To "Public School" or To "Home School" my Kid?
An Endless Debate
Public Schooling Vs. Home Schooling - Comparative Essay
A Fair Comparison - Pros and Cons
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ver the past few years, the debates between Education Systems has significantly increased due to the increasing awareness among Parents. Every parent wants to provide their child the best education they possibly could in an environment that is favorable for their excellent upbringing and learning. Parents tend to make choices for their upcoming generation on social beliefs and their experience. As Education is looked forward to as one of the basic elements for a bright future of a Child, it is natural for the Parents to have a strong concern about the quality of education their kids are getting and the environment in which they are brought up.
With all the discrete and distinct views about Education Systems, Parents are only left with two choices, which is either Public/Traditional Schooling or Home Schooling. Taking a Deeper Look into the pros and cons of both would hopefully make it easier for you to take the right decision for your little one.
WHAT IS HOMESCHOOLING?
Talking about Homeschooling, it is an alternative to Traditional Schooling where Parents believe in educating their child at home. Parents control the educational activities of Child and teach the Kid by themselves. They take all the responsibility to provide their Kid with all the necessary materials required, check their Educational Progress and Plan according to their upcoming learning needs.
WHAT IS TRADITIONAL SCHOOLING?
Traditional Schooling is the Education System, in which Majority of the Population believes and recognizes it as Proper Schooling. Both Public and Private Schooling are branches of Traditional Schooling where students are required to follow a specific code of conduct and decorum. The Students go to school where they share their Classrooms with their Fellows. They are taught by professional teachers who follow a formal Daily Lesson Plan and a School Timetable. While Most of the Public Schools educate the Students free of cost and are basically funded by Taxes, Private Schools tend to be a costly choice for Education as they charge approximately $60-80 thousand annually, and have a higher quality of Education.
STRENGTHS AND DRAWBACKS OF HOMESCHOOLING
Just Like all Systems, Homeschooling also has its own merits and demerits. The Reasons that Promoters and Admirers of Homeschooling provide, for their preference above Traditional Education Systems include:- Disliking of the methodology of Educating the Kids
- The Environment of Schools which may not seem suitable to parents for upbringing of their Kids
- Feeling Insecure in School Environment
- Disapproval of the Curriculum that is being taught at the Schools
- Disapproval of the Moral Values taught at the schools that may contradict with Family's Social, Emotional and most importantly, Religious Beliefs.
- Better Family Relationships and Stronger Parent-Child Bonding
- Students can Gear Up at their own pace allowing them to work around their Weaknesses
- Flexible Schedules of Studying
- Saving a Lot of Time, which would have been wasted in traveling or homework
- Total Freedom allowing Kids to act more maturely and improve management skills
- Less Paperwork, Assignments and Homework, Reducing the Pressure
- Parents are the One in Control, Choosing whats best for their Child
- Reduced Student to Teacher Ratio, Improving the Education Quality
- Learning for the Sake of Learning, Not Competition with Peers
- Parents Mold the Kids around their Moral, Social and Ethical Values.
- Little or No Extra-Curriculum Activities
- No Code of Conduct, Leading to Lack of Discipline in Kids
- Fewer Friends and Low Level of Socialization with the Peers and Age Fellows
- Unavailability of Professional and Trained Teachers
- May Get Costly and Expensive
DETAILED "COMPARISON" BETWEEN THE TWO
Although Homeschooling is thought to be a modern trend, it actually is the oldest Education system which is why it is the most reliable too. Many People tend to prefer Homeschooling over the Traditional Schools,
most probably, to save their Kids from the Hassle and Chaos caused by School
Routine.
Homeschooling System is gaining a lot of popularity due to its several advantages over Traditional Schooling System. Students can learn the same things as their fellows in Public Schools, but in a friendly environment at their home.
At Home schools, Students get the opportunity to learn at their own pace according to their intellectual level and don't get overburdened. Whereas, in case of Public Schools, the curriculum is designed keeping in view, an intellectual level of an average student, and kids on either extremes, are neglected. Parents can decide what suits best to their child and can design the curriculum accordingly. Unlike Schools, Parents can teach the subjects according to the interest and capabilities of the child
Homeschooling provides individual attention to the student by one-to-one teaching methodology and reducing teacher student ratio which in turn enhances the quality of education. The teacher (parent) gets aware about the strengths and weaknesses of the student and can assist them whenever needed. While the Kids are being educated, they also develop a strong bond with Parents and Siblings by spending extra time with them. Homeschooling enhances the Parent-Child Relationship by providing double bonding which is Parent-Child and Teacher-Child attachment. The Parents also try to create bonding of the child with their culture and religion while teaching them.
Students who are home schooled feel mentally relaxed as they have flexible schedules for studying and can focus more on learning rather than spending most of their time doing their homework and assignments. The lack of Competition and Grading System at Home also provides a lot of relief to the Kids. Kids tend to get more chances to test and
implement the knowledge they have gained, in their practical lives.Which is Why the home schooled Kids tend to become more mature as compared to their Peers, because of the freedom provided.
The Safer Atmosphere of Home gives a sense of relief to the parents. They have to worry less about their Kids, as they are under their own Supervision all the time. Parents don't feel insecure about their Kids, of being Sexually assaulted, Bullied, Physically Abused or getting a negative influence from bad company.
Although Homeschooling has so many positives, there always two sides of a coin, and that is why Homeschooling is not a sensible choice for Everyone. Homeschooling cannot provide the opportunities of Co-Curricular Activities such as Study Trips, Sports Festivals and Competitions. They have limited resources and Creating a whole school-like environment with Proper Lesson Plans and Schedules is easier said than done.
Unlike Public Schools, Home-schools are not bound to follow Schedules and Timetables which may lead to Lack of Discipline in Kids. Parents can not teach up to the level of Professional and Skilled Teachers at Schools and they might not be able to manage enough time for teaching their Kid which can significantly effect the Academic Progress of the Child. Both the Child and Parents might get lazy if there are no fixed times for Studying.
Home-schooled Kids are not able to properly socialize with their Peers because of being restricted to home environment which may serve as an obstacle to their success in there Practical Life and Career. Kids may become dependent and shy due to lack of exposure to the outer world and lack Problem Solving Skills. Additionally, they also lack the sense of Competition which is being developed at public schools which would not let them improve and grow in their field.
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