Homeschool is not for everyone, and that is okay. Assuming complete responsibility for your child’s education is a significant commitment, a decision not to be made lightly. Weighing the pros and cons of homeschooling will help you determine if this is the lifestyle for you.
In this post I address both the benefits and potential drawbacks of pursuing home education. I hope this will assist you as you contemplate whether homeschooling is a viable option for your family.
First, “The PROS” aka The Benefits of Homeschooling:
1. Health and Safety Considerations
Children learn best in a supportive, nurturing environment.
Fear of unsafe school conditions is the number one reason parents choose to homeschool. Sadly, gun violence, bullying, and racial tensions are growing concerns for children and teachers in both public and private school settings.
Homeschool offers a safe haven- a place of protection and shelter from harm where kids are able to express themselves without shame, fear, or pressure to conform. While parents are not able to protect their children forever, they can offer a brief shield from the harsh realities of the world. Rather than combat issues such as bullying after they occur, parents can pro-actively equip children with the tools and communication skills necessary for future conflict resolution.
For some families protection from physical illness is of utmost concern. Schools can be petri dishes for disease. Families with a medically fragile child or immunocompromised member may decide home education is prudent in order to prevent transmission of potentially harmful pathogens.
2. Control Over What is Taught
Homeschool gives families freedom of choice.
Many families choose to homeschool in order to avoid subjecting their children to beliefs which conflict with their own. This is particularly true of Christian parents who wish to shield their children from secular theories which are taught as truth. Because of this, many homeschool curricula offer a biblical worldview.
That being said, secular homeschool families are on the rise, citing concerns over divisive social and political agendas presented in the classroom.
3. Freedom and Flexibility
This is what gets many parents hooked on home education.
No longer restricted by the school calendar, families are free to move about at will. Options such as year-round schooling, unlimited travel dates, and the nomadic lifestyle become a reality. The opportunity to visit attractions, theme parks, and historical sites in the off-season when it is less crowded is definitely a bonus!
Schedule flexibility is also a perk of homeschooling. School can be planned around work, family activities, commitments, and sleep schedules. Each day can begin at a more relaxed pace and at a time which fits your lifestyle.
4. Individualized Attention and Assistance
When it comes to school, one size does not fit all.
In a classroom filled with 25 or more children, it is impossible for teachers to give each child the individual assistance they deserve. Children with special needs or those who have difficulty grasping a concept may be left behind, not fully understanding what was being taught.
Other classmates may be ready to advance, finishing the assigned work quickly. Unchallenged, this boredom sometimes leads to unwanted mischief or distractive behaviors which affect the entire room.
Parents who homeschool can provide individualized attention to their child. Removed from the pressure to advance before they are completely ready, children are able to move at a slower pace and repeat concepts until they are mastered.
Teasing or playground bullying for learning differences- real or perceived, is non-existent.
Homeschool benefits both parent and child. Parents gain an intimate knowledge of their child’s abilities, progress, and interests from a unique perspective. Being present for important learning milestones or to witness them conquer a challenging task are moments to celebrate and cherish.
5. Socialization and Community
People unfamiliar with the homeschool setting frequently express concerns about socialization. The fear is unless a child is in a classroom with 20 or more students, they will not form friendships or meaningful relationships with their peers. This could not be further from the truth.
In an institutional environment social time is strictly limited. Students are told where to sit in class, expected to walk quietly in the halls and are reprimanded for socializing outside of recess or lunch breaks. For many kids, even break time can be lonely or stressful, as playgrounds are ripe with teasing, ostracism, and bullying.
In general, homeschooled children have more time for extracurricular activities and social events than their peers. Shorter instructional time (many kids are finished school by noon) and no additional homework means more time for socializing. In addition, homeschoolers are often part of a larger community. Co-operatives, group field trips, enrichment programs, and sports teams are just some of the ways for kids to interact with and form bonds with their peers.
6. Personal Development and Character Traits
Time is your friend. You have all day, every day to positively influence your child and encourage healthy habits. Traits such as patience, respect, concern for others, sharing, independence, and creativity are, arguably as valuable as book learning (maybe even more so!).
