschool is a personal decision that every family must make based on their availability, commitment level, and income. Whether or not a homeschool family succeeds will depend on the support they receive from their community and their willingness to succeed. Personally, I believe that homeschooling provides a stronger education than public schools in the United States today, but I am sure that there are many people who disagree.

Answer 19

I know everyone says this, but it's true: it depends.

I am a homeschooled teen and loving it.  Homeschooling allows me to work at my own pace and to get one-on-one tutoring with my mom.  

I was on a swim team this fall and get plenty of socializing.  I go to homeschool classes outside of the home with other homeschooling kids.  These classes are those which my parents can't teach or require specific equipment.  I have many friends and don't fit the "homeschooling stereotype" at all.

Speaking of the "homeschool stereotype", the majority of homeschoolers don't fit it.  I know many homeschoolers who are "normal", wear "cool" clothes, and enjoy "normal" books/movies/TV/whatever.  There are a few erm, different people, but most of us aren't.

My sister currently goes to public school and loves it.  She has homeschooled for a few years, but prefers public school.  She is very dramatic and thrives on laughing and talking with her friends almost 24/7.  She really enjoys public school.

This brings us back to my first sentence: it all depends.  I wouldn't trade homeschooling for public school, but my sister gladly did.  I hope you make the right decision and enjoy whatever you do!  Just keep in mind that you/your children can join local high school/junior high sports teams and co-ops, groups of homeschoolers who organize classes.  Thanks for reading my looooooooong monolouge!

Answer 20

Simply put, absolutely not.

Answer 21

I would think that regular school is favourite because teachers have to be taught themselves before they can take classes.  They also have to be told how to conduct with children.  But if the teachers are somewhat bullies parents could take their children away from that school and hire a private tutor or teach their children themselves,but they must have a high inteligence.

Answer 22

Most definitely! Public schools are dangerous, a terrible influence for  kids, and are actually dumbing down kids! They try to run public schools like they are a military school. They don't let kids talk or have hardly any recess. I've had teachers tell me they didnt have time for my sons individual needs and try to force me to medicate him for an unscientific disorder. (ADHD) Because he is a normal 6 year old boy. (Almost all the symptoms for ADHD are normal child behaviors) And they didnt want o deal with him because a 6 year dol in 1st grade. The schools have come up with a new way to not deal with kids. Its called T-1. They put most 6 year olds that should be in 1st grade in T-1 so they don't have to deal with them until thay are  7 and can make them sit still and act like little robots. Homeschooling lets kids be kids and teach kids the way they should be taught.

Answer 23

Can I say this may be a loaded question.

You're going to get so many different opinions on this.

For us home school is better. No bulling, better education, and happier kids tell me that.

Of course if no socialization is the only argument against it then that's sad. No socialization is such a weak argument. I guess these people think that daily interaction with immature teens is a good thing. Daily interaction and practice of saying no to drugs, liquor, cigarettes, and s*x is a good thing? Being pressured to look a certain way and act a certain way is good? Wanting to be like so and so is good because they are popular is good. Then public school is better for you.

Answer 24

What is it they say in AA? It works if you work it and you're worth it?

I also have to add that Phil and many of the other critics have based their opinions on rash assumptions, not facts. Listen to Ed and YSN. They've got it right. A couple of these homeschool students have me entirely impressed! I can only hope that my daughter is so articulate at their age. I wish I had been, but alas.....not so much.