In my opinion, home schooling is a very bad idea. Students spend approximately 1400 hours a year in the classroom, and in many ways school mimics the real world; one has to work in order to succeed, and unless a person reverts back to the hunter/gatherer era and moves into a cave, socialization is a must for everyday survival. Indeed, the school day and the work day are fairly similar. The reward for the former is good grades, while the latter is a paycheck. Home schooling offers none of this preparation.

I work as a mailman, and I have had the chance to observe the social skills of a few home schooled children. One such child is overweight, possibly because her only source of exercise is walking the family dog. Another "home schooler" runs inside and shuts the door every time I walk up the street. I'm don't have Hollywood A-List looks, but that's just not natural. I feel that both of these children are light years behind their peers. Whether or not they recover from their secluded lives remains to be seen.

I have a few friends who are teachers, and by-and-large they are both intelligent and dedicated. Educators get a bad rap in our society. I have a couple college degrees, and I feel that I could instruct a student adequately in English and social studies. Beyond that, it would be a disaster. I am in no way qualified to teach chemistry, biology, or foreign languages. I seriously doubt that any parent who home schools is qualified in more than one or two subjects. That seriously limits the interests that a child may develop AND the skills to succeed in many fields.

Granted, there are many children who have social disorders that make home schooling a viable option. However, a parent of a normally developed child should think twice-or maybe six times-about the severe limitations that go along with home schooling.

Learn more about this author, T.C Leonard.
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