Pros and Cons of Homeschooling

There are pros and cons to homeschooling that you will want to consider before deciding to try it in your home. The first mistake that many parents make about homeschooling is thinking that teaching is easy. This could not be further from the truth. Teaching is not just about curriculum and content. It's about the strategies used to 'deliver' that content to the student in a way that they can master it. This is not common sense.

Pros

One on One Attention

Teachers in public schools have classrooms of 20 to 25 students and therefore they have very little time to give one-on-one attention to every child. Since every child learns differently, we can find many children that can thrive in a public school environment. On the other hand, there will also be some that struggle. Those that struggle in large classes, might do better receiving more attention at home.

Learning Time Is More Flexable

Public schools run on very rigid schedules that don't stop for anybody for any reason, with some exceptions, of course. Homeschooling allows the partent and child to vary the learning schedule from day-to-day to meet their needs.

Custom Education

In public schools, teachers have to follow curriculum guidelines that are guided by state standards. They can't vary from that instruction or students are like to perform poorly on state exams and potentionally designate the school as a School In Need Of Improvement under the No Child Left Behind Law. However, in most states, homeschooled students are not required to take part in state exams, therefore the instruction can be more flexable and taylored to the student.

Cons

Social Interaction

Public school is a great place for children to learn how to interact in a social environment. A home school child will miss out on this opportunity. Many critics of homeschooling point this out as a major weakness. However, for many children, school is not the only place they socialize. There are community centers and community sports teams, girls and boys club, etc. If a homeschooled child is not involved in such activities then there may be cause for concern

Finances

Homeschooling can be expensive and is a potential opportunity cost for the parent. Homeschoolers have to purchase hundreds of dollars worth of textbooks and supplies and lab equipment. This can get quite expensive. In addition, the parent that is home teaching the child gives up the opportunity to work and earn money or do other things. All these need to be considered.

Homeschooling can be a great way to meet the needs of children that are not performing well in a public school. On the other hand, if they child does do well in public school, there needs to be a very compelling reason before deciding to educate that child at home.