Homeschool VS. Public School
- Stephanie Partridge
- Mar 14
- 6 min read
Updated: Mar 17
This is the fifth segment in a series of articles about homeschooling.
Click on the buttons at the end of the post to be directed to other articles.
What I love about homeschooling:
The homeschooled child can go at their own pace. There is no waiting for people to catch up or skimming over something because most people get it. For this reason, homeschoolers sometimes have no idea what "grade" they're in. In public school, your grade usually lines up with your age range and you learn the same things with everyone else. In homeschooling, you may have a 10-year-old who is learning from a 7th-grade science course, 9th-grade Language Arts books, and a 5th-grade Math curriculum. So, if you ask a homeschooled child what grade they're in and they look confused--this is why. Instead, you could ask them about their favorite topic they're learning about.
The homeschooled child gets a custom education. With homeschooling, if a child has an interest in dinosaurs, then they can spend months learning about dinosaurs. Our youngest son was interested in space, so we spent six months studying the planets, the earth, astronomy, and astrology. We purchased a telescope and studied the night sky. We spent time preparing for an upcoming eclipse by learning about the earth's rotation, how the moon affects tides through its gravitational pull, and how the sun affects our earth by providing light and necessary life to plants. What he learned (I hope) is that we can find answers to our questions and find joy in learning. If a child is struggling with math, the parent can spend their time focusing on what they need to succeed. No child can be overlooked or "slide by," because the "class" consists of the family. We learn a subject until the child gets it, not until it's time to move in. Many homeschoolers are out-of-the-box thinkers and innovators because they don't follow rigid societal norms, like what would be expected in a structured classroom.
The homeschooled child is influenced by the environment that the parent creates (pro and con - see # 3 in What I love about Public School). Every one of my children has come home in the first year of being public schooled saying the Lord's name in vain at least once. We quickly correct the language and it has never been repeated, but they hear it so much that it's easy to pick up the habit. A couple of my kids have asked about pretty bad swear words because they didn't know what they meant in Kindergarten. It breaks my heart that kids are surrounded by bad language, bullying, inappropriate jokes, and even pornography before they can even spell their last names. In my experience, this is just commonplace in public schools. Children's brains develop in the environment they are placed in, and homeschooling allows for some catered experiences and surroundings. As I said above, one of my boys showed a noticeable change in attitude for the better when we removed him from public school. Children are always learning, and if they spend more than half their day around people with different values, morals, and goals in life, you can expect that those influences will make an impact on who they become.
What I love about Public Schooling:
Children can get support from trained professionals for free.
Not every parent is equipped to provide the necessary therapy, guidance, and interventions needed to help a child with special needs, whether they be academically or psychologically. Many Public Schools have access to speech therapists, occupational therapists, guidance counselors, financial assistance for meals, educational intervention options (IEP), and additional staff support for health and wellness. These resources can be very costly and impossible for many families. The government-funded schools are required to provide the necessary support for children to thrive. Another great benefit of public schools is the safety of many children in unsafe living situations. The school offers them safety. Teachers are also trained to spot and report abuse when suspected.
Children learn to compete and challenge themselves through peer pressure. I know, peer pressure usually isn't used in a positive connotation so stick with me for a minute. How often in your lifetime will you be enclosed for 7 hours a day with such a wide range of differing beliefs, ideas, backgrounds, varying economic status, cultures, and behaviors to learn, play, and grow? School is a test tube of exploration into differences. Children seeing other children do amazing things allows them to see their own possibilities. Differences can push a child to try harder or work harder to achieve what they've seen others achieve. My older children who attend public school enjoy the challenges they face with differing opinions and thoughts. One of my sons also likes the competitiveness of school sports and the camaraderie he feels with his peers. Another child is determined to be at the top of his class, so he pushes himself by taking challenging classes and working hard. These children thrive in public school.
The world would be a very boring place if everyone looked, thought, and acted the same. Having variety brings beauty to the earth, and school is a way to introduce children to different points of view and thought while still being able to teach and guide them in their moral compass at home.
“The beauty of the universe consists not only of unity in variety, but also of variety in unity”. (Italian writer and philosopher Humberto Eco)
Children learn grit and structure. I've heard some homeschooling parents jokingly refer to their children as being "feral." It's funny because homeschooled children tend to be free spirits. They are not attuned to move when a bell is rung or required to sit still and look forward for hours at a time when an adult is talking. This has its pros and cons, and in this example, I will highlight the pros of public school. In public school, children learn at a very young age that when an adult is talking, they should be quiet and listen. In public school, children learn to hustle and stay in line. In public school, children learn to work their way to the top. Skills like following orders, keeping a space clean and organized so that it doesn't impede on another's space, and getting from one place to the next quickly are important life skills that will help people in a workplace environment.
As stated in my other post, "Homeschooled Children are Socially Awkward," our son's coach observed the public schooled children knew how to claw their way to the top. When surrounded by people who think and act differently from you, you learn to defend yourself and become gritty. Having grit allows you to more easily adapt to change, disappointment, and set-backs. Grit is something that is learned through experience and challenges. One of my greatest faith-promoting experiences in my youth was defending my beliefs to my peers. Had I never had those experiences of opposition, I would not be the person I am today. In homeschool, children spend the majority of their time with people who look, act, and think like themselves - their family. I'm not saying that homeschooled children can't learn grit and structure, but it comes more naturally in the public school setting.
In Conclusion. . .
I never imagined that I would be a homeschooling parent. Although, in hindsight, I realize I've always homeschooled. I taught the kids to walk, to eat their food using a utensil, to say please and thank you. When the kids were very young, I ran a "Joyschool" with friends. I required all the kids to participate in Mom-School every summer until they were teenagers, where we learned things together during the break, went on field trips, hikes, and did science experiments together. My husband and I have always had weekly "family nights" where we learn from the scriptures and do activities together. We frequently do reading challenges and encourage the kids to study things out for themselves. Without realizing it, I have been a homeschooling parent for over a decade!
There are pros and cons to both public schooling and homeschooling. I think the greatest indicator of success in life is not where a child learns their ABCs, but the enriching education they receive outside of the classroom. A strong family unit that loves, supports, challenges, and strives to grow together in unity will give a child their best shot. So, whatever educational path you choose for your child -- it's the right choice if chosen with their best interest in mind.
Famous Homeschooled People:
Serena and Venus Williams, Laura Ingalls Wilder, Thomas Edison, Alexander Graham Bell, Michelle Kwan, Emma Watson, Agatha Christie, Nelson Mandela, JRR Tolkien, Taylor Swift and Emma Watson (part-time), C.S. Lewis, Tim Tebow
Famous Public Schooled People:
Warren Buffet, Jeff Bezos, Natalie Portman, Oprah Winfrey, Jennifer Anniston, Steve Jobs, Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Comments