| o;s hard to believe that just 25 years ago home | | | | Some are ready to read at a younger age than |
| schooling was almost unheard of. Today there are | | | | others the same as some are ready for |
| millions of children learning at home, and the | | | | arithmetic at a younger age than others. |
| number increases each year. | | | | It does not mean those who are ready at a |
| Why are so many families choosing to teach their | | | | younger age are smarter than the others. There |
| children at home? Does it require a special degree | | | | are home school graduates at Harvard who did |
| or something? Can anyone do it? These are the | | | | not learn to read until they were ten or older. But |
| questions that will be answered here. | | | | by learning at home these students were given |
| Some families choose home schooling because it | | | | the wonderful opportunity to learn at their own |
| gives the parents control over what the children | | | | speed, whether that meant finishing high school by |
| are taught. This might offend some people, but it | | | | 14 or 15, or not beginning formal academics until |
| is what our country was founded on: freedom. If | | | | they are 10. |
| the government is allowed a monopoly in | | | | Thankfully there are places in the world where |
| education they will be free to completely control | | | | anyone can teach their children at home. In the |
| what children are taught. If carefully considered, | | | | United States all 50 states allow anyone to teach |
| that is a frightening thought. | | | | their children at home. |
| Another reason parents have chosen to teach | | | | However, not everyone should home educate |
| their children at home is that children naturally | | | | their children. It requires a fair amount of patience |
| learn better under a tutor system of learning. If | | | | and persistence. Also, the parent needs to be able |
| one adult is teaching one to six children the | | | | to enjoy being with their children all day, as well |
| children will learn better than if they are in a | | | | as enjoying all the mess it can create. It is kind of |
| classroom of 30 children with one adult. Some | | | | like experiencing summer vacation all year long in |
| people might disagree, but the studies show that | | | | that the children are always home. |
| the more personal attention a student gets the | | | | It also requires a certain degree of dedication and |
| better they learn. | | | | the ability to be calm. It helps if the parent can |
| There are also parents who want their children to | | | | model a love of learning, can make learning fun, |
| be able to learn at their own speed. It has been | | | | and can relax and enjoy this time with their |
| shown that children learn at different rates. Any | | | | children instead of feeling pressured to produce a |
| parent and teacher will agree with that statement. | | | | bunch of Thomas Edison’s. |