by Carole Ligi

Created on: May 27, 2009   Last Updated: June 16, 2009

This is not a one size fits all question. There is a reason and need for homeschooling, public schools and private schools (both parochial and non-parochial). It depends on each individual family.

While each form of education should be regulated to ensure that all children are educated in the same standard to compete on an even playing field when they are adults; each type of school is valid.

Homeschooling has its benefits where the parent in charge of the homeschooling can give each child more individual attention and base the curriculum around each child's needs. Plus the schedule is flexible. And the notion that homeschoolers never leave the house and will be anti-social is in error. There are many home school groups who take field trips and many regions provide recreational activities catering to home school such as swimming programs and even fencing programs. One family took their children all over the world while homeschooling and the children received an education they could not have received in public schools.

Some families home school because they are dissatisfied with the quality of public schools in their area, but cannot afford private schools. A drawback to homeschooling is that often both parents need to work to support the family and there is no time to home school. And sometimes the family does not have the resources to provide materials such as chemistry labs, etcetera, for the children.

Public schools are affordable and normally have the resources to provide a first-rate education to students. It depends on the location and quality of the schools as to if this format is desirable, which is often why children are sent instead to private schools or are homeschooled. Another bonus is transportation is provided for the students to the schools.

A major drawback is that often the public school classrooms are overcrowded since the schools must educate all students in their district.

Depending on the quality of the public schools; another alternative is private schools. Some parents believe that it is worth the expense to send their children to private schools. For some it is the religious background and others the smaller classrooms. Yet other parents prefer a school where their children have a common social economic background. A drawback is many private schools have limited resources to provide technological and other support to the educational system and often cannot afford to pay well to draw in the top notch teachers. Another drawback is transportation to private schools.

All three formats of education have their place in this society and as long as each provides each student with a quality education then there is a need for all three and none should be condemned or done away with as each has its place.

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