Homeschoolers are parents who decide to educate their children at home. People choose this option mainly because they don’t want to send their child(ren) away to school or feel like public schooling does not teach them adequately.
No single law governs homeschooling, and each state has its own guidelines for what constitutes a legal education in the United States.
Homeschooling is a way to educate children at home. Parents or a tutor are the primary teachers rather than attending a traditional school. This form of education allows for more flexibility and customization, where parents can tailor the curriculum and teaching methods to their child’s individual needs and interests.
Did you know more than 3 million kids are currently being educated by their parents, most of whom do so without formal training from teachers or administrators? That may sound crazy, but according to recent statistics, over half of all American households have at least one kid enrolled in self-directed education.
These numbers only include those families with at least one student under 18 years old. It doesn’t even begin to account for the number of students whose parents chose to homeschool after sending them abroad to international schools, boarding facilities, or religious institutions.
In addition to the above statistic regarding the total number of homeschooled students in America, many states require proof of your family’s educational qualifications before legally issuing a permit to operate as an independent private school.
So if you’re curious about whether homeschooling might be right for your child, check out these links next:
Why Do People Choose To Homeschool Their Children?
There are lots of reasons why parents would choose to homeschool their children. Some of the most popular ones include:
They want their child(ren) to learn things on their terms rather than having everything spoon-fed via textbooks and lectures. Parents believe that proper instruction should come from someone knowledgeable in certain subjects instead of just reading from books written by others.
Some parents can’t afford to pay tuition costs associated with traditional schools (especially when considering international school fees).
Because of cultural differences, parents sometimes think that public schools aren’t equipped to teach their children adequately. Many Christian parents also homeschool their children because they believe the Bible teaches us how to live our lives.
The list could go on, but chances are good that whatever reason you’ve chosen to educate your children yourself, you’ll find plenty of support online through forums and blogs dedicated solely to helping parents make informed decisions about educating their offspring.
How Common Is Homeschooling In America Today?
If you had asked ten years ago, the answer would have been “not too common.” However, thanks mainly to the Internet and increased exposure due to shows like Todd Aces’ new show on Discovery Health Channel called “Discovery Home Education,” homeschooling seems to be gaining popularity among Americans every year.
With family sizes increasing, the number of homeschooled families is following in conjunction. According to recent National Center For Educational Statistics surveys, approximately 1% of U.S. households contain prekindergarten and kindergarten students, while another 6.7% of homes contain preschool-aged students.
Now compare that to 2003, when the same survey found 0.3 percent of American households had either pre-K or K students living within them. Those nationwide percentages represent the entire U.S. population and not just homeowners.
One trend during the early 2000s was the increase in Asian and Pacific Islander homeschooling. Asians comprised 8% of the overall U.S. population yet represented 12% of homeschoolers back in 2002. Even though the percentage of homeschoolers in Asia remained relatively steady throughout the decade, the number grew substantially between 2001 and 2010.
China now ranks #1 in homeschooling worldwide, with 2.2 million Chinese kids attending classes privately. Countries like Taiwan, Japan, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Thailand cover the top 5 nations regarding homeschooling prevalence.
Common Reasons Why Parents Decide To Homeschool Their Children
Now let’s talk about how common homeschooling is in America. As previously stated, there isn’t one set of laws governing homeschooling nationwide since each state sets its own rules. But generally speaking, some significant factors determine where individual families fall into the homeschooling category vs. other alternative education methods.
First, consider how much money is spent annually on tuition, travel expenses, uniforms, supplies, and special needs services. On average, parents spend $6,000 per year on school-related costs alone, meaning opting to homeschool saves thousands upon thousands of dollars over time.
Secondly, consider how well prepared most public schools are nowadays for teaching critical thinking skills, scientific principles, and practical life lessons. High school courses focus on memorization and regurgitating information from textbooks and class discussions.
While that type of learning works fine in college or university settings, it’s inadequate for preparing young minds for real-world problems. And forget about math; most public school systems fail miserably at imparting practical problem-solving strategies necessary for success later in life.
Finally, consider the quality of the local community colleges and universities around town. How often do you hear stories of high school graduates getting stuck working minimum-wage jobs because they couldn’t earn sufficient credits to get accepted into 4-year colleges? Or worse, how often have friends told tales of dropping out of college halfway through their degree programs?
With homeschooling, parents gain control over their children’s education instead of allowing bureaucrats to dictate what kind of knowledge gets imparted to their little angels.
Regarding religion, many Christians claim that God gave them direct instructions on how best to raise their children. Others prefer to use secular arguments for their decision-making process. No matter their reasoning, however, none deny that homeschooling allows parents to pick and choose topics taught based on personal preferences, interests, and values.
