Public School or Home School?

Jonelle Eligio: Statistics and standardized test scores prove that homeschoolers are, in general, better educated than their public schooled peers. There are many false assumptions about how homeschooling works such as: only the very religious homeschool; the parents are the only ones teaching; the parent can't learn right along with the student; students can't learn something on their own...etc. There also seem to be the assumption that parents can't teach more than they know. If humans were incapable of learning beyond what their parents knew we would still be living in caves. Humans are curious by nature. It is the unnatural setting of public school that kills that natural desire.All research indicates that not only are homeschoolers generally just as well socialized and well adjusted, but that they also tend to participate in more social activities as children and adults. Research also shows that public schools are very often harmful to social skills and the ability ! to socialize. Homeschooling gives the chance to be around a wider variety of people. Homeschoolers are not limited to being around only those who live in the same school district and who were born in the same 12 month period. Instead, homeschoolers are free to be around people of all ages and who live within a larger area. There are so many ways to socialize beyond the box that is public school. Statistics show that the average homeschooler participates in 3x the number of extracurricular activities over their public school counterparts. Studies also show that homeschoolers are more active in their community not only when they are homeschooling but also once they enter college and/or the workforce. Students in traditional school settings are confined to a building/campus an average of 7.5 hrs a day 180 days a year with the same people day in and day out (often the same people for most of their years in school). In public schools they are segregated into groups by geographic! al area (with the exception of areas that have magnet schools,! open enrollment etc but that is a minority of areas). In both public and private schools, students are then further segregated into groups by age, and often times into smaller groups according to ability. Such segregation greatly limits the number of and types of people that those in traditional school can socialize with on a regular basis. Also, so much time is spent in school or involved in its activities (especially homework) that public and private school students spend the majority of their waking hours either n school or doing homework. Many don’t experience socialization outside of public school because they do not have the time.The biggest benefit for us is freedom: The freedom to learn what, when, where and how it suits each of my children; The freedom to take a vacation when we want to; The freedom to attend family functions 700 miles away without having a school report the children as truant.; The freedom to let children enjoy childhood instead of being rushe! d into schedules, or rushed into acting older than they are.My general "go to" list of pros and cons for our family are: Individualized education that can be custom fit the learning style and interests of each studentAbility to seek out more hands on/field-trip opportunitiesAbility to move at the speed that the student needs in each subject"School work" can be finished in much less time than a typical school day because of teacher/student ration, no wasted time on home-room, period changes etc.Lack of being bound by age/grade level/ school district, etcNot bound by the public school calendar for vacations, etc"School" can take place anywhere at any time.Socializing and socialization (which are 2 different things BTW) takes place in the real world, vs. the segregated setting of public school.Receiving an education instead of being schooledCons: Putting up with ignorant stereo-types spouted off by those who never learned to think outside of the public school box....Show more

Theresia Fashaw: Public school! Kids need to learn how to make fr! iends and deal with other kids

Porfirio Gartland: In a world as competitive as today, home school just doesn't cut it unless your willing to dedicate all your time into helping your daughter, and even then she wouldn't develop the social skill necessary to succeed. My opinion may be a little of since I live in an area with many of the best public schools in the nation, but even so the guns and whatnot is how the world really is, and the best preparation for the workforce and what will be best for your daughter is a good public school, as long as you emphasize how important studies are. In the end it's your decision though, so just choose whatever feels best for you. Hope this helps!!...Show more

Clare Hoard: Public school. It gives her the chance to interact with other kids and make friends. You cant be paranoid/over-protective and not let her go to school because of guns and bullying. How many times do kids actually bring guns to school. Also, wherever she goes! , there will ALWAYS be bullies, its human nature. So do your kid a favor and let them go to school with other kids. Kids who are home schooled a lot of times are very socially awkward because they don't interact with others. Not only should she go to public school but you should also push her to do a sport or join a club. In the long haul having her in public school as opposed to being home school will help her out a lot more in the long haul....Show more