Homeschooling
Many parents search high and low for the perfect education for their children yet the best answer is right at their arm length: home school. Homeschooling has become increasingly popular around the world according to studies made in the area. Parents are more involved in their children’s education and consequently more aware of the education system and process (Swanson, 2007). Parents feel that many a time their values are in conflict with the values taught in a private or a public school (Jirek, 2011; Haskins, 44)). Parents look to provide their youngster a better learning environment combined with choice education even if that means going against public opinion. Even though many people are against it, homeschooling is an excellent education choice that can provide both good quality moral and academic education, satisfy socialization needs and foster good relationship between parents and children.
Homeschooling is when school age children are educated at home, by their own parents or by a tutor, instead of attending a private or public education system. The practice is quite common in the United States and other English speaking countries. Brazil is yet to know the many benefits of homeschooling and so it is not permitted by law at this time.
People against homeschooling argue that 1) the quality of the content taught by parents is not as good as in recognized schools; 2) children taught at home lack the opportunity to socialize with others from their own age group; 3) home school practice overwhelms parents to the point their relationship gets rough. In order to show that homeschooling is a choice education for children, the following paragraphs will present substantial evidence that rebate the arguments against stated above.
Homeschooling is an excellent education choice that can provide both good quality moral and academic education to children. According to Brian Ray of the National Home Education Institute, homeschooled children score about twenty percent higher on standardized tests an above average on achievement tests. Homeschooled teenagers get to the best colleges and universities. Data from Colorado Commission of Higher Education show that SAT scores from homeschooled children are as good as traditionally educated children. Parents are able to customized lessons and curriculum to best fit their child adapting their personal beliefs and life style to the real life the child lives. For example, farmers, who live away from the city, can adapt the history syllabus curriculum to focus on the life in the country side along the centuries. Such an experience brings confidence to a farmer’s child and, consequently, a confident child is more respectful to others (Rupp, 261). Moral education is always linked to academic education in home school lessons.
Besides being exposed to the best education quality, children who are taught at home are able socialize with other homeschoolers and with many more people than children who go all day to regular school. Homeschoolers socialize with the real world (Klicka, 2007), and not only with their own age group peers, as it happens in a public or private educational school setting. While traditionally educated kids are confined to a classroom, home school kids go around with other homeschoolers and explore real life experiences. They are in constant contact with professionals, adults, younger and older kids. Homeschooled kids have a greater range of different socialization that is not available in such a frequent manner to traditionally educated children.
Finally, home schooling fosters relationship between parents and children. Homeschooling bonds the family together incredibly (Haskins, 33). Parents invest their time and their lives to best educate their youngster. They take part and interest in their education. Parents are present and involved in the child’s every aspect of life. That fact can hardly go unnoticed by their children, who learn by imitation nurturing that relationship that only focus on their progress and well being. Because of the time spent together, family ties are usually closer among homeschooler, their siblings and parents.
Homeschooling provides excellent moral and academic education for children in addition to exposing them to a greater variety of socialization opportunities and fostering parent-child relationship. Home schooling is very popular in America and other English speaking countries. The practice has spread throughout the world. However, in Brazil, homeschooling is not permitted by law yet. Homeschooling would be an excellent choice for young Brazilians and their families. Homeschooling opportunities would help Brazil to overcome many educational, socialization and nurturing problems.
