Homeschooling is a highly debated topic that still causes many controversies. All processes are gradually moving or have already moved to an online format, starting with training in institutes and schools, ending with most work in firms and companies. However, some people disagree entirely with parents who decided that home education is much more convenient and safer than school education. Homeschooling offers many benefits not only for students but also for parents. Parents teach their children independently and establish a closer relationship with them than when children go to school. I think that homeschooling allows choosing an individual program for the student, avoid abuse from peers, and whiten the relationship between parents and children even though it lowers the level of children’s socialization.
Firstly, a significant factor in rational home education is the pace and program, which can be individually selected for a child. That is a necessary transformation, as in schools, students often slide to the “middle level” of knowledge regardless of what level they originally had. Students whose level was initially high due to the same approach to all and the average tasks lose interest in learning, becoming bored. Simultaneously, for children whose level of knowledge was low, it will be too tricky and challenging to answer in class, especially when called to the blackboard. This attitude towards children creates childish complexes, especially when teachers give an example of someone with a high grade and then notice the lowest stage in the class (Ĺ migelskas et al. 10). Moreover, if children at home are not satisfied with any teacher’s approach, they can safely change it to another, while the students at school are deprived of this opportunity.
Secondly, homeschooling helps students to escape bullying and abuse by their peers and classmates. Children most often encounter it because older and physically stronger students usually try to demonstrate their strength on weaker and younger students at school (Menesini & Salmivalli 241). This behavior affects the abusers, the offended and all the children around, making them feel cowardly or drooping because adults cannot track bullying in schools. Sometimes, children are humiliated not only physically but also morally because, during the school period, every child learns to interact with other people. Some children cannot stand this kind of pressure and even use self-harm to make it easier for them because school adults do not protect them from peer attacks. Moreover, some abusers continue to annoy children not only at school but also on the Internet, spreading false and offensive rumors or simply asserting themselves at the expense of others. Children often have psychological problems, but at the same time, they are afraid to trust adults because they do not feel enough support from them (Menesini & Salmivalli 245). At the same time, home education is the most effective way out because the school’s primary function is to give students knowledge, not develop complexes, and bring children to the most desperate steps. Homeschooling fully corresponds to this function and at the same time protects the child from the cruelty of peers. Besides, schools often become life-threatening places for students due to indifference or lack of time and do not pay enough attention to safety regulations. Parents and relatives of schoolchildren are afraid of physical violence cases against students by extremist groups or unbalanced schoolchildren. Despite the efforts made to deal with such situations, such cases occur, and this is very dangerous because it is impossible to predict where and near whom such a situation will happen next time.
Thirdly, homeschooling contributes to a warmer and more robust relationship between children and their parents. Parents can maintain certain family traditions and independently ensure the religious and ethical education of their children. Brewer & Lubienski claim, “religious homeschooling advocates continue to suggest that homeschooling provides a safer alternative to public schools.” (30). Moreover, during classes, parents alone determine the approaches to their children. They can discuss complex and exciting topics, solve difficult tasks together, and read books to help children improve issues that interest them. In schools, teachers do not have so much time to dedicate to each child, so some children are not interested in many subjects. Reading and learning culture should be instilled and not discounted for independent learning by the child after school. During homeschooling, parents devote much time to developing their children’s talents; they take their children to special courses or sports clubs, adjusting their educational schedule to the child’s daily routine. Moreover, homeschooling ensures that children maintain proper diets, as school canteens do not always provide students with certain types of food. Parents enjoy the time spent with their children and get closer to their spouses when they jointly sort out any tasks and understand complex tasks. When faced with difficulties during learning, homeschooled children become more independent, as they do not have direct instructions on how to solve these issues. Only parents whose children are homeschooled can plan holidays, even if schools are still open and students attend classes daily. At this time, parents are able to adjust the child’s homeschool curriculum, and courses will be arranged in a different plan. Thus, parents redistribute the children’s workload depending on their fatigue and maintain their stable psychological state.
On the other hand, it is the issues of developing social skills and socialization and inclusion in public life that cause much resentment towards those who are homeschooled. The social skills of those who study at school and home are developed equally, but they manifest themselves in communication in different ways (Pearlman-Avnion & Grayevsky 1). Depending on the number of years that students spend at home, their communication skills decrease, making it challenging to interact with their peers. Moreover, Pearlman-Avnion & Grayevsky claim that “absence from education in a public framework leads to deficiencies in basic understandings of the meaning of society or empathy for others” (6). And this can lead to the fact that already adults will not understand the actions and decisions of people around them since homeschooling will not develop their social intelligence well enough. Moreover, the awareness of their separation from the group can cause their unstable emotional state, which plays a significant role for everyone. Such children will find it challenging to participate in related projects where joint work is required and to communicate with peers. That does not mean that they will never learn to interact on an average level with people and socialize, but they will need some time and support from people close to them.
To sum up, it should be noted what vital role education plays in every child’s life. Currently, the most profitable option for students is to choose to homeschool. Due to this format, children will avoid many traumatic situations that will affect their future life, and they will also become more independent and determined. Thus, homeschooling provides them with a higher education level, security in terms of physical and moral condition, and a warmer and stronger relationship with their parents.
Works Cited
Brewer, T. Jameson, and Christopher Lubienski. “Homeschooling in the United States: Examining the Rationales for Individualizing Education.” Pro-Posições, vol. 28, no. 2, 2017, pp. 21–38, Web.
Menesini, Ersilia, and Christina Salmivalli. “Bullying in Schools: The State of Knowledge and Effective Interventions.” Psychology, Health & Medicine, vol. 22, no. sup1, 2017, pp. 240–253, Web.
Pearlman-Avnion, Shiri, and Mor Grayevsky. “Homeschooling, Civics, and Socialization: The Case of Israel.” Education and Urban Society, vol. 51, no. 7, 2017, pp. 970–988, Web.
Šmigelskas, Kastytis, et al. “Sufficient Social Support as a Possible Preventive Factor against Fighting and Bullying in School Children.” International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, vol. 15, no. 5, 2018, p. 870, Web.