| The objective of homeschool families is to | | | | learning. |
| produce lifelong learners. Over 2 million | | | | Many critics of homeschooling claim that |
| homeschool families are giving their children an | | | | withdrawing children from classroom learning will |
| excellent education while also instilling sound values | | | | hinder their socialization skills. Nothing could be |
| and enriching their family lives. Homeschooling is a | | | | further from the truth, as homeschool families are |
| way of life where family is central and children | | | | heavily involved with each other and have peers |
| clearly revere and have respect for their parents. | | | | of all ages, which gives them a greater level of |
| One of the primary reason why families decide to | | | | poise and social ease. Homeschooling is like a little |
| homeschool is a general dissatisfaction and | | | | sub-culture where family comes first with a new |
| disappointment with the academic standards | | | | definition of family time, and where the bonds |
| offered in the public schools. Many homeschool | | | | between parent and child come before those of |
| families feel that public schools have become a | | | | society. Homeschool families gain an unexpected |
| toxic brew that are totally infested with politically | | | | richness to their lives that is priceless. Many |
| correct thought which hinders free speech, and | | | | homeschool families have far more education and |
| historically incorrect textbooks which promote | | | | creativity than they do money, which just adds |
| liberal agendas, topped off with low-caliber and | | | | to the fun of being highly resourceful in order to |
| indifferent teachers who only inspire apathy. Even | | | | meet the developmental needs and educational |
| the students themselves can see that educational | | | | requirements of their homeschool students. |
| standards have been lowered and dumbed down | | | | The approaches vary. Some parents lay out |
| to a mind-numbing level. | | | | lesson plans ahead of time; some lean more |
| Homeschool sure sounds like a good idea, but how | | | | toward the 'unschooling' philosophy, in which the |
| do homeschool students measure up academically | | | | interests of the students shape and lead the |
| to their counterparts in public school? Statistics | | | | learning process. Some homeschool families have |
| show that the average homeschool student is | | | | their children take an annual standardized test, |
| testing four grade levels above public school | | | | while some are content without those scores. |
| students. In addition, homeschool students across | | | | Many homeschool families use the various |
| the nation test higher on standardize tests than | | | | possibilities as an educational smorgasbord, |
| their public school counterparts. The success of | | | | switching from traditional schools to independent |
| homeschooling is often attributed to the fact that | | | | study programs to unschooling as needs dictate. |
| homeschool students have the benefit of | | | | Some homeschool families use the state guidelines |
| spending as much or as little time as needed on | | | | for what students are expected to be learning, |
| mastering subject material. Freeing up time allows | | | | while other parents let the learning process evolve |
| for the pursuit of personal interests such as | | | | in a more organic fashion, with 'unschooling', or the |
| playing musical instruments or developing physical | | | | idea that kids learn best when studying what |
| skills, such as sports or martial arts.The flexibility | | | | they're interested in. The objective of |
| and freedom of the homeschooling schedule allow | | | | homeschooling is to produce lifelong learners, and |
| students of all ages to pursue their interests and | | | | regardless of the motivations for, and approaches |
| gain a much deeper knowledge and understanding | | | | to homeschooling, it is clear that this is a |
| than they would if they were sitting in a | | | | movement whose time has come, and is here to |
| classroom and had only an allotted time for | | | | stay. |