Why Do People Home School Their Children?

Of course in America there are many options toto day. Modeled for them is academics balanced
educating our children. There are public schools,with real life chores; caring for a sick friend or
private schools, charter schools, Montessorineighbor, shoveling the driveway and walkway,
schools and, of course, the option of homedoing the grocery shopping and dropping of the
schooling. There are advocates of both homedry cleaning, cooking dinner while folding laundry,
schooling and public schooling. Those of us whoputting laundry away and talking on the phone
don’t home school, which is still the majoritywith Aunt Sara. These are real life situations that
of Americans, need to fully understand thehome schoolers are exposed to and public school
reasons why people choose to home school theirchildren are often sheltered from or are privy to
children.a controlled school environment.
Religious or Philosophical Convictions:Academics:
Religion is not permitted in the public schools. ManyHome schoolers have several advantages over
families feel that religion needs to be a larger partpublicly schooled children. The curriculum is
of their child’s education than that which thedesigned specifically for them – not for
public schools allow.children their age and what children at a particular
People who have deep religious beliefs show greatage are expected to know and learn. Public
passion. These are the individuals who areschools differentiate instruction the best they can.
passionate about their children’s education andHowever, a home-schooled child has a curriculum
feel that only they are able to teach them to thetailored to their needs. They may read at a 4 th
best of their ability and the content that they feelgrade level, spell at a 3 rd grade level and
they should be learning. The home schoolingcomplete math at a 6 th grade level.
parent is in charge, they call the shots and theyA home-schooled child is neither rushed nor not
like it that way.given enough time. There are no other children to
Socialization:"keep busy" so they are free to work at their
Some people that don’t understand homepace and move as quickly or as slowly as need
schooling believe that it is confining rather thanbe.
socializing. But those individuals that believe thatMuch research has been done on how children
are stuck in thinking about the stereotypicallearn best. A home-schooled child is not only
socialization of an age-based classroom. Childrentaught by the person who knows them best in
that are home schooled are exposed to socialthe entire world but also since they are the only
situations in a mixed age range. They havestudent, the learning style never has to be varied.
"age-mates" instead of "class-mates".If a student learns best through music, then the
Many home schoolers feel that their children needcurriculum of a home-schooled child can be tailored
to be exposed to the appropriate ways toto meet their needs so they will be more
behave not inappropriate. They feel that their childsuccessful.
should be exposed to the model behavior ofHome-schooled children get to spend more quality
people who have learned to make decisions andtime as a family. They are not trapped in a
handle themselves in various social settings. Bytraditional school setting for 6 hours a day but are
being exposed to appropriate modeling of socialfree to spend quality time as a family every day.
behavior, home-schooled children will learn how toIt is said that parents are a child’s first
act appropriately.teacher. Families that home school want to
Parents of home schooled children can also seecontinue to be their child’s teacher because
when their child "gets-it" when they model for athey feel that their children need the guidance of
younger child appropriate behavior.their family and God and not the guidance of
Home-schooled children get a reality based socialsomeone hired to do a job that is naturally theirs
lesson. On a daily basis they see adults theyfrom the day their child was born.
know, love and trust manage and balance life day