| Imparting education to children at home, rather | | | | knowledge and information. |
| than in any educational institution, is referred to as | | | | For families living in remote areas or abroad, |
| home schooling. Before the 19th century, when | | | | those who cannot access public schools or |
| schools were not considered an important | | | | libraries, the all-in-one curriculum has been |
| medium of education, majority of the children | | | | developed. It is inclusive of books on several |
| were educated at home. It has been observed | | | | subjects and all the other necessary materials |
| that home schooling is common with children | | | | required. Although these educational packages are |
| whose parents have not had any high school or | | | | quite expensive, they are comprehensive and |
| formal education and those who have single | | | | easy to use. Student-paced learning packages |
| parents or families with three or more children. | | | | allow the learner to progress at his own |
| Laws governing the home schools in different | | | | convenience and pace. |
| countries are different and so is the curriculum. | | | | Homeschoolers can also take advantage of |
| Parents of homeschoolers have different opinions | | | | various educational programs and workshops |
| on the methods to be used to teach their children. | | | | conducted by museums, parks and churches |
| Various tools and educational theories and | | | | within the community. Some parents also favor |
| philosophies like Classical education, Waldorf | | | | the un-schooling techniques at times. For some, |
| education, Charlotte Mason education and the | | | | home education may seem a costly affair. Just |
| theory of multiple intelligences or the Montessori | | | | like the reasons and methods of homeschooling |
| Method maybe implemented. | | | | vary, so do the costs. |
| While some parents believe in using a single | | | | Home schooling is widely accepted and prevalent |
| method, others use a combination of ideologies | | | | in countries like the USA, UK, Australia and New |
| and materials to serve their purpose. According to | | | | Zealand. These countries provide extensive |
| a survey, many of the parents were found using | | | | programs and facilities for home education. In |
| the public library as a major source of reference | | | | some places, educating children at home is not a |
| and curriculum, while educating their children at | | | | legal practice, while in others it is not socially |
| home. Others used catalogs and publishers | | | | acceptable. |
| specialized in homeschooling, books from local | | | | Studies indicate that the performance of |
| stores or religious institutions and established | | | | homeschoolers is far better than those educated |
| schools. Some parents use distance learning | | | | in institutions. The curriculum of the home school |
| programs via the media, Internet and | | | | often includes topics and subjects that are not |
| correspondence programs. | | | | otherwise taught in schools, but are beneficial in |
| Special tools and materials like workbooks and | | | | molding a more skilled and educated individual. |
| guides, focusing on skill building, are designed | | | | Some critics argue that home schooling deprives |
| specifically to teach subjects like math and | | | | the child of communication with the outside world. |
| reading. Another effective approach is the unit | | | | According to them, the concept of homeschooling |
| study method. It covers several subjects usually | | | | not only isolates the child from the rest of |
| taught at educational institutions, like science, | | | | society, but also restricts him from forming his |
| history, art, geography, Bible study, with | | | | own views and opinions. |
| reference to only one chosen theme. Gradually, as | | | | In most advanced nations of the world, |
| the childs age and performance progresses, the | | | | homeschooling is an easy option available for |
| subjects broaden his scope to incorporate other | | | | parents who seek quality education or simply |
| topics. It has been noticed that implementation of | | | | believe that a school cannot instill all the desired |
| this method helps children to retain more | | | | moral and social values in their children. |