Is Home Schooling Better Than Public School?

Which is better: home school or a more formal education? This question is undoubtedly one that sparks much debate. People tend to have very strong feelings on either side of the argument. The answer is more than just a simple yes or no, but since it is possible for the homeschooling situation to be better for some children than public school, I think the answer has to be yes. Is it the better choice across the board? Probably not. This "yes" answer only holds true under carefully planned and orchestrated conditions. I think the main concern that most people have with homeschooling is the lack of socialization that home-schooled children might experience. Knowledge is certainly the most important component of any education; but just knowing things does not necessarily create a successfully functioning person. Children need to interact with other children to learn key aspects of how the world really works. Personal experiences cannot be learned, they have to be experienced. Communication and interaction skills can greatly influence the rise or fall of even the smartest people.

Public school does provide an environment that will facilitate a great deal of interaction with other children and adults. This is very valuable practice for children in early stages of life. In order to be a successful, well rounded individual it is safe to assume that communicating and working with others is going to be an essential skill to master. The problem that a lot of parents who choose to home school have with public school is that there is no way to know who your kids are spending their time with. This might not have been such a big deal 25 or 30 years ago, but today I think we can all admit that things have changed.Kids are faced with a lot just walking through the door at school and socializing with a "bad crowd" is certainly not going to be beneficial for your child. The implication that home-schooled children are somehow deficient in developing social skills is an unfair stereotype. There are numerous programs and groups for home-schooled children that meet and provide group activities and learning situations. Many public schools also allow home schooled children to participate in extracurricular activities such as sports and clubs. This allows parents the opportunity to monitor the children that their kids interact with rather than just throwing them into a sea of kids who they know nothing about. For many parents there is a also a fear for their childs safety when you talk about sending them to public school, and who can blame them with incidents like the Columbine school shooting still fresh in everybodys minds. How many parents wish their children were not at school that day after something like that happens?The quality of education that children receive while being home schooled is another area of concern. I agree with this on many levels. Not everyone is equipped to teach their own children. As I said earlier it takes dedication, planning, and organization. You can obtain curriculum information from the public school system and follow the same educating schedule and guidelines that public school teachers follow. I think it is important that we all keep in mind that our public education system, when compared to that of other countries, is not very impressive. The personal attention that home-schooled children are given coupled with the ability to move through their studies at their own pace seem like they can be huge advantages over many of the overcrowded public schools in the United States.

I think it is worth mentioning Christopher Paolini. He is a young man who was able to graduate from home schooling when he was 15 years old. He started writing his first book entitled, "Eragon" which he self-published before it was picked up for publication by Random House and later optioned for a successful movie. I have personally seen him in an interview and he was not the least bit awkward or shy. He is obviously one of the more notable home school success stories, but I am sure that there are many more.So the debate rages on. People on either side will continue to disagree with and criticize each other. I do not think there is a universal answer here. The success of homeschooling is hugely dependent on the commitment of the parents to provide a quality education coupled with a structured learning environment. Parents who home school also need to consider the socialization of their children to help them to develop communication skills and personal real life experiences. If it is done right I do believe that homeschooling can be far more beneficial to children than public school. On the other hand if it is not, I can see how it can be sheltering and socially crippling.