by Brooke Lorren

Created on: September 17, 2009   Last Updated: September 19, 2009

The recent surge in homeschooling's popularity has led many people to ask which is better: homeschooling or formal education? While formal education is usually the better choice for children whose parents do not want to take the effort to teach their children, in the hands of a parent that is dedicated to teaching at home, homeschooling often provides a better education.

Individual Attention and Educational Goals

In the classroom setting, a teacher only has so much time to spend with each student. While this might be fine for a student who learns easily, this can be a problem for struggling students. Additionally, a classroom has to be geared towards the needs of the average student. A child who excels in one subject will have to plod along with the other students in the class, even when they are eager to take on greater challenges. This often leads to boredom. Children who are having difficulty in a subject will do poorly and will become frustrated.

In the homeschool setting, a child can study at the level that they are capable of. If a subject is too easy for a child, they can move up a grade in that subject. If they are having difficulty in one area, they can spend more time working on that area until they are confident. Homework can be assigned based on what the child needs, rather than what the average student in a class of thirty needs.

Flexible Schedules

Homeschooling allows for a flexible schedule that formal education cannot. If a child can benefit from the extra sleep, class can start later in the day than in a school setting. In high school, teens can schedule their school work around jobs, internships, sports, or college courses. Many Olympic athletes turn to homeschooling as a way to optimize their training time while they finish their high school education.

Pursuing Dreams and Interests

Homeschooling allows children to delve deeply into subjects that they have a strong interest in. This may be one of the reasons why so many spelling bee champions come from homeschooling backgrounds. If a child is studying history class and develops a fascination with Ancient China, he or she will be able to spend extra time learning about the subject, and may even be able to convince mom or dad to plan a field trip to an art gallery that specializes in Chinese art. Formal classrooms cannot plan a field trip for every child's whim, and they have to stay on schedule.

Interaction with Others

While many proponents of formal education claim that socialization is an advantage that it has over homeschooling, the opposite might actually be true. In a classroom, children spend all day with the same thirty kids, all approximately the same age, for the entire year. Homeschooled children often interact with people of all ages, including doctors, librarians, other children at the park, and store clerks. They usually spend more time with their siblings and other family members, forming close bonds that are often not realized with their public school counterparts. While it is still possible to run into bullying at sports, coop classes, and other group activities, homeschooled children tend to spend more time in a supportive environment.

While homeschooling is not for everyone, when the parent and the student express an interest in home education, it can be an excellent alternative to formal education.

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