Home education allows you to teach subjects that are important to your family. Religious studies, fitness, participation in the family business, animal care, gardening, farm work, holistic or sustainable living – the list is endless.
7. College Acceptance
Fears that colleges will reject a home-educated applicant are unfounded. In fact, according to an article in Business Insider Magazine*, Ivy League institutions such as Stanford, MIT, Harvard, and Duke all actively recruit homeschooled students.
This same article reports children who have been homeschooled are more likely to have some college education- about 74% compared with about 41% of their publicly educated peers.
Homeschooled children are known for their independence, creativity, and self-direction- what colleges seek in their applicants. Students also score higher in math and reading tests when they have parents who are actively involved in their education.
Colleges are likely to be impressed with your child’s academic record, extracurricular involvement, and their character traits.
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Helpful Homeschool Books
Now the “CONS,” or Disadvantages of Homeschooling:
Of course, there are some downsides and concerns with regards to homeschooling. In addition to the issues presented below, I have provided practical solutions to some of these dilemmas in order to show how some families have adapted to make home educating work for them.
Due to the length of this article, I wrote a second blog specifically addressing these ‘cons’. It is called, Solutions: How to Homeschool When You Think You Can’t.
1. Time Commitment
You may be thinking “Sure, homeschool is great for those who don’t work or have no additional commitments. I have to care for my aging parents, have church obligations, and work full time”. These are all valid reasons to hesitate and it is important not to downplay the time and dedication which homeschooling requires.
Remember that one of the benefits of homeschooling is the flexibility it offers. It can be as intense or relaxed as you wish. You do not have to complete school in a conventional time period, meaning you do school when it is convenient for your schedule.
Families determined to homeschool create strategies to make it work.
2. Lifestyle Change
This is a big one. Yes, it is true that life will not be the same. Homeschooling is a tremendous change for everyone involved. Your child will be home more, and you will not have the school hours to work, relax, or keep house the way you had before.
Only you can decide if this is right the choice for your family. Many families are pleased to discover that in many ways, the benefits and rewards of homeschooling far outweigh the sacrifices. Childhood is but a precious, fleeting time span; in the blink of an eye your children will be grown. Time spent making memories together truly is priceless.
3. Cost
Homeschooling can be done for as much or as little expense as you wish. Some families choose a full-service curriculum which offers teacher or tutor assistance, DVDs, or online streaming with full art and science experiment packages. These can be quite pricey.
On the other hand, multiple free and low-cost options are available if you know where to look. Using these resources, families are able to offer their children a complete curriculum at minimal out of pocket expense.
Some families have been pleasantly surprised to discover homeschool costs them less money than institutional learning. Back to school clothes, gym shoes, uniforms, and backpacks are typically unnecessary for home education. School supplies can be shared rather than purchased individually for each child.
4. Lack of Socialization
I include this point not because it is true, but because it is one of the most cited reasons for dissing homeschool.
Years ago homeschool was viewed as a fringe movement, something done by radical parents who shunned mainstream society. Homeschooled kids were often considered weird or different, even if they weren’t.
Decades later, homeschooling has become an increasingly popular educational choice. As more children complete homeschool programs, the misinformation and stigma once associated with it has, for the most part been debunked and dismissed.
Abundant evidence demonstrates that home educated kids are creative, intelligent, well-adjusted, and productive members of society.
5. Lack of Support
It is a fact you may face opposition and negativity from family and friends. Usually this is due to lack of knowledge or fear of the unknown. Consider pointing them to data and research to support your choice.
Keep this in mind, unless they have experienced it or thoroughly researched homeschool themselves, take their comments with a grain of salt. Whatever the reason, don’t allow their feelings undermine your confidence. You know in your heart what is best for your family.
I hope this list provides you with some clarity and answers regarding the decision to homeschool. Should you decide to homeschool and it is not working, don’t give up too quickly. Communicate with your child. Evaluate what can be done differently. A simple change such as length of classes, teaching method, or curriculum selection may make all the difference.
Useful Homeschool Products
To Teach Kids to Tell Time
Blue Light Blocking Glasses
Pencil Sharpener
citation: *Chris Weller, September 3, 2015 There’s a New Path to Harvard and It’s not in a Classroom, Business Insider, accessed 8-24-2021
