| The whole home education movement began | | | | there are several very good curriculums |
| back in the sixties, with the hippies | | | | available specifically for home use that |
| rebelling against all things government | | | | are easy to follow both for student and |
| run, but since then, it has grown into a | | | | parent. As long as care is taken, there |
| legitimate method of schooling. In fact, | | | | is no need for social ineptness in the |
| home schooling has become so big that | | | | average home education student. There |
| colleges and universities now accept | | | | are a multitude of activities and |
| applications from children who have | | | | classes that children can take to |
| never been to school without question. | | | | provide them with a social experience. |
| But like any major decision involving | | | | In fact, many areas have home education |
| your child, you have to weigh the pros | | | | groups where families who home school |
| and cons before deciding if home | | | | get together for various activities. The |
| education is the right choice for you | | | | parents can discuss children and |
| and your family. | | | | teaching difficulties while the students |
| Over the years, home education has | | | | play games and sports and just generally |
| received a bad rap due to parents who | | | | interact with other young people their |
| keep their kids at home, but dont | | | | own age. |
| actually teach them anything. These | | | | While it is true that classes such as |
| children often emerge from the cocoon of | | | | phys. Ed. and science can be more |
| their home life as adults with severe | | | | difficult at home, there are ways around |
| disadvantages. They are not able to | | | | this. One way is to invest in lab |
| interact well socially and their | | | | equipment as a group, with several |
| knowledge of basic academic subjects is | | | | families pitching in to buy the required |
| very low. When people see this, they | | | | equipment. Also, many schools allow |
| assume that home education is not a good | | | | students from home educated families to |
| thing. Also, many people are against | | | | participate in just one class without |
| home education because they believe that | | | | problems. This depends on the school and |
| the school teachers are better equipped | | | | the area it is in, so its best to ask |
| to teach children than parents. The | | | | first. Home education can be a very |
| facilities in the school are better in | | | | rewarding venture for the right people, |
| many areas, particularly the lab and the | | | | but you do need to realize that it is |
| library. For obvious reasons, gym class | | | | not a vacation. Studying at home means a |
| is quite different in the school | | | | lot of hard work and less motivation, |
| environment as well. | | | | since you have only your own family to |
| However, not all home education is badly | | | | spur you on. |
| done. There are parents who are very | | | | For those who are not very disciplined, |
| well equipped to teach their children | | | | home schooling is not a good option. |
| and as long as they realize when they | | | | Weigh the choices, talk to other people |
| are out of their league, there is no | | | | who are already teaching their kids at |
| problem, as a tutor can be hired. Also, | | | | home and then make an educated decision. |