As a parent, it is your responsibility to ensure that your children go into the world armed with the knowledge and skills that will prepare them to face and overcome any obstacle, not to mention lead successful and fulfilling lives. To that end you will impart many lessons, from how to talk and behave to observing proper hygiene to showing love and compassion for others. But when it comes to an academic education, most parents turn their kids over to the school system and take their chances. Of course, it’s not like schools are totally directionless; they do have set curriculums, standardized tests, and other measures in place to ensure that your kids progress through grade levels and learn what they need to in order to graduate and make it to college. However, you might worry about the education your kids will receive and the social influences they’ll be exposed to in public school, especially with all the budget cuts of late. Private schools may offer a better education, but they’re pretty spendy. Is there another option?
Home schooling is not something that many parents consider, but this is likely because most parents have full-time or part-time jobs in order to support their household. However, if you are a stay-at-home parent that isn’t working, you may want to consider what can be gained by schooling your kids at home, at least for a portion of their K-12 education. For starters, you will have a lot more influence over what your kids learn when you opt to teach them yourself. While you will still have to ensure that they are up to par on core subjects (English, math, science, and history), you likely have some latitude when it comes to extras like music, art, literature, languages, mechanics, woodworking, technology, or whatever other subjects you think may interest or benefit your children. This is a big draw for parents who fear that their kids are not only receiving a lackluster education where core subjects are concerned, but that the scope of “extras” offered is woefully narrow. Of course, there are some issues you’ll have to address before you get started.
First and foremost, you must find out the legalities surrounding home schooling. The regulations regarding this type of schooling vary from state to state, so you really need to check in with the school board before you simply yank your kids out of their regular classes. In some cases you will need a college degree or teaching certificate in order to qualify (although not always). And you will have to meet certain academic criteria in most states, which generally means your kids must be able to pass approved testing for their grade level. You might even have to provide lesson plans to the state board in order to prove that your kids are getting the same education as (or better than) they would receive in a public institution. And unfortunately, you won’t get paid for any of this. In fact, it is just the opposite; you’ll not only find yourself on the hook for the same tax money to pay for the public school resources that your kids aren’t using, but you’ll also have to pay out of pocket for all the school supplies and textbooks you use in your home.
So there are definitely drawbacks. However, a devoted parent can offer kids something that schools cannot: one-on-one attention. At some point you may have to concede that the limits of your own education make you unsuitable to continue teaching your kids (like when they get to calculus, for example). But children that are home schooled tend to be more academically advanced and have a more well-rounded education overall, so as long as you can provide the individual attention and guidance your kids need, you should consider doing it. It will all be worth it when each child obtains a business, medical, or environmental law degree someday.
This is a guest post written specifically for this site. Opinions expressed are of the author.
