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