What are the pros and cons of homeschooling?

-I am considering switching to homeschooling from a public school. I'm in 10th grade so I'll be homeschooled for 11 and 12thPros:

Individualized education that can be custom fit the learning style and interests of each student

Ability to seek out more hands on/field-trip opportunities

Ability 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 etc.

Not 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.

Cons:

Putting up with ignorant stereo-types spouted off by those who never learned to think outside of the public school box.





All research indicates that not only are homeschoolers well socialized and well adjusted, but that they also participate in more social activities as children and adults. Research also shows that public schools are 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.



There also seem to be the assumption that parents can't teach more then they know. There are many false assumptions about how homeschooling works such as: 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. 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.

Statistics and standardized test scores prove that homeschooling works. Homeschoolers consistently score higher than their public school peers. When homeschoolers are broken down into categories by their parents鈥?education levels, the children of school teachers/those with degrees in educational fields score slightly lower that the average for homeschoolers. While no one knows for certain why this is the case, it is believed that 鈥渢rained teachers鈥?are more likely to insist that a student bend to fit the curricula instead of bending the curricula to fit the student鈥檚 needs. Most former school teachers that homeschool will tell you that their schooling got in the way of being an effective homeschool parent.



Many homeschoolers take AP and/or college courses during high school. It is very common for a homeschooler to graduate high school with 1-2 years of college credits. This is usually due to dual enrollment at a local community college or by taking CLEP exams.

There are many ways to meet friends and to be active while homeschooling such as:

Take up a new hobby or expand on a current one

Volunteering

Join a homeschool co-op

Join a homeschool social group

Join the YMCA, YWCA, Boys Club/Girls Club

Take classes through the local recreation center or private studio such as: sports, dancing, martial arts, art etc

Learn to play a musical instrument

Book Clubs

Scouts

Activities through your church/synagogue/mosque/coven etc



It is really sad that those who have bought into the myths and stereo-types are unable to think beyond the literal and figurative box of public school. They do not realize that the reason all their childhood memories and friends come from school is because they spent the majority of their waking hours from the ages of 5-18 in public school or involved in its activities. They assume that friends and childhood memories can only come from public school because sadly that is the only experience they have. They have been duped into believing that public school equals the real world yet they fail to realize that nowhere else in life other than prison is one鈥檚 life so controlled by others. In school you can't even take a drink of water or use the restroom without the permission of someone else.Please read the answer above. It really makes sense. I'm homeschooling my kids and I cannot find any cons..... well, other than I get wets kisses from my kids all throughout the day. But, wait, that is a pro!



Goodluck and have fun homeschooling!!!