Homeschooling is increasingly gaining popularity, as more and more parents are finding the possibility of schooling their children from home attractive. But is homeschooling actually harder than traditional schooling?
This is a hotly debated issue, with many pros and cons being discussed. In this article, we will look at both sides of the argument and try to establish if homeschooling is indeed harder than traditional school.
Pros and Cons of Homeschooling
The main pro for homeschooling is the flexibility of it, allowing the parents to mix and match their teaching techniques, imbuing their children with the best of traditional schooling methods as well as their own creative ideas. The other main pro is that the child retains more control over their own time, as they can learn at their own pace and not fall behind the average rate set by the classroom.
On the other side, there are some cons associated with homeschooling. A large commitment of time and resources is needed, with both the parent and the child having to be constantly engaged in the schooling process. It can also be harder to provide some kinds of knowledge, like lab-based sciences, without the help of a teacher.
Pros and Cons of Traditional Schooling
Traditional schooling has both its pros and cons. One of the main advantages is that children get to be in an atmosphere of learning and can take part in extracurricular activities, socialize with other kids, and become well-rounded individuals.
On the negative side, traditional schools often are not tailored to the specific abilities of the children, so not all students get the same amount of learning from regular school. Additionally, many children do not do well with the strict structure that traditional schools often impose on them.
Advantages and Disadvantages Compared
When compared, it is not easy to definitively say whether homeschooling or traditional schooling is harder. On the one hand, homeschooling is more labor intensive, as the parents have to put in more time and effort to ensure that their child is learning properly. Additionally, they have to be very knowledgeable in multiple subject areas, ranging from science to math, to history.
On the other hand, traditional schooling can be more draining for the children, with too much structure and little focus on the interests of the student. Both types of schooling have their advantages and disadvantages, making it difficult to come to a conclusion on which is harder.
Variations in Schools
There are also variations in term of the different kinds of schools available. Public schools offer children a basic education, with some extracurricular activities, while private and charter schools offer more tailored teaching approaches that are more beneficial to the child.
Homeschooling is different, as parents have the power to design their own curriculum and decide what their child should learn, without any outside interference. It is difficult to compare the difficulty of public school to the difficulty of homeschooling, as both have different pros and cons.
Different States
The approach to homeschooling also varies from state to state. In some states, homeschooling is heavily regulated, with the parents having to produce evidence of their teaching methods for the state board of education. On the other hand, some states have almost no regulation and allow the parents to teach their children as they see fit.
This makes it difficult to make an accurate comparison between homeschooling and traditional schooling, as the level of difficulty for homeschooling can vary.
Time Commitment
The amount of time needed for homeschooling to be successful is a major difference between the two types of schooling. For traditional schools, students spend around 8 hours a day, 3 – 5 days a week, while homeschoolers can choose to learn for as little or as much time as they want. Additionally, homeschoolers can take more time out of their day to focus on their education and their interests, while traditional students have to be in class all day.
Parent Education Level
Another big difference between homeschooling and traditional schooling is the level of education of the parents. In traditional schools, the teachers have a college degree and loads of experience in teaching and lesson preparation, while this is often not the case with homeschooling parents. To properly teach their children, homeschooling parents need to be knowledgeable in a wide range of topics, and need to be able to impart that knowledge to their children.
Education and Social Skills
When comparing the two types of schooling, it is also important to look at the social and emotional skills that the children gain from each one. Traditional schools provide students with the opportunity to socialize with their peers, as well as with adults who are experienced in teaching children how to behave properly in society, while homeschooling is largely dependent on the parents and their social skills. Furthermore, homeschooling may limit the child’s access to extracurricular activities, while traditional schools have plenty of sports, arts, and music activities available.
Support System
Another big difference between the two types of schooling is the level of support available. In traditional school, teachers and staff are available to help and answer questions, while in homeschooling, the parents are usually the only source of help and support.
This can place a lot of burden on the parents, while in traditional schools the teachers provide the much-needed help and guidance.
Conclusion
To conclude, it is difficult to say which is harder, homeschooling or traditional schooling. There are pros and cons associated with each type of schooling, and these depend largely on the characteristics of the individual student and the parents. The best choice for a student depends on their preferences, their parents’ resources, and their state’s laws.
Ultimately, each parent and student needs to make the best choice for them and decide which type of schooling is better for them.