Homeschooling takes place where children are educated from home with the parents or guardians taking responsibility as the trainer. The kids are taught by either the parents or hired experts using curriculum guidelines developed on their own or purchased from other institutions (Gaither 213). This concept of learning from home was started in the 1970s by John Holt, an author and educator who advocated for freedom of children to learn on their own and pursue their areas of interest. The nature of this kind of schooling can be short-term or long-term. Today, homeschooling is rapidly growing with more people adopting the idea of learning from home heightened by the recent outbreak of COVID-19 virus. Technological advancement has made teaching out of the classroom with the use of online materials easier, quicker, and more accessible.
Arguments against Homeschooling
Homeschooling has moved from a philosophical approach to trying to solve a child’s safety and difficulty. Many reasons favor homeschooling as a form of education. Schools provide children with real-life learning experiences that cannot happen at home as the children do not get a chance to interact with their peers, exchange views, and learn to cope in harsh conditions. Schools follow a specified curriculum that is paced according to the term for the teachers to follow and complete the course work. These guidelines are written by experts which, if followed, enhances the outcomes in education.
Homeschooling has its shortfalls relating to the children themselves and their instructors as children develop differently cognitively and socially. Furthermore, they may face challenges later in their college life or when they start working. The major issue associated with homeschooling is its cost. The financial strain which involves huge sums of money in getting training materials and hiring experts serves as an obstacle for many. It also requires a stable source of income to maintain the process and facilitate all programs involved.
Moreover, the parents or tutors may lack the relevant qualifications necessary for appropriately training children following specified guidelines. Some technical subjects require trained people to handle them which can pose a challenge. Apart from that, parents or guardians undergo a lot of stress as children tend to be more obedient and pay attention to teachers and other external people. The children may also develop an over-dependence attitude towards the parent. Besides, not all parents have the capability to provide a conducive environment for learning.
Furthermore, children need to develop psychologically and emotionally through peer socialization. In the bid to protect them from the negative aspects of schooling, parents deny their children the opportunity to find ways of dealing with societal issues present in schools such as bullying. Bartholet argues that homeschooling presents the risk of child abuse and denies children their rights to education as some rogue parents hide under the umbrella of homeschooling to implement their plans (14). She expressed the need for proper regularization of the system to guarantee protection and educational rights for children.
Arguments for Homeschooling
Many reasons favor homeschooling as a system of educating children in that parents can concentrate on areas of strength and work on the weak sides to achieve tremendous growth in the kid. Another great attribute of homeschooling is that it helps nature and builds the kids’ talents as the parents have time to spend with them and help them in case of difficulty. Parents can also teach and endorse their values as they demonstrate that which they believe works well. The children are made to understand that acquiring the required skill and knowledge coupled with great personality traits make a better person.
Gray responded to Bartholet’s article that claimed homeschooling is more as a result of religion than safeguarding children and that it should be banned completely as it was abusive and children’s right to education enforced. The psychologist argued that schools are more abusive as the children are anxious, stressed, have traumatic experiences from their teachers, and that during school sessions, suicide is high, and mental cases increase (Gray). He also indicated that teenagers had more stress with 83% naming the school as the source for it.
Conclusion
Homeschooling has increased over the years as an alternative to taking children to schools and other institutional centers. Though it seems to tackle the negative effects of avoiding abuse and other inadequacies present in schools, it cannot fully replace the education system as it lacks regulation. Besides, not all parents can afford the high cost associated with it as well as the time and effort required to teach and train a child. There is no specific curriculum that is followed and no timetable to keep which can jeopardize the set guidelines and procedures in education. Children also differ in abilities and learning which limits homeschooling as an option to replace the nationwide education system in place. Therefore, the inadequacies in it should be addressed and proper guidelines set to deal with abuse cases to create a conducive learning environment for all.
Works Cited
Bartholet, Elizabeth. “Homeschooling: Parent Rights Absolutism vs. Child Rights to Education & Protection.” Arizona Law Review, vol. 62, no. 1, 2020, pp. 1–81.
Gaither, Milton. “Homeschooling in the United States: A Review of Select Research Topics.” Pro-Posições, vol. 28, no. 2, 2017, pp. 213–241.
Gray, Peter. “The Case Against the Case Against Homeschooling.” Psychology Today, 2020, Web.