By Hick Long
Many parents nowadays are considering home schooling as an alternative to public or even private schools. Both parents and children are seeing a great deal more benefits than hindrance in the homeschool programs. Here we will discuss the critical factors you need to know before you make your decision.
In an attempt to better use their children's time, parents are choosing to homeschool their kids to utilize each hour of the day more efficiently. The controversy involves sending your kids to school and having them spend most of their time in a setting akin to babysitting opposed to an educational environment. Parents that advocate homeschooling always reference the fact that there is a lot of time wasted traveling to and from classes, going to recess, and an assortment of other activities that are not academically related. The ability to be flexible simply does not exist at the public schools because of all of these activities forcing kids to learn so much in a very small amount of time; this is not true for those that are homeschooled. Homeschooling is definitely about self-motivation to some degree, but because of this, children that learn at home may learn more than public-school children and develop self-motivation.
In regard to families, homeschooling allows them to remain close together. In the modern world, many parents and kids drift away from each other when children reach school age. Your influence over your children will begin to wane at this point. Homeschooling provides you with the opportunity to get close to your children once again. Of course, this has it's challenging aspects as well. Being a teacher, you have to know subject material which can be tough if you don't remember it. Overall, homeschooling is more popular than sending your kids to school specifically in regard to spending more time with them.
Most parents that decide to homeschool their kids believe that this manner of teaching is much better than what the public schools have to offer. The fact is, however, that not everyone will agree with your decision. People that you have known for years, and family members, may tell you that they do not agree with your decision. Sometimes criticism and hostile interactions will happen between family members and friends because of this decision to homeschool. While you may believe that how you raise your kids is your business, many people won't hesitate to question your judgment on an issue like home schooling. We are just telling you this so that you are prepared in case it happens to you.
As public schools have more problems, such as lack of funding, widespread violence and a decline in academic standards, home schooling becomes an attractive option for many parents. It may be the right choice for you, but before you embark on this path make sure you fully understand everything that's involved.