| Home schooling refers to the education of children | | | | 3. There is no peer pressure or bullying so |
| at home, usually with the parents as teachers. Not | | | | students can feel completely at ease and not |
| many people realize that over one million children | | | | have to compete with other students or be |
| worldwide receive their schooling in this manner. In | | | | ridiculed for not doing well. They can dress |
| some countries of the world, such as Germany, it | | | | however they want, such as staying in the PJ's all |
| is illegal and the law requires parents to send their | | | | day if they want. |
| children to a government approved school. | | | | 4. For many families that home school their |
| Although many parents like the idea of educating | | | | children, their religious beliefs are important to |
| their children at home where they have control | | | | them and are part of the curriculum, which is not |
| over the material the children are exposed to and | | | | the case in the public school system. |
| the use of different teaching practices, they are | | | | 5. When the children and parents interact with |
| reluctant to engage in this type of education for | | | | each other through homeschooling, there is a |
| many reasons. They may feel that they are not | | | | closer family relationship. |
| qualified to do so, they probably cannot afford to | | | | 6. Families can cope better during times of |
| have one parent at home and not in the | | | | hardship or emotional instability because all the |
| workforce or they may feel that others will look | | | | children are at home and can help share any of |
| down on them for rejecting the public school | | | | the burdens. |
| system. | | | | 7. Children don't have to engage in busy work just |
| Homeschooling is very popular today and is | | | | to keep occupied. When they finish one subject |
| growing every year. Parents who are considering | | | | they can move on to the next subject or even |
| making this choice about their children's education | | | | take a break from the school work. |
| should carefully evaluate the pros and cons of this | | | | Cons of Homeschooling: |
| method of schooling before making a rash | | | | 1. It is often difficult to set a timetable to cover |
| decision to accept or reject it. | | | | all the subjects of the curriculum with all the other |
| Pros of Homeschooling: | | | | things that happen at home each day. Parents |
| 1. Homeschooling offers children the freedom to | | | | have to make a concerted effort to set a |
| study topics of interest to them. Students who | | | | timetable for the children. |
| excel in the regular school system are often held | | | | 2. The parent that decides to take over the |
| back because of regulations that prevent them | | | | schooling of the children will not be able to |
| from completing the material for the next grade | | | | contribute to the family's finances. This is one |
| as soon as they complete the previous one. This | | | | aspect of homeschooling that does hinder many |
| restriction does not exist when children are | | | | from taking this step. |
| schooled at home. The basics are covered no | | | | 3. It can sometimes be nerve wrecking when |
| matter what the age of the child and there is a | | | | parents are with the children 24 hours day. This |
| prescribed curriculum of outcomes that must be | | | | may also be detrimental to the children when |
| covered for each subject area. | | | | they don't have a break from their parents at all. |
| 2. Children who are homeschooled have more | | | | 4. Children that are homeschooled do not have |
| physical freedom than those who have to sit in a | | | | the interaction with other students as they would |
| classroom all day. They are free to move about | | | | in a regular classroom. They do not have the |
| and eat while they complete their schoolwork. | | | | opportunity to work in groups, be involved in |
| The day does not revolve around the clock with | | | | discussion and hear differing points of view. They |
| bells ringing to announce the start of classes. | | | | also have limited opportunity to become involved |
| Parents can take the children on field trips at any | | | | in team sports. |
| time without having to get permission. | | | | |