Homeschooling has been gaining in popularity at an exponential level. The public schools from 20 years ago, are much different than the public schools today. Guardians that have the desire and ability to homeschool are making the switch.
Most of the issues that guardians have with the current school system are going to be eliminated when homeschooling. Here are some of the more common reasons:
1) Religion – Families that practice a different religion than that of the general population can be uncomfortable at a public school.
2) Safety – Although we all believe that one of these catastrophic student events could never happen in our own school, every other community where it has happened had the same belief; until it happened.
3) Common Core no more – For those guardians that are strongly opposed to the Common Core curriculum, homeschooling is a great solution to the problem. The students can learn what the teacher wants them to.
That being said, there are pros and cons to the homeschool path.
Socialization:
When it comes to socialization, homeschooling may not expose the student to as wide a variety of different backgrounds, social status, beliefs and learning abilities as students attending a public school.
To aid in this, homeschooled students are often part of co-op programs where they are socializing with other students in programs that provide additional support.
Academics:
Each student can learn at their own pace. In a school setting, students that need more time to grasp a concept, could be slowing down the learning speed of the entire class. Conversely, a homeschooled student can spend more time on a subject they are struggling with, and less time in subjects that come easy to them. They can also choose to focus on a specific subject for accelerated learning.
Sports:
Homeschooling gives the flexibility to spend more time practicing sports, which can be advantageous. It also doesn’t offer the free coaching that’s part of attending a public school. Although there are many extracurricular teams and programs, they all cost money to be a part of, so that has to be considered.
Cost:
Public school is free – kind of. We all pay taxes that go to fund the school system. As a homeschooling guardian, you still have to pay those taxes, and you don’t get paid to homeschool your student. There is also the chance that are you’re giving up a full-time job to stay home and homeschool. One may be able to work a full-time job and homeschool, but that’s not the most common scenario.
We reached out to some local Fuquay-Varina homeschooled students to learn more about some of the pros and cons on a more personal level. Here are their stories.
Brianna Fanning is a proud, graduating homeschool student. She will be attending Campbell University in the Fall on a Presidential Scholarship and will attend Honors College, one of only 40 Freshman selected. Her career aspiration is to become an attorney. Brianna has been homeschooled since the sixth grade and has thrived in this format of being educated. Homeschool for Brianna has not been confined to sitting at a kitchen table seven hours a day receiving instruction. Brianna has participated in a local homeschool co-op, where this past year, she studied subjects such as English, Science and History. She also took Art Appreciation through Wake Tech Community College. For recreation during her homeschool years, she has participated in youth athletic leagues, running track, and playing softball and basketball. Brianna’s education has also been supplemented by having the experience of volunteering at local non-profits. I asked her mother, Kimberly Fanning, a teacher and realtor, what her thoughts were about Brianna’s education, now that she is a graduating senior. Mrs. Fanning expressed that she would do it all over again for her daughter. “Homeschool has allowed Brianna to pursue her interests, passions, and creativity,” she shared. “ Brianna being educated in Fuquay-Varina has clearly had its advantages, given its access to programs in the Triangle.” Mrs. Fanning also pointed out the advantages of having discretion over the curriculum taught, the opportunity for hands on learning and the flexibility in terms of teaching pace that homeschool offers. “Students must still perform well on standardized tests at the end of each year and are held to the same standards for college,” Mrs. Fanning shared. I asked Brianna what her thoughts were about having been a homeschool student, and how she felt it prepared her for college. “Homeschooling has taught me self-discipline and encouraged self-discovery. As I prepare to begin college, I look back with gratitude. I am thankful my mother chose the difficult path, one full of uncertainties. She chose the greater risk, and because of that, I am now reaping the greater reward. I am excited about what Campbell has in store for me and to begin this new chapter of my life.”
Walker Parvin is a rising ninth grader and has been homeschooled since the fourth grade. His experience as a homeschool student has included learning and mastering sign language, completing a complex course in stenography and studying a foreign language. He aspires to one day either serve in the military or work in law enforcement. Walker has also participated and excelled in volleyball, basketball and soccer with the Town of Fuquay-Varina and 540 Express. His mother, Nicole Wall-Parvin, serves as his teacher, but his education also includes taking courses at a local co-op.”There is a stigma that homeschool students don’t get proper socialization, but my children have had more opportunities then they otherwise would get to interact and learn with other children,” Mrs. Parvin shared. All four of Mrs. Parvin’s children are homeschooled and she appreciates and values the opportunity it gives them to spend quality time with her and each other. Three of these children are boys and homeschool offers her the flexibility to let them be active and do things such as run around in the backyard, jump on the trampoline, go fishing and have a variety of practical hands on experiences. “No child will ever say that you spent too much time with them,” stated Mrs. Parvin.
So as you can see, homeschooling has some great benefits and it should be considered as a good option if you want what these students have. Isn’t it great to have choices?
