Pros and cons of home school?

Question

Pros and cons of home school?

Answer 1

Totally depends on the situation. If you have a horrible family, obviously the cons are going to be much different than for a great family.

For our kids and how we homeschool, here are their pros and cons:

ACADEMIC:

-they can go their own pace instead of having to fit a particular mold

-they can spend more time on learning about what interests them

-we follow an approach which allows them to be more creative and exploratory rather than just memorizing stuff

SOCIAL:

-it's not a big deal to them how old other kids are nor what grade they are in; they often interact with younger kids and even kids who are much older, without thinking twice

-they have better daily social models since their Dad and I are much more mature than the 20-some kids they'd be with at school

-they get more guidance since it's easier to keep track of what a couple of kids are doing and take care of it instead of not hearing about it or them being in a class with 20-some kids so that the teacher doesn't even know necessarily what's going on

FAMILY

-they are good friends, despite being different genders and 3 years apart; there's no notion (usually learned at school) then it's not cool to be friends with your little brother

-they are more family-focused than peer-focused

GENERAL/OTHER

-they lead a fairly relaxed lifestyle instead of rushing here and there and sitting in desks most of the day

-they aren't growing up with the constant judgement and competition that typically exists in school which undermines their self-esteem

-they are individuals and don't in the slightest bit know anything about what's "cool" for clothes or not, they'll try different things and pick what *they* like

-I have not yet been asked that they might have a cell phone ;) (a growing number of gr. 5/6 students where I live have cell phones)

Lots more!

CONS

-dealing with naysayers who don't know what they're talking about or are just really stuck in their judgement

-they're a little unsure about presenting themselves as homeschoolers when in a group of typically public schooled kids since there have been negative reactions; they usually just blend in with the group and don't say a word about their schooling

Answer 2

Im homeschooled and, I HATE IT!!! You don't get to see people and you're stuck at home like all day!!! There's no sports you can do, just like, no fun!!!!!! I live in a small town so, its not like I can sign up for a sports team or anything! There's no good things about homeschool that I can see... I was never teased alot at public school and, I didnt have problems! All they did was make jokes about how short I was and, I find them funny so, I dont have issues with public school, I learn better in a public school....

Answer 3

Same here, I loved being homeschooled. Now, I'm stuck in college, 4th yr. (then grad school). Bored out of my wits, but trying to hang in. Tired of being tired, and tired of having no interesting challenges with which I could teach myself.

To the person below me: Not able to socialize? My siblings and I have a wide ring of friends at college and everywhere we go AND a smaller ring of close friends.

Answer 4

I'm 13 and i have home schooling and i think it's brilliant. i only have to do 2 hours work a day!

Answer 5

PROS:

More one on one attention.

More likely to get a better education.

Days are shorter.

You can study what you want.

You don't have to listen to all the boring teachers and havve to put up with all the idiots that are in public school.

There are no cons. And don't let people tell you that kids who are homeschooled don't socialize very well.

Kids who are homeschooled can be involved in recreation sports, get involved with a local homeschool group.

I start college next month working to get my degree in Criminal Justice. How many 16 year-olds do you know that can say that they are going to college a full 2 years before their friends?

Answer 6

I have honestly not found a "con" yet. (Other than ignorant people who make ignorant assumptions about homeschool.) The freedom of homeschool is that you can turn it into whatever you like.

If Scarlet, and people like her claim to have never met a homeschooled person who could function socially, they must not get out around homeschoolers much. The homeschooled kids/youth I've met have sharp wit, great manners and can converse easily on many topics.

Answer 7

My kids have never been to school and follow their passions with regards to what they want to learn.  We have fun, visit museums, watch Discovery Channel, have unlimited access to Google, travel in our RV, raised two puppies, and have done far more than most schooled kids because we don't have the time constraints of school, and no homework (a timewaster, IMO).

The cons?  For me as a mom, none.  For my kids, it's the lack of constant companionship.  They are involved in activities, have friends, etc, but don't often just 'hang out' as much as they might like to.

Answer 8

I was home schooled almost all of my life and I love, love, loved it. If I have kids I will home school them no doubt about it. When I was in public school. I was unhappy, bullied, sad, and I failed horribly.

Answer 9

Cons-- people who know nothing about it are always suspicious of it or saying ridiculous things.

