English Paper #3

Dottie George

Prof. Ryterband

English 3A

08 October 2019

Homeschooling

When our children reach school age, we as parents need to make the best choice, we can for them. I believe the best we can do is teach them ourselves. Homeschooling is becoming more and more popular these days. Opponents suggest things like diversity, socialization, cost, and qualifications to teach as good reasons to go with public or private school instead. I believe the freedom, independence, individualized instruction a child can receive at home, and the blessing parents get from seeing their children learn is unmatched by any reason to send them outside the home to be schooled.

Proponents of sending children to public school boast about the diversity the students enjoy at school. “Students are more apt to be exposed to students from different cultures or income levels. They may learn to work with other students with mental and physical disabilities” (Chen par 3) Though that opportunity may be there, my experience has been that those differences, rather than leading to the acceptance and tolerance that is hoped for, tends instead to be an opening for bullying. Those who prefer private school, also press the idea of children having friends their own age. Though private schools can be much smaller, children who are different can still be singled out as social outcasts. Children are little humans, and unfortunately humankind is uncomfortable around people who are different. Children can be mean, and bullying happens, even in the schools with the strictest standards. Children who are homeschooled are not going to be bullied during school hours. Though there may be some truth to the argument “homeschooled children may not have as many opportunities to interact with other children in comparison to children who attend school” (“The Negative Effects and Aspects of Homeschooling” par 4), I don’t agree with the rest of the opinion that states, “the lack of socialization may affect them in later stages of life.” My children have been home schooled most of their lives. Not only do they not lack the ability to socialize with their peers, they are more comfortable than their peers to approach and interact with both adults and children younger than themselves. Having known many home school families, it is my observation that my children are not the exception, but the rule when it comes to the social abilities of home-schooled children. 

Many people also suggest that public school is the way to go because the price can’t be beat. Sure, if you really believe it is free. It feels free because we don’t write a check to the school or school district every month for thirteen years. No, we pay for public school most of our lives, from the first day of our first job, until we die. Tax dollars pay for public school, so we pay for it whether or not we use it, making it quite costly, though we may not realize it. Private schools are also very expensive. Their tuition costs can vary greatly from school to school, costing as much as $30,000 a year (Kennedy par 1)  Homeschooling has costs as well, but home-schooling parents can control the costs to fit their budget. Though “parents who homeschool their children should be prepared to spend more money than parents who send their children to public school” (“The Negative Effects and Aspects of Homeschooling” par 3), it doesn’t need to be more than the family can afford. 

People who prefer private schools might sight smaller classroom size and a better student teacher ratio. “Private High Schools on average are less than half the size of public schools… Students of private schools may have more opportunity to form relationships with their teachers, which can lead them to greater academic success” (Kennedy par 3). The ability for students to work at their own pace, being sure they have mastered a concept before moving on, is more likely to happen in a smaller class. If a smaller student teacher ratio is a good thing, what a great thing to homeschool and make that ratio 1:1.

Extracurricular activities offered by schools can also be a bonus in considering what to do for school.  Though some claim “public schools often have more options” (Chen par 6). Others say that private schools may offer a wider range of liberal arts activities, because they can charge a tuition high enough to cover the cost, saying, “private schools have the ability to create their own curriculum giving students opportunities to explore their talents and express themselves” (Kennedy par 6). Home school families have the freedom to do whatever extra curricular activities are available in their area. If a family cannot afford to participate in the community sport leagues or drama clubs, many school districts are required to allow homeschooled children to participate in their extra curricular activities, including sports, music, and drama programs. The same goes for field trips. Public schools are limited to what the school district can afford and allows for each school. Private schools can do more because they can calculate field trips into their tuition costs. But homeschoolers can go anywhere, anytime: a day trip to the museum, a week vacation to the Capitol, take some baked goods to the local fire or police department, or set up a visit to the assisted living facility down the street. They don’t have to be expensive and can easily be lessons on reaching out to the people around you.

