Question

Discuss the similarities and/or differences between homeschooling and traditional schooling in 1000 words ENGLISH 101

Answer 1

Homeschooling, also known as home education, means just as it says on the tin; it is an educational program in which parents decide to keep their kids from school and educate them. This is perfectly legal as long as the parents follow the required legal process involving the decision being informed by the school and local authority. It is important to note that this legality is necessary only if the child has been to school before; in cases where the child has never attended school, parents have no legal duty to inform the authorities of their decision to educate at home.

Home education decision has a range of advantages when compared with traditional methods of schooling. It gives the parent greater autonomy and choice over the curriculum, and the subjects being studied, allowing them to focus on a preferred study path. If the student shows particular strengths, interest or passion for a particular subject, there is much more flexibility and freedom in pursuing this avenue and tailoring a study program that exactly suits the pupil's needs. That flexibility extends to the timetable in a similar sense. Home education offers a much more fluid schedule, unlimited by a traditional sequence or period of time. Instead, lessons can be structured and addressed in a way that best suits the family's involved lifestyle, offering a more free and easy approach that can take days out, activities, clubs and even trips into consideration.

Home education is a family affair in many respects and many parents cite this as a primary reason for making the decision. It allows children and parents to spend more time together and this makes it particularly appealing during adolescence, as families can spend time supporting each other during what may be a challenging period in the life of the student. As a result of the decision, couples can also get closer, because more time is spent together for a common goal. Some families also believe this strengthens the parent-child bond, as more time is spent together during the formative years.

Home education can also be an excellent way to support children who may struggle to attain or improve, particularly when there are other issues of school avoidance or anxiety at play. Parents can adapt their teaching methods to get the best results, and they can spend extra time on concepts that are tricky to grasp. With concentrated one to one attention, a misunderstanding is less likely to be missed or forgotten, making steady progress more probable. Similarly, if a child appears to be excelling in a particular area, there are no restraints on curricula or scheduling; they can simply drive forward on the next topic.

For some parents, a large part of their decision to educate their child at home is their religious or personal beliefs; not being bound by a timetable means there is more opportunity to spend time focusing on religious instruction or imparting ethical or moral lessons. During homeschooling, parents in the UK are not expected to follow the National Curriculum, so this means there is more room for pursuing a certain religious lifestyle or belief system that might be limited by conventional mainstream education.

The most obvious benefit of selecting a traditional school is of course the teacher-shaped exposure to a highly qualified educator. To practice as a teacher in state schools, teachers are required to have a degree and postgraduate qualification, and this gives them a high level of not only subject knowledge but best practice and effective pedagogy as well. They are best trained in teaching and delivering information, inspiring and educating children and young people, and developing and encouraging high-level critical thinking and analytical skills.

Of course the presence of other pupils is another benefit to a school environment. While for some this is a justification to educate at home – due to bullying problems and so on – in general, this may offer a good justification for preferring conventional schooling. Working daily with their peers can teach many valuable lessons, including teamwork and cooperation, conflict resolution, diplomacy, and other vital social skills. It also means that learners have a partner to bounce off ideas and test theories without asking an adult; some students find a less stressful situation as a pair or peer worker and are less afraid of "getting it wrong" than they would be with a teacher or parent.

When it comes to traditional versus home schooling, time is another matter. Home education requires a great deal of commitment and dedication from one or both parents. Although some opt to bring in help from outside, it can be costly and can not cover the whole program. School is a learning environment, so it's the teacher's primary responsibility to be there, enabling parents to seek certain responsibilities such as paid jobs that might be important to the family.Both home education and traditional schooling have both advantages and disadvantages, and before making a decision, it is important to do your research thoroughly on each side. Each child is unique, with its own learning style, interests , strengths, and challenges, and will all respond differently to various learning methods. One of the most important aspects of schooling is to cultivate and encourage a true love of learning that the pupil will bring throughout their lives; personal choice is the way this is done.

Some homeschoolers test at home. Instead of having a teacher there to grade them like in traditional school, the tests are sent in for grading. Homeschooling allows parents the opportunity to teach their child, or the child can watch a filmed class on DVDs, or stream video, instead of sitting with a teacher in a classroom. Homeschoolers much like conventional school graduates, have textbooks. If the students are in the same household, a home school "unit" may include one person or multiple people.Students who are homeschooled, like traditional school students, must comply with state regulations and attend 180 days of school. The homeschooler may only have one or two classes, if any, on examination days, when it's time for nine-week exams. Grades and tests can be sent in, and if the curriculum allows that, a transcript can be sent to the home.