Homeschooling is becoming a more and more popular option for parents to provide a quality education to their children. It has been steadily increasing over the years due to disagreements about the public school system, personal or religious beliefs, or safety. But how does it compare to a traditional school education?
What impact can homeschooling have on a child’s adult life? Does a homeschooled child do better in life than the one who completes their education in the traditional school system?
Why Homeschooling Is Gaining Popularity
Homeschooling is gaining popularity among parents due to various factors. Firstly, the public school system is often argued to be inadequate in providing personalized attention to each student, or to be focused excessively on test scores and results. Secondly, some families have moral or religious beliefs which dictate a desire to provide a different or more tailored education.
Lastly, safety concerns come into play as in recent times there have been several school shootings that have made many parents look for other options. Homeschooling offers a unique alternative to the traditional school system, and more and more families are considering it as a viable option.
The Pros and Cons of Homeschooling
Homeschooling has both pros and cons when compared to traditional schooling. On one hand, homeschooled children do have increased flexibility in their academic path with the ability to tailor the curriculum and teaching styles to specific interests. On the other hand, the lack of social interaction with peers has been argued to stunt a child’s growth in some areas or lack the ability to “look people in the eye”.
Furthermore, the lack of guidance available from trained teachers may lead to children developing incorrect information or being ill-prepared for tests or exams.
Impact of Homeschooling on Adult Life
As a result of the pros and cons of homeschooling, the impact that it has on a person’s life in adulthood is varied. Homeschooled children may have an easier time adjusting to the realities of adulthood since it gives them the skills to be independent, self-reliant, and to look outside of the traditional school system for education. On the other hand, the lack of social interaction in homeschooling may leave graduates unprepared to navigate the world of interpersonal relationships as an adult.
Do Homeschooled Kids Do Better In Life?
In short, it is difficult to determine whether homeschooled children will do better in life than their peers who go to traditional schools. The level of preparation and education that they receive is often comparable, and the skills they learn, such as independence and self-reliance, are frequently gained by all children regardless of their schooling situation.
However, the lack of social interaction in homeschooling may limit the childrens’ social development as an adult and make it more challenging for them to cope with interpersonal situations or conflicts.
Tailoring Education
The primary benefit that homeschooling has over traditional education is that it allows the parent or teacher to tailor the curriculum and teaching style specifically to the learning needs and interests of the student. This helps the student to focus on topics that they find interesting or relevant as opposed to traditional schooling which follows the same curriculums for all students. Furthermore, homeschooled children are able to progress at their own pace and may be able to cover material faster or more in-depth than those who are going through traditional schooling.
Lack Of Social Interaction
The major disadvantage that homeschooling has is the lack of social interaction available to the child. The child is usually in a setting with fewer children and a solitary adult as opposed to being in a setting with multiple children and teachers.
As a result, it can be more challenging for the homeschooled child to develop the social skills needed to have successful relationships with their peers or colleagues. Additionally, homeschooled children may have difficulty adjusting to the more communal setting of high school or college due to the lack of experience they have in a large group setting.
Preparing For Testing
In order to be successful in a traditional school setting, kids need to be able to pass tests and exams. Homeschooled children may have difficulty in preparing for these tests due to the lack of guidance they have from trained teachers. Additionally, they may be unaware of testing requirements such as having to take the SAT or ACT exams.
Therefore, it is important for homeschooling parents to be aware of the test requirements and to help prepare the child for these exams.
Suitability For Different Ages
Homeschooling is suitable for different age groups because the parent or teacher can tailor the curriculum to the student’s learning needs and interests. Younger children can benefit from the increased number of hands-on activities and personalized instruction that homeschooling offers.
For older children, homeschooling can be useful in helping them make informed decisions about their academic path by exploring various topics and subjects. Furthermore, homeschooled children may be more prepared to make post-high school decisions since they have more flexibility in their educational path.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it is difficult to determine whether homeschooled kids do better in life than their peers in traditional schooling. The level of preparation and education that they receive is often similar and the skills they learn are typically the same.
However, the lack of social interaction in homeschooling may make it more difficult for them to adjust to the realities of adult life and make it challenging for them to navigate interpersonal relationships or conflicts.