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Home School vs. Public School

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Submitted By savanahrose14
Words 1142
Pages 5
Homeschool or Public School?
By: Savanah Anthony
Date: November 1, 2013

Back in the day parents decided to send their children to public schools for many different reasons. Some of these reasons are to build their children's social skills, to get their children out of the house, to give their children the education they did not have growing up. Because parents use to send their children to public school, public school is all some parents now even know, but home school education is on the rise. Since 1999 the number of home schooled children has increased by 75%. There are many reasons for this increase. Some of these reasons being a child's social skills, test scores and even violence. Parents only want what is best for their children, but they need to decide whether a public school education or a home school education is best. One statement most people make when choosing public school over home school is that their children will develop better social skills being around people their own age. This statement could not be more wrong. When children are attending public school they are put through social test by their peers to gain social status; also known as popularity. If a child passes these social test he or she has a high status, but if he or she fails these awkward encounters they are considered losers or loners. Children who hold a high social status tend to enjoy going to school, but those with a low social status dread going to school every day. The children with a low social status dread going to school every day, because those children with high social status lead others to bully, and reject those who have low social status. Children who attend homeschool are given the opportunity to learn social skills and behaviors from a more mature group of people or role models. Unlike when a children attend public school at home a parent has control over training and teacher their children appropriated and acceptable social behaviors. Home schooled children also develop stronger self-esteem because they are not faced with awkward social tests that could cause them to be ridiculed, mocked and even bullied. Something that a public school education does not offer is being taught by other children whom are older and being given the chance to teach children whom are younger. Although public schools do offer extra curricular activities, home school parents can find activities such Bible groups, sport groups, or even theatrical groups that other homeschoolers attend in their area by logging onto the Home School Legal Defense Association website. Michelle Anthony (an avid home schooling mom) from Gresham, Oregon even sets up field trips almost every Friday for local homeschoolers to attend. They visit places such as local parks to hike and explore, museums, power plants, and even sewer treatment plants. Not only is a child's social skills important to a parent, but their education is as well. Some parents would be astounded to learn that home schooled students out tested public schooled students by 34 to 39 percentile points. In reading homeschooled students averaged an 89% while public schooled students averaged a 50%. When it came to language home schooled students average an 84% while again public schooled students average a 50%. In the area of math home schooled students averaged an 84% and public schooled students fell 34 percentile points below with a 50% again. The scores in science were 86% for home schooled students and 50% for public schooled students. Social studies test averaged at 84% for home schooled students and again 50% for public schooled students. In core which is a combination of reading, language and math home schooled students received an 88% while public schooled students received a 50%. Lastly, in composition which is the combination of all five tests home schooled students received an 86% and public schooled students received a 50% yet again. According to these test scores home schooled students have a better grasp on these concepts (Home School Legal Defense Association, 2009). One thing that can cause these test cores to fall in favor of home schooling would be the one on one interaction that a child receives. When a child is put into the public school system the ratio is ranging from 20 to 32 students for one teacher. That one teacher does not have enough time to have individual contact with each and every student. Along with the development of a child's social skills and their education a parent also wants to make sure their children are safe while at school. According to the United States, Youth Risk Behavior Survey, 2011 evaluating violence at school they found that 7.4% of students ranging in age from 10 to 24 were threatened or injured while on school property. These violent behaviors included bullying, fighting, weapon use, electronic aggression also known as cyber bullying and gang violence. These offenses occurred while on school property, on the way to or from school, during school events or on the way to or from school events. 5.2% of females attending school were threatened or injured and 9.5% of males attending school were threatened or injured. There has been no evidence to suggest that there has been any home school violence except for some healthy sibling rivalry. After comparing the social skills developed in both a home school education and public school education home school students are given a healthier opportunity to develop and adapt to their social skills while still being submerged into social settings. In the area of testing, home school students out tested public schooled students by 34 to 39 percentile points in reading, language arts, math, science, social studies, core and composite. Last, it has ben established that the public school system is prone to violent acts; ranging from physical bullying, cyber bullying and even pulling out a weapon; making it safer for children to be home schooled that to be put into the public school system. Taking all of these facts into consideration the best thing parents could do for their children would be to start home schooling them.

Resources:

About School Violence. (). Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/VIOLENCEPREVENTION/youthviolence/schoolviolence/index.html

Home School Legal Defense Association. (2011). Retrieved from http://www.hslda.org/orgs/?State=CA&County=Riverside

Home School Legal Defense Association. (2009). Homeshool Progress Report 2009: Academic achievement and demographics [PowerPoint slides]. Retrieved from http://www.hslda.org/docs/study/ray2009/. Irvine, S. (2013). Homeschooler uprising in America?. Retrieved from http://www.academia.org/homeschooler-uprising-in-america/

Lawson PhD., C. (). Center for Development and Learning. Retrieved from http://www.cdl.org/resource-library/articles/social_skills.php

Turansky, Dr. S. (). Home schoolers support network. Retrieved from https://www.homeschool-life.com/sysfiles/member/custom_public/custom.cfm?memberid=475&customid=4446

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