Building up the Bond... (Home Schooling versus Conventional Schools)

Name: LauraElliott

Hello doyoo user, You have to be logged in to use these functions... Login or register Close window

Send message to member

Product:	Home Schooling versus Conventional Schools
Date:	28/03/02 (329 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Schooling in the comfot of your own home, They get one to one attention, so a better teaching ratio, You can build up the bond that you share between you and your child

Disadvantages: Might not be able to mix with as many children

So, you want to do home schooling? You're not happy with the way things are going at your child's present school? You can't get along with the school administrators or the teacher won't listen to your in put about your child? You're worried about guns, sex, drugs, to name only a few, in the classroom? Their are behavioural or emotional problems at school? In general, you feel the public school or for that matter, private schools are dangerous, and not the environment for your child? Your child is behind or appears slow in language or in reading skills, or they don't appear to be learning anything? Your child is an unmotivated learner or is uninterested in educational goals? The public school system just isn't getting the job done? The Christian school isn't quite the place for your child or they institute religious teachings that have nothing to do with what you feel is education? Do some of these sound familiar?


The point is: " make sure you are doing or are going to do this for the right reasons. Not for some biased or emotional response to an irritation, disagreement, prejudice, or on a whim! "


Remember, this is your child I am talking about, and every decision you make has a direct bearing on their future and vocational pursuits; not to mention their emotional well being. However, you will be happy to know, that, in general, most parents choose home schooling for the right reasons. Whether it is because they want more control over what their child learns, or for religious reasons, or because their child needs a lot of one-on-one tutoring in language or reading (they need remedial assistance). Too, many parents feel that the public or private schools don't have the time or resources, or appear uninterested in giving their child what they really need. Likewise, some want to be with their child and develop a special bond that will last a life time. For these and other reasons, most
parents make the right choice, and in the long run, their child will be better off for that decision.


I have read many, if not all of the opinions written about this topic and it seems as though a lot of people are deadly against the idea that children should be taught in their own homes. Now it is time to separate the facts from the fiction and listen to the real truth about how good home schooling is.
I know that as soon as I have children, hopefully in the near future, I will definitely not be sending them along to an ordinary state school where they can learn and be influenced far to easily by others.
By teaching them at home, they will be able to stand on their own feet and be individual as well as unique. When they go out into the real world and experience work for the first time, there will be a mixture of people, the people who have had a good education and those who have had the worst. Hopefully I will be able to say that my child has had one of the best educations available and has enjoyed the way in which they didn't have to mix in with bad gangs and groups.


There are so many good points about home schooling, that they almost cancel out any reason why you would be sending them to school.
People have said 'my child won't be able to make friends' or 'they won't be sitting key stage tests' but this isn't necessarily true. They can make friends quite easily, in fact because it is more of a challenge to make friends outside of school anyway, it can be something which they can progress towards and if they do make friends with other children in their area then they can feel the feeling of success and know that they haven't just been put in with a bunch of kids the same age as them and told to get along.


Bullying happens at schools, it happens in the real world too. If you can prevent it then why not take the opportunity for your child to concentrate on their studi
es rather than worrying about whether the child fits in or not. There is plenty of time in the child's teenage years and later life, for them to make friends, especially since it will be easier.


And about key stage tests...well these occur when the child is in primary school and secondary school (at about age 7, 11 and 13). The children do not have to taken them, but schools usually suggest it and you have to have a really good case to get them out of them. I think that the tests are good to show how well they have been learning up until a certain topic, but all they really are for is statistical features, so your child does not have to be included and by being home schooled, you can make that choice for them.
They have to take their GCSEs to make sure that they do have some basic background knowledge when going out to look for a job, these are the main qualifications that they need.


They can choose what subjects they want to take, and unlike normal state schools where you only have a choice out of what they are prepared to teach the children, what subjects they have teachers for and what subjects they think your child will do best in, they can choose what they like. How many schools do you know who offer a GCSE in Parenthood and Child Development or Beauty Trade? Yeah, they might not be what an employer really wants from an employee but if the child is interested in that area of work then that is good to teach them something they enjoy.


If you are good at teaching (there is no need to have a teaching grade to be able to teach your child - but I recommend having one), then your child will learn sufficiently and will be able to know about real life experiences.
One thing you must not be lacking on, is time! There must be a parent at home full time. If you are a two wage earner family, then you can just about forget it. Of course, if you have a home business, the picture is much brighter. If there is more than
one child, it is definitely a full time commitment. This can't be done at night, especially with small school aged children. You can, however, do some tutoring at night for a little time, or more so, with older or high school kids. But, in general, children need their rest and good nutrition. Home schooling is mostly a 'day' activity.


Always be consistent in your teaching, establish a set time to do schooling, stick to a schedule but be flexible to change, always give encouragement and praise, and avoid, at all cost, severe discipline and verbal attacks to keep them focused or "on task" (children need breaks, exercise, and play-time; each child is different). Above all, love your child, no matter what, and always be there for them.


The government will pay you a small amount of money to help support the teaching of your child, such as to buy equipment which would usually be used in a school laboratory and to buy paper, pencils and stationary.


An inspection will be made approximately 3 times a year to see that the home environment is a suitable place for the child to be working in and to see if the child has been incurring any problems or feels the need to go to a normal state school.


Are you prepared to make a commitment in time and in resources? To be really effective as a home schooling parent, you need a computer. Oh, there will be a lot of people that will tell you that you don't need one, but if you read the literature and sift through all the hype and emotion, a computer is, in my view, an indispensable and productive tool for all students. You will, of course, use other resources (computers are not perfect), but they are great as a tutor, as a motivator, and as a "learning enhancer" nonetheless (especially if you have the right computer curriculum). Plan on adding one to your tool/resource kit, you'll be glad that you did!


Overall home schooling i
n my opinion, is the schooling of the future....

Summary: