Once considered an extreme fringe of the education spectrum, home schooling is becoming a more popular choice for American families. The National Center for Education Statistics reports 1.5 million children were home schooled in 2007, up from 1.1 million in 2003. While home schooling can be a way to take control of your child's education, there are some things to consider before taking your child out of public or private school.
A Full-Time Job
The biggest downside to home schooling your child is that it is a full-time job. Many parents do not consider the work that teachers put into educating their children, and once you take your child out of class, all that work is yours, notes the website Home School Info. Home schooling is usually only suitable for families where one parent makes enough money for the other to stay home full-time; trying to juggle a job and your duties to your child can cause problems with both.
Cost
Another thing many parents fail to consider is the cost of education. Taxes fund the public school system, but if you school your child at home, all the expenses have to come out of the family budget. Books and other supplies, as well as the cost of field trips, can add up. Make sure you are prepared to cover the costs of educating your child, suggests Home School Info.
Expertise
Unfortunately, some parents are not suited to being teachers. A home school teacher must be able to cover all the subjects a child would normally learn in public school, even technical subjects like science and math, notes the Brookings website, a nonprofit public policy organization. Frankly consider your own knowledge level before deciding whether you are capable of teaching your child subjects in which you may not be an expert.
Socialization
One benefit of the public school system is it exposes children to a diverse group of peers. If you home school, you will need to take extra effort to give your child social opportunities to aid in his development and to expose him to situations that will teach him appropriate responses when he is an adult, writes Carol Moore on the Scholastic Parent website.
Scholarship Opportunities
Public schools offer children the chance to qualify for programs to pay for part of their college tuition, either through academic or sports scholarships. Home schooled children will not have access to these scholarships, notes Home School Info. If you are planning on home schooling your child throughout their academic career, ensure that you can meet their future financial needs.
References
- Home School Info: Cons of Home Schooling
- Education Commission of the States: Homeschooling
- Brookings: How Home Schooling Will Change Public Education
- Scholastic Parents: Why Homeschooling Isn't Right For Us
- National Center for Education Statistics: 1.5 Million Homeschooled Students in the United States in 2007