Pros-- lots of freedom, lots of good family time, lots more time for socialization and much bigger variaty of activities and classes available. Kids work at their own pace in a tailored education that suits them. Less negative peer pressure, kids retain their childhood innocence a bit longer, kids rely less on being "filled" like an empty vase and become active participants in their education, they really retain a love of learning and natural curiousity and are self-directed and motivated. Living and learning become one in the same.

Note these pros, I'm referring to my kids and the kids I've worked with in homeschool co-ops. I don't know ever single homeschooler on the planet, I'm sure there are exceptions.

Answer 10

Here are some of the cons and disadvantages:

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

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

They are nothing compared to the disadvantages of public school, IMO!

Answer 11

I wont write all the pros cause I got to go, but I was homeschooled and I turned out;)

Con: If you ain't careful you might just be better at stuff then non homeschoolers;)

Answer 12

This again try researching old questions. This exact question gets asked every other week.

Answer 13

Pros:

More flexible schedule

You can go at your own pace (and you can have more free time)

Potential to have more free time

More freedom curriculum-wise (you can decide what textbooks to use, etc.)

Cons:

It can take a lot of effort to stay motivated and actually get stuff done

If you are not in home schooling groups, you might not be able to have much of a social life

When you’re looking for acceptance into colleges, it’s harder for them to know what academic level you are

It’s not free – you have to get your own textbooks and materials

Edit: I agree with what Glee said about Scarlett's response. I'm home-schooled and so are many of my friends. I haven't had a difficult time socializing and some of my home-schooled friends are some of the most social people you'll ever meet. They are also smart, polite, and open-minded.

Again, while "lack of social life" may be a problem for many, it really depends on how hard you try. If you go bury yourself in a hole, of course you won't socialize much. But if you go out and seek friends, you should have no problem. There are so many opportunities to interact with other kids (both home-schooled ones and not).

Also, what I said about colleges is something that a guidance counselor once told a friend. However, from what I've seen, colleges can just look at other things. I have a home-schooled acquaintance who was accepted into Princeton University. Also, none of my other home-schooled friends seem to have a hard time getting into good colleges.

I spent one year in public school. While I made many friends and did well, it seemed like a prison. I don't regret being home schooled. I have so much freedom this way.

Answer 14

I have been homeschooled all my life, and really like it, because i take less time to do my school work, it means I am available to lots more extra-curricular activities and such.  I even have a job that is in school hours, because I can do my school at another time.  I really think it's great, and being a social person, I don't struggle with staying at home all day or making friends!! The downside would be that your parents are your terachers, so it's kinda important you get on woth them!  Personally I don't mind but I know some people wouldn't be able to have their parents as a teacher!!! I do most of my school myself anyway so it's not a problem.

Answer 15

Pros

You can pick and choose your material for courses, work at your own pace faster or slower, set your own hours to do things, raid the fridge, work in your PJs, do outside activies in daytime when the crowds are less

Cons

No easy access to professional equipment for doing metal, pastics, woods, electronics, photography, chemistry and physics.  No easy access to drama and music departments.

Answer 16

there are no cons at all its great!

Answer 17

Are there pros? Haha....

Pros: You can get a better education....Basically do work on your own time....

Cons: You lose ALOT of social skills....You don't have to many friends....

I've been homeschooled for 5 years....And I hate it!

I made the mistake of being homeschooled....Quite possibly the biggest mistake....Of my life (So far)

=)

All my best! And good luck!

-Max

Answer 18

Pros: depending on the parent they can get a way better education than they could at school, if the child has special needs or learning disabilities.

Cons: The child does not learn social skills, i have never met a person who has gone through home schooling and knows how to socialize, thus making it very hard to function in a college or work environment.

Answer 19

My pros and cons:

Pros:  Freedom in education, more relaxed and flexible schedule, more time to pursue interests, closer family relationships, children are socialized by their parents rather than by a classroom full of other kids.

Cons: Dealing with people who "knew this homeschooled kid once" and won't budge their negative opinions concerning homeschooling.

I think it's important to note that socialization need not be accomplished only through peer relationships.   Peer relationships are (imo) not the best way to teach a child how to get along in society.  And, sometimes, it's worth teaching a child that they can make their *own* way, not conform, and yet still "fit".  That is not an easy concept to teach when a child is surrounded everyday by peers who pick up on any deviation from the norm.  

Peer relationships are important in their own right, though, and are not at all impossible for homeschoolers.  It just requires that we get out of the house and make connections.