by E L Swist

Created on: September 23, 2008

Which is better home school or a more formal education? This question is undoubtedly one that sparks much debate. People tend to have very strong feelings on either side of the argument. The answer is more than just a simple yes or no but since it is possible for the homeschooling situation to be better for some children than public school, I think the answer has to be yes. Is it the better choice across the board? Probably not. This "yes" answer only holds true under carefully planned and orchestrated conditions.

I think the main concern that most people have with homeschooling is the lack of socialization that home-schooled children might experience. Knowledge is certainly the most important component of any education; but just knowing things does not necessarily create a successfully functioning person. Children need to interact with other children to learn key aspects of how the world really works. Personal experiences cannot be learned they have to be experienced. Communication and interaction skills can greatly influence the rise or fall of even the smartest people.

Public school does provide an environment that will facilitate a great deal of interaction with other children and adults. This is very valuable practice for children in early stages of life. In order to be a successful, well rounded individual it is safe to assume that communicating and working with others is going to be an essential skill to master. The problem that a lot of parents who choose to home school have with public school is that there is no way to know who your kids are spending their time with. This might not have been such a big deal 25 or 30 years ago, but today I think we can all admit that things have changed.Kids are faced with a lot just walking through the door at school and socializing with a "bad crowd" is certainly not going to be beneficial for your child.

The implication that home-schooled children are somehow deficient in developing social skills is an unfair stereotype. There are numerous programs and groups for home-schooled children that meet and provide group activities and learning situations. Many public schools also allow home schooled children to participate in extracurricular activities such as sports and clubs. This allows parents the opportunity to monitor the children that their kids interact with rather than just throwing them into a sea of kids who they know nothing about. For many parents there is a also a fear for their childs safety when you talk about

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