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Ruskka Rui
Mrs. Morris
English IV Block D
4/17/15
Homeschooling: The Key to Success
There is no school equal to a decent home and no teacher equal to a virtuous parent (A
Quote). The enlightening words from Mahatma Gandhi, a preeminent leader of Indian
nationalism, directly demonstrate that homeschooling has its own distinctive advantages that
institutional schools can never reach. Although public education was established in the United
States early in the mid-nineteenth century and developed progressively since then, today many
parents turn to home education to seek a better learning environment for their children.
Homeschooled students are school-age children, ranging from five to seventeen years old, who
receive instructions at home instead of at a public or private school either all or most of the time.
According to U.S Department of Education, approximately 3% of the school-age population was
homeschooled in 2011-2012 school year. The number is continuing to grow at an estimate of 2%
to 8% over the past few years (Fast Facts). With the rapid development of the Internet, it is
now easier to get access to education online. As a result, issues about homeschooling are at the
center of a debate over the best way to educate the younger generations. Indeed, homeschooling
is a better option for children because it not only stimulates their interest in learning but also
creates a caring and free environment.
First of all, homeschooling helps children gain freedom in many ways and offers them
opportunities to explore their own interests. Since the home-educated spend most of their time at

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home, they do not have to face common problems, such as constantly being exposed to
competition and rankings, that often occur at schools. It allows emotional freedom, which assists
children to stay away from overwhelming peer pressure, excessive competition, and bullies
(Shaw). It also provides children with physical freedom and liberates them from school hours so
that they are able to enjoy some personal time and spend more hours on things they are interested
in.
Another type of freedom is also given to children through homeschooling. Homeschool
parents often argue that since the ultimate purpose is for children to receive adequate education,
homeschooling is the one which truly creates educational freedom for students (Shaw). Having
the choice to learn what they want and when they want is highly important for children,
especially those with special needs and those who are considered as extremely smart kids that
just get everything the teacher is talking about. Homeschool supporters state that homeschooling
makes it possible for students to learn at their own paces (Kam). As a result, homeschooled
children are very likely to be found self-motivated learners because they are good at finding out
the most efficient way of learning that works for them.
Homeschooling not only grants freedom to children, but also create a caring environment
for them, allowing them to obtain a close bond with their families. Statistic shows that 91% of
parents who choose to homeschool their children have a concern about the environment of
institutional schools (Fast Fact). Supporters believe that their children are better nourished at
home. Gloria Kam, an experienced parent who has homeschooled her five children, believes that
homeschooling is a type of attachment parenting, a parenting method that boosts a closer
family relationship (Kam). Homeschooling enables her to take care of their physical needs and

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mental growth at the same time. When her oldest son, Bryan, went to high school, he said to her,
Mom, Im glad that I got a childhood (Kam).
On the other hand, homeschool critics argue that institutional schools better prepare
children for future challenges by providing more opportunities for them to participate in
competitive events so that they are able to fit in the real world. The lack of team sports is usually
criticized when it comes to homeschooling. Homeschooled children miss out on these great
opportunities to learn about teamwork, communication, how to face failures and ways to
overcome obstacles. Critics state that, Children cannot control everything as they do in their
shelter home environment when they enter the real world (Boyce).
However, homeschooling parents actually understand the importance of letting children
participate in different events. Consequently, homeschooled students are regularly engaged in
social and educational activities outside their homes and with people other than their nuclear
family members (Ray). They are also found commonly involved in activities such as field
trips, scouting, church ministry, team sports, and community volunteer work (Ray). They even
have more opportunities to be out in the community because they are no longer restricted by
school hours (Allen). They have the chance to come across different situations and learn from
these life lessons. All these activities should help them get ready for future challenges.
In addition, homeschool critics point out another disadvantage of homeschooling is that
homeschooled children lack the feeling of being on the team. They never cheer for our
school, never being in a class where the interaction is more important than the text, or doing
any of the myriad things that make up the process of belonging (Boyce). Therefore, they have
a hard time dealing with their own generation because they have fewer interactions with

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children, referred as the real children, who go to regular schools. Some say homeschooled
children have to live outside the box (Shaw). They are surrounded by adults, thus having very
few opportunities to develop friendship with real children and consider themselves as part of the
generation.
However, based on studies, the home-educated are doing well, typically above average, on
measures of social, emotional, and physiological development. Research resources include peer
interaction, leadership skill, participation in community service, and self-esteem (Ray). They
interact with children of their age through a variety of activities, and the feeling of belonging can
be easily achieved at any time when they participate in a team.
Taken Lucas Kam, Gloria Kams third son, as an example. He did not talk until when he
was three. They gave him an IQ test and found out that there was a huge gap between different
categories. He scored extremely high on some categories, but the opposite on others. This huge
gap made his learning process very difficult. But after several years of receiving education at
home, Lucas successfully went to UCI, majoring in Computer Science. Gloria Kam says, If he
had gone to school, he would feel hes dumb because schools have such a limited way to
evaluate students (Kam). Despite criticism, homeschooling has its distinctive advantages. The
opportunity to experience hands-on learning, the freedom to learn at a personal pace and the
chance to explore individual interests are crucial for students. Homeschooling, different from
institutional schools, does not evaluate students only by scores. It encourages children to be out
in the community and truly become a member of their time. Most importantly, homeschooling
makes this come true: whenever you need a hug, there is one to be found (Shaw).

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Works Cited
Allen, Rachel. "Feminist Homeschooling Benefits Mothers and Children." Homeschooling. Ed.
Noah Berlatsky. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2010. Opposing Viewpoints. Rpt. from
"Feminist Parenting: Taking on the World, One Kid at a Time." California NOW. 2008.
Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 19 Jan. 2015.
A Quote by Mahatma Gandhi. Goodreads. Goodreads Inc, n.d. Web. 12 Apr. 2015.
Boyce, Margaret W. "Homeschooling Students Are Isolated and Poorly Socialized."
Homeschooling. Ed. Noah Berlatsky. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2010. Opposing
Viewpoints. Rpt. from "Home-Schooling Robs Children." Holland Sentinel 12 Sept. 2004.
Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 19 Jan. 2015.
"Fast Facts." National Center for Education Statistics. U.S. Department of Education, n.d. Web.
19 Jan. 2015.
Kam, Gloria. "Homeschooling Experience." Personal interview. 14 Jan. 2015.
Ray, Brian D. "Research Facts on Homeschooling." Research Facts on Homeschooling. National
Home Education Research Institute, 6 Jan. 2015. Web. 19 Jan. 2015.
Shaw, Isabel. "The Pros and Cons of Homeschooling." FamilyEducation.com. Pearson
Education, Inc., n.d. Web. 19 Jan. 2015. An list of Pros and Cons on homeschooling based
on personal experience.