08 Track 8

Review unit 4

fluency strategy:

Thinking actively while reading

Home Schooling

A better way to learn?

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Home Schooling

A better way to learn?

It is easy to forget that public education is a relatively new phenomenon. Even in the U.S., which has a relatively developed education system, public schools only started flourishing in the early 19th century.

Before that, while the affluent were able to hire tutors for their children, most education of children took place within the family and the community.

Some people are now going back to teaching children themselves (or hiring tutors), especially in countries where the mainstream education system is considered poor.

The laws regarding homeschooling can be complex and very widely from country to country.

In some countries, such as France, England, Indonesia, and the United States, homeschooling is permitted by law. In other countries like Japan or Spain, laws are not so clear; homeschooling goes on, but isn’t formally permitted by existing laws.

Other countries, including Germany and Brazil, ban homeschooling altogether.

At one time, there was a stigma associated with homeschooling because it was traditionally for students who had behavioral or learning difficulties and could not keep up with the rest of the class.

Today, there are many compelling arguments for educating one’s children at home. Some of it stems from dissatisfaction with the mainstream education system.

Teacher shortages and lack of funding mean that, in many schools, one teacher is responsible for 30 or 40 pupils; children are often deprived of the attention they need.

Bullying, and increasing classroom violence have also motivated some parents to remove their children from school.

Parents may also choose to homeschool for religious or political reasons.

Many psychologists see the home as the most natural learning environment, since it is supportive and has no distractions.

Parents who homeschool say they can monitor their children’s education more closely. Children can also choose what and when to study, thus enabling them to learn at their own pace.

The many educational resources on the Internet can also be used to supplement learning.

Advocates of homeschooling point out that homeschooled children do just as well or better than those who are classroom taught, and a striking number gain admission to prestigious universities.

In contrast, critics of homeschooling say that children miss out on learning important social skills because they have little interaction with their peers. This might have a negative effect on them later in life when they go to university or start work.

Critics have also raised concerns about whether parents are capable of educating their child properly.

Many of these parents lack teacher training and may not be competent or up-to-date on all the subjects taught in schools.

In the U.S., with an increasing number of parents taking their children out of class, school officials are looking for ways to restore parents’ confidence in the public education system.

Some American high schools have opened their doors to homeschoolers on a part-time basis, allowing these children to attend classes once or twice a week, or to take part in activities such as playing football or doing ballet.

This enables homeschooled children to enjoy the extra benefits of peer interaction and involvement in sports or clubs.

Whatever the arguments for or against, homeschooling is a growing trend. There are now websites and support groups that help parents to assert their rights and enable them to learn more about educating their children.

Once the last resort for troubled children, homeschooling is now embraced as an accepted alternative to the public educational system.