by Melanie L. Leeson
It’s quite easy to get caught up in an argument over whether or not students who are homeschooled turn out as well as those who are public schooled. In my opinion, the results are going to vary widely based on the individual person, but homeschooling has more positive outcomes than negative. Despite the fact that I graduated from public school, I feel that homeschoolers have a better all-around experience.
Students who are homeschooled typically score higher on standardized test and have a higher percentage rate of attending college. Public school students are at the mercy of their teacher’s lesson plan and can easily be left behind if the rest of their class has grasped the topic. Homeschool students are also able spend more time focusing on subjects that they don’t understand. Because they don’t have to follow a schedule as rigid as most public schoolers, homeschoolers can plan their work to fit their personalized needs. It’s also easier for homeschoolers to get one-on-one attention from their parents than it is for a public school student whose teach may have a hundred other students to help as well.
The most common assumption against homeschooling is that homeschoolers are not socialized. While it’s true that they don’t spend several hours a day in the company of their peers, homeschoolers have other ways of interacting with people. A majority of homeschoolers regularly attend church or homeschool groups. Through such meetings, they are able to meet new people. Homeschoolers also have a greater opportunity to be with people outside their immediate peer group. Through most of their school career, public schoolers are generally with students within a year or two of their own age. Homeschool students are put into situations with people of a more varying age group and therefore commonly can find ease communicating with a wider range of people.
Though I consider homeschooling to be a good option, I understand that people are going to make their own opinions, and it’s going to take someone with more time and intelligence than me to make the world see things my way. And honestly, it doesn’t bother me if you think and feel differently so long as you let me see things my way too.
Dude, there is always plenty of stuff to do at the TEEN ZONE!
Contact the Teen Zone at 566-2201 or email at teenzone@infoway.org.