Pros and cons --can anyone tell me about home schooling?

Question

for a 12 years old bou who is not doing well in school..

any iformation could help. how to do it. who is qualified, etc etc. pros and cons

Answer 1

hsmom... pretty much said it all...

But, even if you live in the "boonies" like we do, you don't have to be socially isolated!  It just takes a little more work and a lot more gas.

Answer 2

If he's got problems at school, I would think that school might be too strict, and as an alternative, you could choose a more liberal school who allows the kids more freedom. I disapprove of homeschooling, because the children don't have any chance to talk to anyone if their parents treat them unfairly or yell at them or whatever. At school, children have rights and some freedoms at least. And they have the chance to learn to get along with kids of their age.

Answer 3

There are many pros, but the cons really depend on your family and your son's needs.  Cons don't actually exist for everyone - for us, they don't - but there are things that you need to be aware of.

First, homeschooling does take dedication and commitment on the parent's part.  Sometimes, a parent will withdraw their child from school, sign them up for some online program, and end their involvement at that.  Homeschooling, no matter what format it's done in, requires some level of participation on the parent's part.

Second, it is a transition for the child.  It's often a welcome one, but the student needs to understand that there will be changes.  If he's not doing well in school, it could really help him by removing stress points and distractions; however, he needs to understand that there will be a transition time, and to expect it.  

You need to also be aware of and prepared for any financial change that comes with this.  If you need to leave your job in order to homeschool your son, this will obviously change things in your family.  It did for ours, but it's completely worth it and we've learned to live within new means.  Like I said, it's not always a con, but it is something to be aware of.

Pros - wow, too many to list.

-No distractions from classmates or classroom routines

-Individual pacing - he can learn at his own rate

-Individualized curriculum - he can learn with a method that makes sense to him, from a curriculum that you and he pick together, and according to his interests.

-The ability to work on skills until he gets them, and move on once he's there.  This is really important - his learning isn't determined by the class lesson plan.  If he really doesn't get something, you can spend more time on it.  Once he's there, you don't need to spend days and days reviewing it.

-You can give him individual attention.  This is huge for many kids!

-Opportunities are open to homeschoolers that are not open to classroom schooled kids, simply because their schedule is more open.

And the list goes on.

How to do it depends on the state that you're in.  Each state has its own laws, regulations, and required subjects/hours.  If you can let us know what state, we can give you details.

Who is qualified - you are.  By the very fact that you are his parent, you are qualified.  There are some states that require a teaching certification, but you can get around that by joining an umbrella school program.  Many still allow you to choose your own curriculum.

Hope that helps!

Edit - the thing about kids not being out in society is a complete crock.  Homeschool kids - unless they live out in the boonies - are out in society every day.  Learning in society is a huge part of most homeschool kids' lives.  Just because the word "home" is in there, doesn't mean that they stay *at home* all day :-)

ysn - sorry, I was probably being a bit too facetious with "boonies"!  I was going more for "outer Siberia"  :-)

Answer 4

pros- The student his/her self will not have to put up with other students manipulating them or constantly making fun of how they dress ect. They will be working in a quiet eviroment hopefully able to accomplish more. Being homeschooled gives the student more time to juggle other things, for instance a job.

cons.- he/she will not be exposed to the real world of what goes on in a regular school life so they really are not emotionally as well as physically ready for college courses. They will not have a teacher to seek out advice from if they have any problems (unless doing the online schooling). With keeping the student away from people on a regular basis, when they do decided to have contact with people they will not have inquired anntibiotics to illnesses, such as the common cold.

I hope this help...just some things to thing of. I could go on but then that would just take away from your wonder presentation on a good debate topic.