| Americans do not home-school their children. However, | | | | taught are being understood. They have a better ability |
| those who do, certainly have good reasons. Although | | | | to connect with their children to make certain the |
| there are advocates on both sides of this educational | | | | children understand the lesson and/or the value without |
| issue, it is important to understand why some parents | | | | continuing until the task is not only learned but also |
| choose to home-school their children. | | | | understood. |
| 1)Religious or Philosophical Convictions: | | | | Also, since home-schooled children are usually at |
| Since religion is no longer permitted in the public school | | | | home, they get a social lesson based on reality. Every |
| system, many home-school parents feel that their | | | | day they are surrounded by people they love and trust |
| children have been short-changed in this area. It is their | | | | who balance home-schooling and everyday life. The |
| wish to raise their children in an environment that not | | | | children’s academics are balanced with |
| only allows religion, but also embraces it. | | | | everyday occurrences: chores, caring for the sick, |
| Having deep religious beliefs, parents who home-school | | | | grocery shopping, cooking, and multi-tasking. These are |
| for religious reasons are a very passionate people. It is | | | | areas of a child’s life that may often go unseen |
| this passion that feeds their children’s | | | | or unnoticed by the children who attend public school. |
| educational needs. With the parent in charge, | | | | 3)Academics: |
| home-schooling can be based solely on religious | | | | The public school system must use the curriculum |
| activities if the parent so chooses. It is also this passion | | | | given to them by the state. However, home-school |
| that will allow the parents to teach their children to the | | | | parents are privy to a curriculum specially designed for |
| best of their abilities. Home-schooling allows the parent | | | | their children. A child’s age does not determine |
| to be in charge. | | | | what grade level he or she should be working on in the |
| 2)Socialization | | | | home-school environment. |
| The public school system appears to have allowed a | | | | While public schools determine that children of a |
| stereotype to be attached to home-schooled children. | | | | particular age should be working at a particular level, |
| This stereotype suggests that home-schooled children | | | | the home-schooled child can work at his or her own |
| are confined rather than social. In truth, home-schooled | | | | pace and complete the material without interruption. |
| children are exposed to a mixed age range instead of | | | | This is a great advantage over public education. This |
| a classroom based on age. People who do not | | | | tailored curriculum for home-schooled children allows a |
| understand the home-school plan also do not | | | | child to work on several different levels at the same |
| understand that the home-schooled student has much | | | | time without having to wait for other classmates to |
| more flexibility in being exposed to greater social | | | | catch up. This also prevents the home-schooled child |
| situations than can be allowed into a classroom. | | | | from falling behind. |
| Another issue surrounding the decision to home-school | | | | Research has been conducted on the best way for |
| is behavior. As a home-schooler, parents are able to | | | | children to learn. The teacher of a home-schooled child |
| expose their children to the behaviors they feel are | | | | is the person who knows them better than anyone |
| appropriate. In the public school systems, model | | | | else, while the public-schooled child is usually taught by |
| behavior has become a thing of the past. Inappropriate | | | | someone he or she doesn’t even know and |
| behavior in the public school systems has become the | | | | has never seen before. In whatever manner a child |
| norm. Therefore, it is absolutely understandable that | | | | learns best, the home-schooled parent can tailor the |
| any parent who is able to home-school would want to | | | | curriculum to meet their child’s need. |
| act as a positive role model for their children instead of | | | | 4)Family Time: |
| sending them off to a system which may ultimately | | | | Home-schooled children get to spend more quality time |
| teach them the art of cursing, back-talking, and overall | | | | with their families. The traditional school setting does |
| misbehavior. | | | | not allow for much family time, since the children are |
| Being able to work one-on-one on a daily basis with | | | | trapped in a public building for six or more hours a day. |
| their children, parents of home-schooled children can | | | | Home-schooled children are both at home and school |
| detect whether or not the lessons or values being | | | | on a regular basis. |