Getting an education at home is the most ancient form of system that originated long before the proper schooling system was established. For many centuries, homeschooling has been the only way to gain extensive knowledge. This was accessible only to wealthy, well-to-do families who were able to pay for the services of a private teacher. Parents who had free time and relevant knowledge and skills to teach a child at home also used to prefer home-schooling.
The need for homeschooling is determined by several factors – the lifestyle of parents and the characteristics of the child. A family from a megalopolis, in which both father and mother work from nine to five, could never think to transfer a child to an external study – to hire a teacher in all subjects is quite difficult. For this form of study, you need a professional teacher who can allocate at least five hours a day to teach a child. The professional also has to stay connected with an educational institution and conduct independent lessons.
History and Stereotypes
In previous generations, homeschooling was only possible for children with disabilities. To the children who could not move freely or suffer from any psychological diseases, school teachers used to come to the house daily and conducted individual classes.
The rest of the students went to school to receive secondary education on a common basis. For the last few decades, anyone who wants to study has the right to officially study without leaving home. Now home school tutoring has become a fashionable trend – many parents choose to educate their children at home now.
Homeschooling is the best option for families who have to travel a lot; move from city to city, live abroad, and live in small remote villages far from schools. Individual lessons are essential for severely ill children. The same goes for students with autism, ADHD, or limited opportunities adopted by children with severe pedagogical neglect. Temporary homeschooling (for one academic year) is part of rehabilitation after severe stress and psycho-trauma, dangerous diseases, etc. In some situations, it makes sense to transfer a gifted child with autistic personality traits to an external study. Individual schooling at home is not suitable for sociable and active extrovert kids.
Reasons Why Parents Transfer Their Children to Homeschooling:
- Unwilling to entrust the stranger to educate their children.
- Protecting the baby from physical and moral pressure at school.
- The desire to give knowledge to the son or daughter on their own, as they see fit.
- Dis-satisfaction with the quality and level of schooling and education in school.
Types of Home-schooling
Home-based Training
Daily, school teachers visit the child’s house and teach subjects individually. This form of education is possible with the mutual concern of the parent and children. In some cases, medical issues may force to adopt this method of education.
External Studies
The student learns at a convenient pace. The parent also contributes to helping children in passing exams at school. You can complete a two-year course in one year. An independent study at home with exams and tests without attending school is possible by an agreement with the school management.
Non-whining
Parents do not interfere in the learning process of their children, but they only help with certain issues. The child independently obtains knowledge according to his special style.
With any form of home-schooling, the student is obliged to come to school twice a year and take the exams. In such a case, the student will be able to get a certificate of completion of secondary education.
Distance Education
It is the training via the internet, for example connecting with teachers on Skype, facetime or any other media sources. The students complete their homework and teachers coordinate with the student online.
Note: Before deciding to transfer your precious child to homeschooling, consider all pros and cons. As a parent, you need to carefully weigh all the circumstances and decide whether this model of education will benefit the child.
Pros of Home-schooling
Teachers and Parents Remain Updated
During the studies, the teacher or parent understands what are the strong area of the child and what are his weak areas in his studies. As a result, the student stands out by higher academic performance and quality of knowledge.
Ability to Master the School Curriculum in Less Than Ten Years
Home-schooling also saves valuable time. As a result, the students have more time for visiting museums, theaters, exhibitions, etc. Ultimately, the ten-year program can be completed in a shorter time.
The Ability to Study Special Subjects Since Childhood
The home tuition or schooling provides the opportunity to study subjects that are not part of the curriculum at school. For instance, special subjects include ancient languages, architecture, art, etc. Such subjects do not only enhance the knowledge of the child but also build interest.
Ability to Live by a Natural Biological Clock
The ability to organize an individual can be scheduled by following the student’s biological clock. Such routine avoids unnecessary stress among the children. Consequently, such children are less likely to get sick. Besides, children learn when they want to and in a way that suits them.
The Ability to Control Moral and Ethical Standards
In the homeschooling system, the absence of conflicts with teachers, peers, and senior schoolmates make the children more confident and hardworking. Additionally, these parameters affect negatively on the children’s psyche. Moreover, a child in homeschooling is deprived of the evil influence of peers and unwanted companies.
Controls Extraneous Influence on Religious Beliefs
Education takes place in a particular traditional zone that empowers the religious beliefs of a child. This is something that every parent expects from their children. It is specifically important if a parent belongs to a religious community or ethnic minority. Extraneous influence on religious beliefs and criticism are excluded.
Close Contact Between Parents and the Children
You can have closer contact with children and can build close trusting relationships with them.
Cons of Home-schooling
Lack of Communication With Peers
Many people may object to the homeschooling method but the child is not completely isolated. Besides, the child stays social with relatives, neighbors, and friends. He also goes to shops, visits sports complex, and other public places.
Hyper Protection Can Affect Negatively
Constant monitoring and over-protection can lead your children to infantilism and selfishness. Also, your children will lack decision power.
When a Parent is Not Organized in all Fields
A parent who controls a son or daughter must be a very organized person. It is because he is responsible for his child’s education, upbringing, and development. Not every adult can competently, professionally, and effectively organize the education of children outside of school.
Admit the Fact
Unfortunately, parents cannot educate their children professionally. Moreover, they find it difficult to answer all the questions that their children ask them. This is possible only if the parent has ample knowledge of the school curriculum. It is really hard to find such parents who have a high level of knowledge.
A Group of Teachers Can Teach Better Than a Single Parent Can
The knowledge which is conveyed to a child by his several teachers can never compete with the knowledge provided by a parent. It does not matter what qualities, experience, and wisdom a parent has.
The Child Does Not Receive Socialization, the Experience of Interaction With the Team
The child assumes that he is not like other students. Consequently, he starts to feel deep down and like a black sheep. Lack of experience with classmates and teachers affects communication when the student grows. In his own family, he gets used to increasing attention, love, and irreplaceable person. Once in a lifetime, perhaps in a higher educational institution, at work, or in the army, he faces a harsh reality. He would realize that the real world is entirely different from the one he was living in. He would miss out on the friendships he could have made if he attended a school. The social circle a child forms at an early age is quite important for social development. Besides, he would also miss out on those special things like graduation regalia (like what Jostens offer) and going out with friends to celebrate their success.
Inability to Learn From Other People’s Mistakes
Children going to a school learn better than learning at home. It is so because in school the child observes other children, how other children share things, analyzes their behavior, divides actions into right and wrong, and learns to recognize lies, insincerity, and hypocrisy. Adults who oppose home-schooling argue that it is impossible to explain a child about the real world while staying home.
Conclusion
Almost a decade ago there was no alternative option for schooling. The school education was mandatory and very few students managed to attend schooling at home. For example military students, children participating in the country’s sports event and children in the entertainment industry were allowed to get homeschooled. All the rest regularly sat out in school to attend their classes. After the evolution in the educational sector, a law was passed that any child can willingly get home-schooled and take the exams externally. Therefore homeschooling quickly gained popularity among parents.
In the end, it all depends on what you want and what is best for your child. A children’s education is the most important building block in his career. So you have to weigh all the pros and cons of homeschooling before taking any decision.