There are pros and cons to any form of education. No matter if you are an advocate of public, private or charter schools or home schooling, I am sure you could provide volumes of statistics to endorse one form over the others. I favor public schools over the others mentioned. In the same breath, I support the right of parents and guardians to place their kids in private schools or to home school. I think in some special need circumstances, that home schooling is a vital and important alternative to public or private schools.

Lack of Structure

The first problem I see with home schooling is that not every parent or guardian has the ability to teach or the resolve to stay with it. Knowing materials and having resources to use, still does not provide everyone with the skills to teach young minds. As kids get older, they also display a natural rebellion to parents which adds to the inability to learn.

There are excellent examples of parents and guardians who are great teachers and their children have excelled in learning. These cases are highly noted and praised. But, I am sure there are also examples of major failures that do not get mentioned. Procrastination has to be a major problem in a home setting. It is easy to start a little later or delay learning today so the parent or guardian can run an errand. Some parents give in too easily to the complaints of their children and change things to meet the desires of the child. This lack of structure is a major negative to learning.

Social Interaction

The real problem with home schooling is simply the lack of social interaction. Many parents and guardians say this is the very reason they home school. They say that the schools are dangerous and kids learn foul language, are exposed to the germs and diseases, suffer insults and embarrassments, and are exposed to sexual situations much too early in life. Some of these concerns are real and are problems in public and even private schools. But parents and guardians must realize that at some point in their children’s lives, they must learn to react to the environment in which they live. Yes, I am saying some parents and guardians are over protective.

It is a proven fact that children who attend day care and pre-schools learn at a faster rate, as a rule, than children who enter kindergarten who did not have the benefit of these programs. They interact and socialize better. This is the base of programs such a Head Start. We all want to protect our children, but they must be allowed to experience life. Good judgment comes from experience; experience comes from bad judgment. Children are amazing creations. They have a way to adapt and learn at an unbelievable rate. Young adulthood is the wrong time to learn and have to adapt to the problems of the everyday real world.

Get Active for Funding

I commend the efforts and the dedication of home schooling parents and guardians. I know they are honest and sincere in providing the best education and life for their children. But I will remain an advocate for public schools, where the bulk of Americans are taught. The best approach is for parents to get involved in their schools and the political process to make sure public schools have funding and support.

As for home schooling: it’s not for me.