If you’re considering homeschooling your children, you are likely weighing out pros and cons of each educational option. When deciding between public school, private school, or homeschool, you want to know all of the benefits, risks, rewards and challenges that may come with each. While I can’t give you a glimpse of the future and where each path would lead for your child, I can provide details for each that can help you make the best decision for your children. Because the bottom line is this: We all want what’s best for our children. And I’m not here to sway you in one direction or the other.
Let’s explore the key aspects of each option to help you make an informed decision for your family.
Homeschooling
Homeschooling is more than just an educational choice; it’s a lifestyle. Rooted in flexibility, customization, and family-centric learning, homeschooling empowers parents to tailor their children’s education to individual needs and interests. From field trips to hands-on experiments, the world becomes the classroom, fostering a love for learning that extends beyond textbooks. There are many styles of homeschooling varying from a school-at-home approach, to a literature-based education, to “unschooling”. A beautiful aspect of this educational path is how much you can tailor it to your child’s individual needs.
Public School
Public schooling provides a structured environment with certified teachers, established curricula, and a diverse social setting. Students encounter a range of personalities, fostering social skills and preparing them for the dynamics of the real world. Public schools offer a consistent schedule and a plethora of extracurricular activities, creating a well-rounded educational experience.
Private School
Private schools offer smaller classrooms, established curricula, and unique classes and extracurriculars. Many parents opt for a private schooling experience when they feel their local public schools are not up to their standards, or do not reflect their family values. Private schools offer many of the benefits of public school, but on a smaller scale.
The Curriculum Dilemma
One of the fundamental differences of public schooling, private schooling and homeschooling is the curriculum. Homeschooling allows for a more personalized approach, tailoring lessons to suit a child’s learning style. When you homeschool, you have entire control over what you teach and how it is taught. You get to choose whether to use already-created curriculum, or you can design your own. There are so many options and styles to choose from, and you have the power to change things where you see fit. While this can be one of the best perks of homeschooling, this can also be overwhelming.
Public school aims to offer a standardized experience for all students. Therefore, curriculum follows strict state standards and timelines, teaching all students in each grade level the exact same thing. While students will (mostly) learn the same things, standardized learning can rush some students while slowing down others. If a child masters a concept and is ready to move on, they can’t. If a child needs more help in an area, this may be done outside of school hours. In public school, the parents have little input in what their child learns in the classroom.
Private schools have the freedom of following their own set of rules, unlike public school. If you’re considering a private school, it’s important to understand what their rules, values and beliefs are. How do they teach and what do they teach? This answer will change from school to school. Private school curriculum can vary greatly, and sometimes you will find that they use an all-in-one homeschooling curriculum (such as Abeka).
Homework
Homework at private and public schools can vary by teacher. The reason why homework may be so lengthy is to ensure the child passes the standardized testing that is required at the end of the year. All students are expected to complete and pass this test, and their results can reflect on the teacher. While extra practice may be helpful for students, spending hours every night on homework can put a strain on family time, extracurriculars, students and parents.
Homeschooling, however, requires no homework. The child learns all that they need to during the hours that you homeschool.
Socialization: Quality vs. Quantity
The social aspect is often a focal point of the homeschooling vs. public schooling/private schooling debate. Children in public school and private school are around their peers for 7+ hours every day, and offering the opportunity to talk to one another. With recess and lunch being the primary times of socialization opportunities, there are also opportunities for group learning. While public and private schools offer daily interaction with peers, homeschoolers engage in a broader range of social opportunities, interacting with people of all ages in various settings.
It must be said that homeschooling now, as compared to 10+ years ago, is much different. There are a wide variety of homeschool groups, classes and organizations that are available to you. Homeschoolers can participate in regular, weekly activities with other children such as nature groups, science centers, history days, co-ops, art and music classes, and much more. Yes, even in small towns. Participating in regular homeschool groups can foster deep connections and interpersonal skills.
It’s important to remember that participating in homeschool groups is at the discretion of the parent. This means you are responsible for getting your child involved in these groups, which may be challenging for some. If you are limited by your geographical location, income, or transportation, and cannot be a part of a regular group, homeschooling can feel isolating.
Flexibility and Structure
Public and private schools provide a structured routine, preparing students for the rigors of future academic and professional environments. When you send your children to school, you know exactly what their schedule is like everyday, what classes they take, and what they will learn (as noted in the syllabus).
Homeschooling thrives on flexibility, allowing families to set their schedules and adapt lessons to suit individual learning rhythms. Some homeschooling families may find it difficult to create a structured routine, which may be challenging. Other homeschooling families enjoy not having a set schedule, and may thrive off of different day-to-day experiences. The good news is that when you homeschool, you get to align your schedule and lessons with what works best for your children.
The good news…
The good news? You have options. Whether you choose homeschool, public school or private school, know that all options can provide a rich, rewarding learning experience for your child.
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