Benefits of Homeschooling Essay Example

Have you ever had a friend or classmate who was homeschooled? While parents often debate whether or not it is the right decision to send their kids to public schooling, the answer is obvious. This specific student, on average, performs better than most publicly educated students on standardized tests. With more than half of the children who are homeschooled achieve more attention from colleges, these colleges are now making an effort to allow homeschooled students to apply for admissions. Homeschooling is becoming more and more prevalent in today’s society, even with the effects of COVID-19. More parents are hesitant to send their children back to public schooling and look towards homeschooling as a safer alternative. The overall effects of homeschooling on children are, average or above average test scores, improved mental health, and lower costs than traditional schooling. 

First off, higher and better test scores can be directly correlated to homeschooled students. Most stay-at-home children are more likely to receive scholarships or college benefits. In the article titled “Benefits of Homeschooling”, the author states, “Teens can effectively prep for college with good homeschool transcripts for admission and with less burnout on busy work. Homeschooled students benefit by standing out for college admissions just by having had a different experience, but also because they may have had opportunities to follow their interests in a deep way” (Kelley). This clearly explains the advantages of gearing your child towards college with specialized coursework from the parents. Colleges who show an interest in these students make an effort to help these students success in an healthy environment by granting admissions to all who apply. The next detail of evidence is, “Home-school student achievement test scores are exceptionally high. The median scores for every subtest at every grade (typically in the 70th to 80th percentile) are well above those of public and private school students” (Hill). Homeschooled students typically have more drive and intrinsic motivation to do well in school and learn more effectively. Without the load of busy work, students can learn the necessary material in order to receive a proper education, and sometimes even a higher level of education than public students. Author Rachel Wise writes, “Homeschooled students with highly involved parents or tutors likely get more one on one time and individual instruction than traditional students”. This individual teaching is crucial for the child to learn and comprehend the given information better and more constructively. One on one learning can also be beneficial to the parent teaching the child, as they can teach at their own pace and in a way that makes sense to them. In the end, most homeschooled students are more prepared for college and generally perform better academically. 

Additionally, improved mental health is an advantage to stay-at-home learning. Less children will experience bullying or stress induced by in-school teaching if homeschooled. Mary Ann Kelley wholeheartedly supports this statement, “If a child is struggling with anxiety, social anxiety, depression, or challenges to brain health, a benefit of homeschooling is the opportunity to focus on mental and emotional well-being. Parents can make therapy, coping skills, and medical care the priority, which will then enable the academic growth they hope to see in their child ”. Once again, a focus on mental health that is not shown in all public school systems can be alter in at-home learning. Choosing to make it a priority only strengthens the child’s skills of coping and other life lessons that are not taught, ignored, or dealt with at school. Although homeschooling can lead children to perform more on their own, that does not directly correlate with isolationism or social awkwardness. As shown in the article written by Hill, “Home schoolers’ fierce independence rarely leads to isolationism. Increasingly, parents are bartering services--the mother who was a math major tutors children from several families in return for music or history lessons”. While this may seem like a rudimentary version of public schooling, it really is a learning of its own kind. A sense of community is strong with parents communicating lesson plans and questions they have with each other while learning in way that suits them and their child. The following piece of evidence refutes the claim of social delay in homeschoolers, “‘Dr. Medlin compared the social behavior of a set of seventy homeschooled and seventy traditionally schooled eight to ten-year-olds, matched along demographic and socio-economic lines and found no significant differences between the two groups regarding measures of self-concept and assertiveness’” (Wise). With children staying home to learn a decent education, most of them are not delayed or behind in social or mental skills compared to their public school peers. With an overall good sense of autonomy, children can learn about their interests intrinsically without the burden of grades or pleasing a teacher. To sum up, a greater focus on mental health and its benefits are included in the homeschooling program, along with no fear of isolationism or social delay. 

Lastly, more money saved is another benefit to homeschooling. On average, most parents save more money choosing homeschooling over traditional learning. Author of “How to Homeschool Your Child on a Budget & Save Money”, Heather Levin illustrates, “According to Huntington Bank’s yearly Backpack Index, in 2019, parents paid the following amounts to send their child back to school: $1,017 for elementary school supplies, including extracurricular fees and technology. $1,277 for middle school supplies, including extracurricular fees and technology. $1,668 for high school supplies, including extracurricular fees and technology”. While public schooling is supposed to be free education, in reality it can be very expensive. The cost of sending kids to school increases with each grade level, and some families cannot afford to keep sending their children to school. “”. . Children gain a more hands-on approach to learning that they do not find in traditional schooling. This benefit is more. “Some aspects of homeschooling can be less expensive than school: fewer expensive school clothes, off-season vacation and travel rates, no public school fees or private school tuition”. There are . . In conclusion, 

Overall, homeschooling’s effects on a child is mostly positive, with a healthy learning environment and community outreach. A rise in the popularity of homeschooling may or may not be one of the many causes of COVID-19 on today’s society. With sufficient research and exposure to the effects of homeschooling, the above average scores on standardized testing proves one of the many benefits of homeschooling. Another effect is the focus on mental health within the comfort of one’s home.