Are you thinking of homeschooling your children? Here’s some advice: don’t do it. Homeschooling may seem like a great educational experience, but it does not compare to the numerous public school benefits. 

Around 5 million American children are homeschooled every year. During the 2020 pandemic, this number drastically increased as most public schools shifted to online education. A lot of children had trouble adjusting to the switch, as did their parents. 

There was a 51.6% decline in mental health, as reported in a study by the Institute of Development Studies. Students had trouble concentrating, sticking to schedules, completing lesson plans, and visible adverse isolation effects. Increased the percentage of students that buy homework online. Many even had difficulty getting educational resources like computer software and books.

Students had trouble adjusting because, for most, online education and homeschooling are not conducive. Students need the collaborative, productive atmosphere of a public school to develop with diverse teachers and peers. Children work well in a disciplined, structured education experience and thrive when they have access to resources, as letstacle.com points out. 

Homeschooling during the pandemic is quite tricky than public school education. Don’t believe us? Let’s weigh the costs and benefits. 

Let’s do a comparative analysis. 

 

• The Curriculum 

A regular curriculum can democratize education and make sure every child is at the same educational level. Standardized learning modules and extra-curricular resources like testing and training programs can teach your children essential knowledge.

If you homeschool your child, you might purchase a curriculum and educational resources like textbooks, but will you teach them effectively? How can you ensure your child is learning the same concepts at the same pace as a public school-goer? Your child will likely attend college in the future, and colleges require impressive transcripts for acceptance. 

Public schools will give your child a structured pathway to a career. If you seek to develop your child’s educational foundation, then the public school should be your priority. For subjects like science that consist of medical and engineering fields, exposure to practical learning is crucial. And it is only possible through public schools. However, once the student makes it through school and pursues higher education, homeschooling, and online learning are good options. They can provide a personalized education experience such as online post master’s certificate nurse practitioner programs for medical and nursing aspirants. Similarly, engineering and other science disciplines can also opt for online learning for further education. It is convenient once students begin career life. 

 

• The Hidden Curriculum 

In schools, students learn and develop various skills and capabilities than just bookish knowledge. They learn how to be around people in a professional setting and how to act in a society. Teachers and peers teach diverse values, norms, and behavior that are essential parts of secondary socialization. 

According to sociologists, these values are the hidden curriculum. A public school can mold children into punctual and disciplined team players who have a proper work ethic. 

You can teach your kids your value, but you cannot give them programming help and teach them everything. A public school’s job is to anticipate the future workforce’s needs while parents might have limited knowledge. To adress this problem, parents can go for a teachers assistant application.

 

• Socialization

Public schools have a diverse set of students who socialize with each other and teach other valuable perspectives. Children teach each other norms and behaviors about social interaction, collaboration, and even studying. 

Peer groups can be crucial in teaching and incorporating ethical behavior and conduct. A homeschooled will not be socialized enough to handle peer groups in adult life. 

Public schools are arenas of social development and house peer groups. Public school education will then make the child more socially successful, grooming their personality and developing confidence. 

 

• Resources for Skill Development 

You can make every effort to get resources for your child’s education at home, but it might not be enough. Public schools have multiple options for co-curricular and extra-curricular resources. 

Public schools have in-built systems for extra-curricular opportunities. Your child can join clubs, learn any instrument, and join community service programs with their peers. 

Children might even have better prospects in a public school.  If you homeschool a child, they might not have access to the same sports training and scholarship opportunities public schools provide. 

 

• Working Parents 

Homeschooling requires hours of parental supervision at home. A homeschooled child needs parents to teach them every subject and train them for online exams. Is that possible for a working parent? 

Around 46% of parents in the United States have one or more jobs. 70% of parents have full-time careers that have 9-to-5 work schedules. Only 42% of Americans are currently involved in remote work or flexible job roles. It seems then that most working parents are not available to homeschool their children effectively. 

If parents were to homeschool their child, one would have to give up their job. Homeschooling might even cost a lot more than a job. If you cannot supervise or teach your child yourself, you might also need tutors who generally charge thousands of dollars. 

 

Final Takeaway

Public schools are affordable and resourceful options for the academic and personal development of children. Homeschooling could be a difficult journey for the parent and the child.  

At a public school, children can have friends, participate in activities like music lessons, sports, and technical training. At home, they can have limited curricula and less social interaction and resources. Therefore, if you wish your child to become a confident and competent individual, it is crucial to provide them with the public school experience.