Public school vs. Home School
“According to the National Home Education Research Institute, there are now more than 2 million children being homeschooled in the United States each year (Barrington Para. 5). The coronavirus pandemic has created a new reality as far as education is concerned. Many children are now being homeschooled by their parents since schools are closed, and a significant proportion of companies are allowing their employees to work from home. Over the recent past, there are many options available for teachers, students and parents when it comes to the mode of learning that fits them or their children. Parents can choose to send their children to traditional public schools or have them homeschooled where they act as educators or hire professional teachers, among other options. While public school and home school are both modes of learning, they differ significantly when it comes to flexibility, student experiences, and costs.
Both public schools and home schools are modes of learning. In the United States, a person can choose to enroll in a traditional school or be homeschooled, although there are other options. Homeschool as a form of educating children dates back to colonial times (Brewer & Lubienski 22). In earlier days, a learner acquired specific skills in the home of a person who was imparting knowledge to him or her. “Homeschooling became legal in all 50 states” in America in 1993 (Jennings Para. 23). Also, public schools have existed since time immemorial. This means that both public school and home schools are recognized forms of learning in the United States. Besides, the two options involve a student acquiring knowledge from a more skilled or learned person than him or her. In homeschools, the role of the educator may be performed by an older sibling, parent, close relative, or a hired professional teacher. On the other hand, public schools involve learning being facilitated by trained teaching professionals. As such, while the two systems may differ in the way they operate, they both involve a student learning skills or concepts that he or she did not have before his or her enrollment. At the same time, the government regulates both forms of education. For example, parents of homeschooled students are likely to create or choose the educational curriculum that meets specific educational standards established by their states (Barrington). At the same time, public schools are regulated by education boards when it comes to the curriculum they adopt and the level of human and non-human resources they have at their disposal.
On the other hand, homeschooling is more flexible than public school. While being homeschooled, a person does not have to wake up to go to school from Monday to Friday. A homeschooled student can decide to study from morning to afternoon each day three times a week. Also, flexibility in homeschool can be seen in the lessons individuals enrolled in this form of learning takes. For example, a student may choose to only study the subjects that he or she deems relevant for his or her future career prospects. On this note, “Students may have more opportunities to choose what they learn with homeschooling, and they can learn at their own pace without having to keep up with more advanced students” (Barrington Para. 6). This is not possible for students in public schools. Public schools involve students learning in groups of about 25 people in a setting that is away from their homes for approximately 8 hours a day for 180 days each year (Jennings). Besides, students enrolled in public schools have to follow a specific approved curriculum that dictates what and when they learn certain subjects.
However, public schools have better student experience when compared to home schools. Public schools provide many opportunities for children to play with their age mates. According to Jennings, “Relationships are the most important thing that you can give your children” (Para. 20). Schools serve more purposes, not just facilitating the acquisition of knowledge. For example, schools are places where students join certain clubs and interact with their age mates. Also, students get to play various sports such as table tennis, soccer, and basketball. The Census Bureau argues that approximately 57% of students enrolled in public schools participate in sports (Jennings). However, all these activities are only possible for students enrolled in public schools. Homeschooled students are exposed to only a few opportunities for socializing with other people. Home schools provide many “opportunities for cross-generational interaction” (Jennings Para. 12). This is because homeschooled students are more likely to socialize with people who are either older or younger than them since these people spend more time with their tutors, parents, or siblings.
Lastly, home schools are cheaper than public schools. The flexibility of home schools comes at a cheaper cost for parents. On average, $ 500 is spent for each homeschooled child each year compared to $ 9,963 for a student enrolled in a public school (Jennings). This is because homeschool allows parents to participate more in their children’s learning, for example, by teaching them or marking their tests. Also, homeschool allows a parent to decide which subject his or her children learn. The reduced number of subjects for homeschooled students means that these individuals pay less in comparison to their counterparts enrolled in public school. Also, homeschools may be cheaper because of the tax credits provided by some states. Four states in America provide tax credits for families who are homeschooling their children (Jennings). Also, “Homeschools can save time since you don’t have to public schools are expensive since the schools dictate what the student learns including the extra curriculum activities” (Barrington Para. 4). Besides, parents have to pay for transport for their children to and from school. All these expenses make public schools relatively expensive than home schools.
In conclusion, home schools may be more flexible and cheaper but public schools are the better option. Public schools involve students following specific rules that pertain to when and how to learn. This means that there is no flexibility for teachers, students, and parents. On the other hand, homeschooling involves students, parents and teachers enjoying relatively high flexibility when it comes to the mode of learning. However, there are reasons public schools are very popular and have existed since time memorial. These schools allow students to enjoy the company of their peers, something that is irreplaceable.
Works Cited
Barrington, Kate. “What Are the Benefits of Public School over Homeschooling.” Public School Review, 19 Jul. 2019, https://www.publicschoolreview.com/blog/what-are-the-benefits-of-public-school-over-homeschooling. Accessed on May 3. 2020.
Brewer, T. Jameson, and Christopher Lubienski. “Homeschooling in the United States: Examining the rationales for individualizing education.” Pro-Posições, vo. 28, no. 2, 2017, pp. 21-38.
Jennings, Jana. “Homeschool vs. Public schools: The ultimate showdown.” Home Educator, n. d. https://homeeducator.com/homeschool-vs-public-school/, Accessed on May 3. 2020.