Student Teacher 36 | - ✏ Freelance Writer
Nov 07, 2019 | #1
Homeschooling (also known as "Home Education") has been a controversial topic in the United States in recent years. Homeschooling is essentially the concept that children and adolescents are taught at home by parents and tutors rather than attending private or public education institutions. Some argue that homeschooling is more effective in educating children with Special Needs or those who are Gifted and Talented for the simple reason that these children are either to challenged or not challenged enough by the education offered in either public or private institutions. Others argue that homeschooling is problematic because there are few regulations at either the state or national level to ensure that children are meeting state and national education standards. What regulation there is unreliable and enforcement and compliance with these regulations varies from state to state and when children fail in a homeschooling situation, public schools are often left to repair the damage. (Cox, CQ Researcher) Homeschooling can be beneficial to children who do not fit into the standard educational system however; regulations must be standardized at the national level and teaching and curriculum standards must be enforced in order to ensure that homeschooled children are being educated at the same level as children attending public schools.
Cox argues that homeschooling can be effective for some students. This is specifically true of students who may have either special needs or who may be highly intelligent. Homeschooling is a solution in this case because special needs children may experience social problems due to developmental delays or difficulty with schoolwork that is to challenging. Gifted and talented children may suffer similar problems as special needs children socially and may not be challenged academically. Cox discusses the example of Janet Liddle, a mother who home schools her children as a means of keeping her children intellectually challenged as well as a way to avoid dealing with long commutes back and forth to the local schools as Liddles' family lives in a rural area. Cox states that many parents also choose to homeschool their children as the result of poorly funded and understaffed local schools or because of their religious beliefs. (CQ Researchers).
Cox claims that more than 300,000 schoolchildren are currently homeschooled. However; this does not count parents who home school their children in states that do not officially recognize homeschooling as a viable option or students never registered in a public school. This is however; three times the number of students that were being homeschooled in 1999. Some states have implemented strong standards for homeschoolers and in some areas there are organized homeschooling groups that offer social experiences for homeschooled children. Those who support homeschooling claim that homeschooling is a positive experience for their children and that they have many educational opportunities that they would not have in a public school setting.
In contrast those that argue against homeschooling claim that homeschooling is not of any more benefit to children than public education. They state that while homeschooling may be successful in some cases for many children it leaves them isolated and unable to compete academically due to parents who are not qualified to education their children. This leaves schools to clean up the mess when poorly educated and socialized children return to the school system.
A second complaint against homeschooling is that it may be perceived as undemocratic. Cox argues that every child deserves a free public education. Another argument is that homeschoolers are not as well educated or as socially developed as children who attend public school. Socialization arguments are based on the idea that part of being educated as an elementary school or high school student is learning how to interact with others and homeschooled children in more rural areas do not have this type of exposure.
There are also other arguments against homeschooling. According to Cox one of the main arguments is that many states do not have specific curriculum standards for homeschoolers. Another major issue is that standards vary from state to state. There is very little reliability or continuity. This means that children who are homeschooler may vary in even the most basic academic skills depending on where they live.
While many have voiced their concerns about homeschooling the numbers of children being homeschooled the number of these children is increasing each year. Homeschooling groups are becoming more organized and more mainstream which in some ways has effectively dealt with issues surrounding reliable standards and regulations as well as socialization issues with homeschooled children. While there is a necessity for further work on standards, curriculum for homeschoolers, and ensuring children are well-socialized homeschooling is a viable alternative for special needs or gifted and talented children who may be bullied socially and either to academically challenged or not challenged enough in a public school setting.
It can be concluded, that there are no easy answers for the issue of homeschooling. Some claim that homeschooling is a positive thing designed to handle students who for one reason or another do not fit within the standard educational system. Others claim that homeschooling allows parents to have more control over what their children learn. Opponents of homeschooling argue that homeschooling is undemocratic and that homeschoolers lack the same standard quality of education as children who attend public schools. However; public schooling does work for children who for one reason do not fit into the public education system whether it be because they are special needs or gifted and talented, or because they are being bullied in the school. While stronger standards and regulations are needed for homeschooling more and more parents are seeing as an alternative to failing public schools.
Works Cited
Cox, Rachel S. Home Schooling Debate: Is the Movement Undermining Public Education?
Cox argues that homeschooling can be effective for some students. This is specifically true of students who may have either special needs or who may be highly intelligent. Homeschooling is a solution in this case because special needs children may experience social problems due to developmental delays or difficulty with schoolwork that is to challenging. Gifted and talented children may suffer similar problems as special needs children socially and may not be challenged academically. Cox discusses the example of Janet Liddle, a mother who home schools her children as a means of keeping her children intellectually challenged as well as a way to avoid dealing with long commutes back and forth to the local schools as Liddles' family lives in a rural area. Cox states that many parents also choose to homeschool their children as the result of poorly funded and understaffed local schools or because of their religious beliefs. (CQ Researchers).Cox claims that more than 300,000 schoolchildren are currently homeschooled. However; this does not count parents who home school their children in states that do not officially recognize homeschooling as a viable option or students never registered in a public school. This is however; three times the number of students that were being homeschooled in 1999. Some states have implemented strong standards for homeschoolers and in some areas there are organized homeschooling groups that offer social experiences for homeschooled children. Those who support homeschooling claim that homeschooling is a positive experience for their children and that they have many educational opportunities that they would not have in a public school setting.
In contrast those that argue against homeschooling claim that homeschooling is not of any more benefit to children than public education. They state that while homeschooling may be successful in some cases for many children it leaves them isolated and unable to compete academically due to parents who are not qualified to education their children. This leaves schools to clean up the mess when poorly educated and socialized children return to the school system.
A second complaint against homeschooling is that it may be perceived as undemocratic. Cox argues that every child deserves a free public education. Another argument is that homeschoolers are not as well educated or as socially developed as children who attend public school. Socialization arguments are based on the idea that part of being educated as an elementary school or high school student is learning how to interact with others and homeschooled children in more rural areas do not have this type of exposure.
There are also other arguments against homeschooling. According to Cox one of the main arguments is that many states do not have specific curriculum standards for homeschoolers. Another major issue is that standards vary from state to state. There is very little reliability or continuity. This means that children who are homeschooler may vary in even the most basic academic skills depending on where they live.
While many have voiced their concerns about homeschooling the numbers of children being homeschooled the number of these children is increasing each year. Homeschooling groups are becoming more organized and more mainstream which in some ways has effectively dealt with issues surrounding reliable standards and regulations as well as socialization issues with homeschooled children. While there is a necessity for further work on standards, curriculum for homeschoolers, and ensuring children are well-socialized homeschooling is a viable alternative for special needs or gifted and talented children who may be bullied socially and either to academically challenged or not challenged enough in a public school setting.
It can be concluded, that there are no easy answers for the issue of homeschooling. Some claim that homeschooling is a positive thing designed to handle students who for one reason or another do not fit within the standard educational system. Others claim that homeschooling allows parents to have more control over what their children learn. Opponents of homeschooling argue that homeschooling is undemocratic and that homeschoolers lack the same standard quality of education as children who attend public schools. However; public schooling does work for children who for one reason do not fit into the public education system whether it be because they are special needs or gifted and talented, or because they are being bullied in the school. While stronger standards and regulations are needed for homeschooling more and more parents are seeing as an alternative to failing public schools.
Works Cited
Cox, Rachel S. Home Schooling Debate: Is the Movement Undermining Public Education?