While tempting, home schooling is a bad idea
January 12, 2015
Many students want to be homeschooled so they don’t have to go through the torture that is public school. But most students don’t think about the cons of homeschooling.
Homeschooled kids may fall into depression because they won’t see as many kids their own age anymore on a day-to-day basis. Their old public school friends may forget about them because they don’t see them as often.
Education is everything. Homeschoolers might not learn as much as they could. Alone all day, consumed in independent work, they won’t get to participate in hands-on activities or group projects. Homeschoolers also won’t get other peoples’ opinions and they won’t get examples from other students or the teacher.
Although homeschoolers won’t get judged in their PJ’s, they probably won’t take judgment very well after graduation. On the streets, at job interviews, on the bus, and pretty much anywhere in the real world, people judge others. So if someone is practically all alone in their room during their childhood, they most likely won’t deal with judgment very well.
The student isn’t the only participant, though. Parents play a big part in homeschooling. Some parents may not be qualified to be a teacher. The parent may be biased or let their opinions shine through. For example, parents may not agree with the information that they are supposed to teach, so they might exclude some information based on their beliefs (such as teaching creationism instead of evolution).
There’s no doubt that homeschool is a bad idea. Students should just get through public school as they are. It will help them in the long run.
Pros and Cons of Home schooling
The Pros
- No dress code
- Eat anything at anytime
- Doesn’t have to get up early
- Doesn’t have to worry about being judged
- Not as many distractions
- Has more time to work, and can plan out their schedule how they want to
- Not as likely to get sick
- Doesn’t have to carry around a backpack
- Time-management skills
The Cons
- Not social
- Not learning as much: doesn’t have examples and hands-on activities
- Procrastinating
- Might not know how to handle judgment in the real world
- Might cheat on work and tests
- Might become lonely and/or depressed
- No electives
- Expensive
- Harder to get into college
- Not interacting with adults
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Anonymous Public School Graduate • Dec 4, 2021 at 1:02 am
This article makes a number of flawed assumptions.
1. Homeschooled students don’t necessarily socialize less, nor do they necessarily have any “old public school friends” to speak of. In fact, one reason people may want to be homeschooled is facing large-scale bullying.
2. Homeschoolers might not learn as much, but they could also learn much more. Estimates place homeschoolers two years ahead of their public school peers academically. For some, especially with learning disabilities, this may be the only way they can learn.
3. Again, you can’t assume homeschoolers never get feedback and can’t consider other’s opinions. Its not as if people’s homes and communities aren’t part of the “real world” where everyone judges one another.
In conclusion, there is plenty of doubt. I hope in the future you chose to express ideas with greater nuance.
Sneha Murthy • Jul 24, 2019 at 9:44 am
Hi Courtney, my name is Sneha and I was In journalism with Mrs.Griffith 2 years ago. I hope you’re enjoying her class as much as I did 🙂
I was homeschooled when I was in 6th grade, and you’re right about the pros an cons involved. My being homeschooled that year didn’t work out as well as I thought it would; especially since I only thought of the pros. It would’ve been more interesting if you elaborated on the part of your editorial where you said that “parents teach creationism instead of evolutionism…” I think that it’s important to know what’s taught in school, however, parents are your primary source of information, and the mkst influential teachers. They have the right to influence you depending on whether you allow them yo or not. Thank you so much for wriying an essay on this topic- I can really relate. I hope you continue writing ^^