The Basics Of Home Schooling
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.
In many towns or cities, there are a variety of social outlets that your child can participate in, i.e. baseball leagues, soccer leagues, PAL, YMCA, community centers, etc. Joining in on any of these activities helps with the social aspect of education. Being active in your church allows your child the interaction that many say is lacking in the home school environment. Advocates of home schooling praise the communities and home school networks for the opportunities available for their child. Your child has an opportunity to socialize with other home school students as well as friends and neighbors from their area.
It has been proven in many studies, 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.
A few notable home school educated individuals include the following: Thomas Edison, United States, scientist and inventor Alexander Graham Bell, Scotland, Inventor (Telephone, Hydrofoil) Dakota Fanning, United States, actress Hilary Duff, United States, Actress/Singer Charles Evans Hughes, United States, Governor of New York, United States Secretary of State, and Chief Justice of the United States, Frankie Muniz, United States, Actor Rosa Parks, United States, civil rights activist Susan La Flesche Picotte, United States, first American Indian woman physician 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
Just like you have chosen for your child, these people were home schooled with great success!
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