subject: Home Schooling And Your Child [print this page] Sources state that Home Schooling, also called home school or home education, is a compelling alternative in which children are educated at home by their parents, instead of the compulsory attendance which takes place in an institution with a campus such as a public school or private school.
All over world Homeschooling has been increasing quite substantially over the last 4 years. In the United States, in 2003, approximately 1.1 million children were Home Schooled, up 29% from 850,000 in 1999. Recent figures show that Homeschooling in other Western Countries are growing as well. An example of this is an estimated 50,000 children are considered "home-schooled" in Great Britain; Australia - 26,500; and in Canada (as at 2001) it was estimated that 80,000 children were educated at home instead of a teaching facility, with the numbers continuing to increase.
Most home school education advocates have individual motivations to home-school. Academic and social results of home school education are varied and are the source of heated debate. Some feel that they can more effectively educate a student by developing an academic program to suit an individual strengths and weaknesses, especially children who are gifted or have learning disabilities. Others are religious parents who see non-religious education as contrary to their moral or religious systems. Still others feel that negative social pressures of schools, such as bullying, drugs, school violence, and other school-related problems, are a negative impact on their child's development. So many parents simply like the idea of teaching their own children rather than having someone else do so.
A common concern about home-school children is they lack the social interaction with students that a "school" environment provides. Many home-school families address these concerns by joining numerous organizations, including home-school cooperatives, independent study programs and specialized enrichment groups for physical education, art, music, and debate. Most are also active in community groups. Home-school children generally socialize with other children the same way that school children do: outside of school, via personal visits and through sports teams, clubs, and religious groups.
It has been proven in many stiudies, that home schooling is an effective way to educate your child. With the individual attention your child receives, on average a home school student out performs public or private schooled students by as much as 30 to 37% in all subjects. There is never any gap in their test performance because of gender or between minorities, such as what happens in public or private schooling.
Some home schooled individuals that you might recognize include: Thomas Edison, United States, scientist and inventor, Alexander Graham Bell, Scotland, Inventor (Telephone, Hydrofoil), Charles Evans Hughes, United States, Governor of New York, United States Secretary of State, and Chief Justice of the United States, Rosa Parks, United States, civil rights activist, Woodrow Wilson, United States, the only United States President to hold a Ph.D., George Washington, United States, First United States President, Abraham Lincoln, United States, President during American Civil War.
Home schooling was something these parents choose for their child, just like you are for yours!
