In the case of where we live, which is a pretty wealthy area that has plenty of schools, it's a matter of wanting to raise your kids at a young age in a certain environment, allowing them to excel in areas that they are good at and get ahead of the curve. When you are in an area with less money for the schools it is also a matter of making sure your child is being taught.
We aren't planning on keeping our kids at home for high school because I don't feel that I could offer them the kind of knowledge they would need in many areas.
One of the cons used to be the lack of contact with other kids, which causes the "they are definitely homeschooled" kids
But that's just not so anymore if you do it right. There are so many ways for homeschool kids to get together with other public and homeschoolers. And I think it's great that public schools are allowing them to play sports as well. Tim's brother has 4 kids and they have all been taught by their mom (except the oldest is taking a high school art class and community college courses now) and they are some of the most well adjusted kids I've met. You don't have to isolate your kids in order to homeschool, and they don't have to turn out really weird, which is what I think a lot of people imagine when you mentioned a homeschooler
And I've known some really weird ones
Unless you have really crappy schools, which is why I ended up schooling myself for the last 3 years of high school in Oregon, it really comes down to wanting to allow your child to work at a pace that is comfortable to them, having that one on one time, and using their earlier years to help shape their character instead of hoping that they are getting good guidance at a public school. A reason that you see a lot of Christian parents homeschooling their kids is that the earlier years are a very core shaping years, and they feel that the public schools just don't offer the same guidance that they would like for their child. I guess you would call that 'religious freedom', but that sounds kind of over the top. You might say, well, can't you teach your child values and good behavior when they aren't in school? But by the time they are home from school, going to baseball practice, eating a snack, being forced to do their homework, having dinner, watching TV...there just isn't the same time you would have if they were at home during the day under your care.
A con of homeschooling is that your child may lose out on some really great teachers in the school system, or some of the extra activities that they do in public school. But you can have co-ops with other parents who are specialized in certain subjects, and you can do a lot of fun stuff with your kids that they can't do in school. Not to mention that field trips are a lot easier
Another con would be that your kids are there ALL the time. Which is actually what I've listed as a pro as well
So basically it comes down to a possibly more efficient way for your child to learn and excel, more family time, and more freedom.
Homeschooling is not for everyone. Some kids really need to be out doing something all the time, some parents just don't have the freedom to stay home with their kids to teach and many other reasons, but for those that it works for I think it is a great opportunity. I was in public and homeschool in young and older ages and I can honestly say that the emotional burden was much lighter in homeschool because you don't have all the social pressure on you, it was nice being able to work at my own pace and forge ahead, the activities and field trips were way more fun because it wasn't so much a corporate thing but a group of families getting together to do something fun, and the friendships I made were deeper than those I made in public school. My parents didn't teach me though, so I never got that one on one time, but the people I schooled with were taught by their parents and there was a great bond and level of respect between them. It made me wish sometimes that I could actually spend some time with my dad.
Okay, that's my speech
I hope it answers a few questions. I'm not the oracle on the subject. Parents who actually go through this every day could tell you more than I can.
Angela Harlem said:
Please dont think I'm trying to have a go at you, I'm genuinely interested in why you've picked homeschooling. I dont know a great deal about it, having grown up near only a Korowal and one Steiner, which were the only alternative teaching school in my little bush commune.
We need to pick a school next year for '08, and if it weren't for our government's ratings manual which is published yearly, I'd have no clue where to even start.
So what's the pros and cons, if you dont mind me asking?