Where a child learns is a personal choice. The decision is not easy. In today’s economy parents may have limited income and public schools lack the funding.
There is a new twist in the often heated and controversial debate between public education and homeschooling. While the government is doing a balancing act with limited funds, parents are trying to decide if it is economically feasible to downsize from two incomes to only a one-income household. Choosing how to educate your child is as nerve-racking as it is stressful, especially when the decision is based on budgets and demands rather than quality education.
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The Two Sides Of Public Education
State governments are finding themselves with heavy budget deficits and public education is one of the many items on the chopping block. According to the best essay writing service research, at least 34 states plus DC are cutting education services for grades K – 12. Another 43 states are slicing services for higher education.
What does this mean for your child attending a public school? After school programs may be dismantled, specialized instructional classes may not be offered, and classrooms may increase in size. However, public schools offer a learning environment for students with highly qualified teachers.
In public schools, children have the opportunity to integrate into a community. Larger classrooms introduce students to the economic and social backgrounds of other classmates. Students learn to interact with each other on numerous topics throughout the school day. Students can venture out to challenge themselves against their own peer groups and learn from different cultures.
Students in the public school system have hands-on counselors and advisers to provide guidance and direction. Students can get immediate help with essay writing and find their way to their educational future. Additionally, they may receive help with personal problems. In a public school, a student is offered a voice within their school and government.
There is a direction with public education as to what to be expected in subjects studied. A syllabus is followed that must meet state guidelines. There are rules and regulations to adhere to and a set amount of credits for a student to graduate. Recruiters from universities and colleges often tend to be on school grounds looking for potential students to enlist for their university school programs.
Parents and Homeschooling
Parents who want to homeschool their children face almost the same predicaments as public schools, although on a less grand scale. The financial aspect of homeschooling can bring unique challenges. Parents need to decide where to make their own budget cuts. It may mean a loss of income from a two-income home. For a single-parent home, the challenges are even greater.
If you’re confident that homeschooling is the way to go, make sure everyone is on board. Your child may see it as a punishment and try to resist. Developing a teacher-student relationship with your child requires a lot of time, patience, and sacrifice. To get a feel of homeschooling, you might benefit by checking with other families who already have a home education plan in action.
Speaking with other parents will offer you guidance and support. Experienced parents who use a cheap essay writing service USA can let you in on the tips on how to save money on school supplies, recommend different methods of teaching and adapt to your child’s learning style. If you are having trouble managing or organizing your home, you can also see how other parents are handling everyday household tasks.
It takes perseverance to be with your child 24 hours a day, seven days a week in an educational state of mind. You no longer have your cherished time alone. Your days are filled with school books, examines, and many questions. However, this sharing of the educational process may create a special bond between you and your child.
When your child is succeeding with a homeschool program, it is equally important for you to know that you are succeeding too. A study by Dr. Brian Ray of the National Home Education Research Institute (NHERI) found that home-educated students excelled on nationally-normed standardized achievement exams. The study also notes that “on average, homeschoolers outperformed their public school peers by 30 to 37 percentile points across all subjects.”
State Laws and Guidelines
If you are ready to dive into the world of homeschooling, there are homeschool laws that must be met. The Home School Legal Defense Association provides a list of state laws for homeschooling guidelines. Depending on which state you reside in, you may also be required to have a home covering sponsor. Once again, the state may or may not require a sponsor, and the involvement of the sponsor may play a relaxed or more demanding role.
Whether you are following the state laws of homeschool education or adhering to a public school’s curriculum, the decision on where or how to school your child isn’t easy. Unfortunately, in today’s society, education for children seems to balance between budget cuts within public schools and income loss for the parents.
