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