Many people who choose to not send their children to public school is because they feel like their children will not be encouraged to continue with their same values system.  Though it is true, the public school abstains from teaching religion, I don’t see that as reason enough to keep them out of the public-school system. Private schools often on the other hand, “often put a major emphasis on personal values” (Kennedy par 8) following the standards for a particular church or denomination. Oftentimes, there is such a pride in the curriculum that the children are taught everyone else is wrong, without further explanation and the children graduate unprepared to answer the rest of the world with anything more than “that’s what I was taught.”  I think that is unfortunate, unfair and unkind to the students. I may even agree with the beliefs of a particular school, but children do need to be taught why a belief is believed, and how to question those beliefs in order to be able to give truthful answers to those who don’t believe the same way. As a homeschooling parent, we have the best opportunity to teach our children according to our beliefs and understanding of the world, how it works, why and how it exists. When our children ask questions, we can take them by our side and show them how we came to our conclusions, or even learn with them. When other views are presented to our children, we can also show them why we believe those philosophies are in error.  When our children go to school, public or private, we don’t get to see or hear everything they are being taught. I don’t need to know or control everything my children are taught, but I want them to be as informed as possible, on both sides of most issues. Unfortunately, my observation has been public and private schools seem to most often be on opposite ends of the spectrum, with only contempt for each other. Homeschooling affords the opportunity to pull the truth from both extremes and allows for an assessment of certain issues that can give a more balanced look at today’s world from the parents' point of view. 

In today’s world, many parents are concerned about the safety of their children at school. We hear often of bullying and school shootings, and everything in between. Children disappear every day between home and school. Public school teachers have less control now than they ever have. Governor Newsome just signed a law stating that disruptive students can no longer be suspended. 

“Typical crimes that plague public schools are less common at private schools”  (Kennedy par 12) which is most likely because private schools are private and can make their own rules. They are not dictated as much by the state. With smaller class size and greater levels of discipline, the students are taught how better to handle frustrations, differences and disagreements. I contend that the safest place for a child is at home. 

Are you qualified to teach? Is a question I have been asked, and even asked myself when I first considered homeschooling. It’s a good question. But does an educated person with a degree, or state certification mean the same as being qualified? I don’t think so. I have had teachers whom I know had the education and certification necessary to teach, but I would not call them qualified. Being educated doesn’t guarantee that that person knows how to pass on the information they have.  “Public school teachers are required to be certified by the state” (Chen par 10). That can give a false sense of security to parents, because we believe our children are being taught by the best equipped people. When though equipped, and even trained, that teacher may not know how to impart their knowledge.  Private schools do not always require teachers to be state certified. Though that opens up opportunities for more people to work with the children, sometimes you end up with a well intentioned adult, who wants to help children learn and grow, but doesn’t have  a clue as to how to get the children to listen, obey or understand anything. Of course, one doesn’t need to be certified to homeschool either. Effective homeschooling comes from the relationship between parent and child. One of the best homeschooling moms I know admits that she not only did not go to college, but she cheated her way through private school. Her son placed second highest ever on the ASVAB test and spent his Navy career working on nuclear submarines. 

How do you know what to teach your kids when? That was the scariest thing to me when I first considered homeschooling. I know public schools have regular assessment tests to be sure kids are learning what they are supposed to be each year. Some private schools also do regular assessments and will allow homeschoolers to do only the assessment testing through their school if the family chooses.  Public schools, I think are also supposed to let homeschooled children take assessment tests. But the fantastic thing about homeschooling is the fact that the children are free to learn at their own pace, without having to keep up with the whole class, or be held back because they learn faster than their classmates.

Schooling takes time. Whether we take our kids to school, or school them at home. If we take them to school, we have to fight traffic at school in the morning and afternoon. Then one must attend back to school nights and parent/teacher conferences, programs, etc. Homeschooling requires time for lesson plans, tests, grading, etc. I even know people who mail report cards to their own house for their children to receive. Homeschooling also requires the parents to be disciplined and orderly with their routine. Many think homeschooling is laying around all day every day doing math in your pjs. Some days, it is, but if every day is that way, the kids lose in life preparation. If mom is easy to distract with errands or other activities, again the kids lose.  Yes, homeschooling doesn’t need to be done as in a classroom, but it does require consistency. Which I think is a good learning experience for some parents, and a fantastic example for one’s own children. As one learns to manage their time for school and life, we discover there is plenty of time to get done the schoolwork, and go to the doctor or dentist, without missing school, or having to go when everyone else is going because school is out. Field trips can happen when businesses and museums are not overly crowded. Vacation can happen when fewer people are vacationing. That freedom is fantastic!

 

Works Cited

Chen, Grace. 10 Advantages to Public Education PublicSchoolReview.com. 28 july 2013. http://www.google.com/amp/s/www.publicschoolreview.com/amp/blog/10-advantages-to-public-education>.Accessed 03 October 2019.

Kennedy, Robert. Why Private School? Privateschoolreview.com. 02 December 2007. http://www.google.com/amp/s/www.privateschoolreview.com/amp/blog/why-private-school>. Accessed 03 October 2019.

The Negative Effects and Aspects of Homeschooling middleschool.net.  <http://www.middleschool.net/negative-homeschooling.htm. Accessed 03 October 2019