| Many homeschoolers or families | | | | curriculum and choose it to match the |
| contemplating homeschool face a barrage | | | | child. Some people choose a curriculum |
| of criticisms and scrutiny for their | | | | and stick with that curriculum and use |
| inquiries and decisions. Homeschooling | | | | that for all their subjects. They can |
| is actually precess that can contribute | | | | also try one for history and try another |
| to a solid family life and bonds. | | | | for science, for example. |
| The biggest concerns in undertaking | | | | Many homeschoolers use a variety of |
| homeschooling are loss of two parent | | | | curricula over the years. When choosing |
| income, choice of curriculum and | | | | a curriculum, the family must also |
| socialization. | | | | factor in the cost. Home school |
| From the perspective of committed | | | | materials are not cheap, but they |
| homeschooling, here are answers to those | | | | probably won't break the bank, either. |
| concerns. | | | | As time passes, however, those costs |
| Homeschooling actually benefits families | | | | potentially drop because families are |
| in innumerable ways. Teaching your kids | | | | able to reuse some materials. |
| at home is not as difficult as it might | | | | 3. Socialization |
| seem, either. Anyone can do it. Keep in | | | | The National Education Association |
| mind this is different than thinking | | | | (NEA), the nation's largest teacher's |
| anyone should do it. | | | | union, said there is another hidden cost |
| 1. One Paycheck | | | | to home education. Home-educated |
| For many families choosing to | | | | students miss out on opportunities to |
| homeschool, it means only one parent is | | | | build socials skills by not studying |
| earning a paycheck. | | | | with their peers. |
| Sometimes its a choice that comes down | | | | In a Feb. 26, 2002 letter to the |
| to choosing kids over cash. Besides the | | | | National Home Education Network, former |
| loss in income, there is the cost on | | | | NEA president Bob Chase wrote his |
| home school curriculum each year. | | | | organization was concerned that |
| However, there are many ways | | | | homeschooled students were not provided |
| homeschoolers can mitigate the costs of | | | | a comprehensive education experience |
| homeschooling and even come out on the | | | | because they did not have an opportunity |
| positive income side of the equation. | | | | to interact with students of different |
| There is no peer pressure to keep up or | | | | cultures, economic status or learning |
| have the latest styles under thrat of | | | | styles. They felt homeschooled students |
| being made fun of. | | | | learned in a setting primarily made up |
| Many homeschoolers use a variety of | | | | of family members and friends. |
| curricula over the years. When choosing | | | | Family and friends aren't the problem. |
| a curriculum, the family must also | | | | They are the solution. You don't want an |
| factor in the cost. Home school | | | | 8-year-old teaching an 8-year-old how to |
| materials are not cheap, but they | | | | behave. You want them to learn how to |
| probably won't break the bank, either. | | | | behave from someone who hopefully knows |
| As time passes, however, those costs | | | | how and then practice it on the other |
| potentially drop because families are | | | | 8-year-olds. Forced socialization with |
| able to reuse some materials. | | | | misbehaving, misguided peers is |
| Home school children may be spared | | | | something to be avoided, not embraced. |
| schoolyard ridicule, but critics, | | | | Homeschoolers have heard this before and |
| including the National. Education | | | | the notion that home schooling retards |
| Association, say keeping kids at home | | | | children's social growth is ridiculous. |
| also cheats them out of a chance to | | | | They actually learn better socialization |
| develop important social skills. | | | | skills because they're around people of |
| 2. Curriculum | | | | all different ages all the time. |
| When a family decides to home school, | | | | Public schools are not necessarily a |
| perhaps the biggest question that must | | | | real representation of what life is |
| be answered is, what to teach. The | | | | like. We don't all go around in little |
| possibilities are nearly endless. | | | | clusters with only people our own age. |
| First, parents are able to choose any | | | | |