School? At Home?

With the recent realization that public school systems may not be offering the highest-quality education they advertise, families have begun taking their students out and homeschooling them.

Often, parents believe that they know best and that it’s easy enough to teach their son or daughter whatever is necessary for them to be successful later on in life.

Homeschooling offers a range of flexible options. The most common approach is for parents to take on the role of educators, using either a purchased curriculum or their own knowledge.

Alternatively, families can opt to hire a private teacher, a seasoned professional with a wealth of subject knowledge and a variety of curriculum at their disposal.

For those seeking a more structured approach, online programs provide video lectures and tutorials on all required subjects.

While public education may not be what it used to be, is homeschooling a viable alternative? It’s crucial to consider all the different types of homeschooling. In the first scenario, where the parents take on the role of educators, the assumption is that the child's parents are competent teachers.

But what if that’s not the case?

What if these parents happen to be ineffective teachers, and their child learns nothing? Teaching is a complex skill, and to expect that parents could simply purchase an Algebra 2 teacher edition and teach their fifteen-year-old how to solve for X is not realistic. There are instances where retired teachers will choose to homeschool their children, but that isn’t always the case, and leaving your children’s education to chance is not advisable.

One-on-one or small-group teaching is almost always ideal in any situation.

But is it a realistic replacement for public education?

That mostly depends on the quality of the teacher. For one-on-one sessions, a high-quality private teacher could be up to $8,000 a month. A lower-quality teacher with less experience would charge far less. If you have the money to pay a private teacher, then by all means, go ahead, but most Americans don’t have an extra $8,000 lying around. The private teacher is mainly for the rich and famous of society.

Online school has been an option for years, but it has become more prevalent since COVID-19 forced students to stay home. Many families thought it best to continue their students' education online. Not only are students now missing out on vital social interactions, but they are also not getting a quality education.

Anyone who has taught during the pandemic knows strictly online education is unsuitable for students. If the online knowledge students get is through videos and online worksheets, the knowledge retention is far lower than in a classroom. Not to mention, in a school, you have the added benefit of real-time feedback from a teacher. Online students don’t get the benefit of a real-life teacher. Sure, a teacher may check their work at some point, but not in a proper classroom where the feedback can be immediate.

Homeschooling can be highly advantageous if the right approach is taken. The parents of the student must be intentional in the ways they homeschool. They should prioritize socializing with the children, addressing one of the main concerns against homeschooling.

Often, individuals who have been homeschooled for the majority of their education are unfairly labeled as awkward and lacking in social skills. However, with the right strategies, homeschooling can foster strong social connections and a well-rounded education.

All this to say that homeschooling is a viable option if the proper steps are taken.

It’s important to remember that the student's needs are the most important considerations when deciding how to proceed with their education.