| When we consign our children to public schools, | | | | textbooks, course materials, a library, computing |
| we feel satisfied that they are receiving 'quality | | | | equipment, lighting, specially designed furniture all |
| education'. But, are we really getting our money | | | | cost money. In this case, the cost may be slightly |
| are worth? More importantly, are the children | | | | lesser when it comes to homeschooling the |
| gaining anything from this kind of a learning | | | | second child. Add to this any additional tuition cost |
| procedure? | | | | for tutors who come to teach subjects that |
| Socialization is hailed as one of the greatest | | | | cannot be handled by parents, like higher-level |
| advantage of schools. This is the place where the | | | | math or science. The total cost can be a bit mind |
| child picks up the rudiments of social skills that | | | | boggling. |
| help him survive. But in truth, a regular | | | | If you take another important factor into |
| school-going child can interact only with his peers. | | | | consideration, homeschooling costs may effective |
| He may bully younger children or fear older ones. | | | | triple. The need for having one of the parents tied |
| He does not know how to behave with an adult. | | | | to the house and fully dedicated to providing |
| This is because in the school environment he | | | | education deprives the family of a second earning |
| interacts only with his peers. A homeschooling | | | | member. The average homeschooling teacher is |
| environment brings in a more natural social | | | | usually a lady with a college degree. This means |
| environment. | | | | that she can easily bring home a pay of $35,000 |
| A regular school going child cannot read literature. | | | | or more. It is also interesting to note that most |
| He cannot keep silent or think in depth about any | | | | families that have more than 2 children do not opt |
| one thing. The artificial busyness imposed upon | | | | for homeschooling at all. |
| him by the school disallows quiet contemplation. | | | | But, there are those who have been successful in |
| Rowdy and destructive behaviour, as seen among | | | | carrying out homeschooling at low rates. This is |
| peers, is more noticeable in school-goers. | | | | dependent on the size of the family, the support |
| There is little long-standing knowledge among | | | | group, and the type of materials used and the |
| regular school goers because most things are | | | | availability of the material. When successive |
| learnt for the exam. There is no correlation of | | | | children can reuse the materials, cost goes down. |
| facts with life. The child may know a lot, but | | | | Much of the course material can be got from |
| understands very little. This is where the | | | | vendors of homeschooling materials. A |
| homeschoolers beat the regular school goers. | | | | membership in a public library, theatre, concerts, |
| Ultimately, homeschoolers emerge more adept at | | | | ballets and other cultural events also help in cutting |
| facing the outside world. | | | | costs. Sometimes, it is even possible to barter |
| Financing homeschooling | | | | expertise. For instance, the mother of an 8-year |
| When people talk about teaching their children | | | | old gives dancing classes, and her daughter |
| from home in the absence of any definite or | | | | receives drawing classes for free. Support groups |
| structured curriculum, it is perhaps natural to think | | | | allow you to divide the cost of field trips, science |
| that homeschooling is cheap. But this is far from | | | | projects and fairs. |
| the truth. Although homeschooling does not stick | | | | Whatever the cost, advocates of homeschooling |
| to any particular text, this is perhaps more of a | | | | say that the benefits far outweigh these |
| bane than a boon, when it comes to finance. | | | | considerations. When you are able to decide what |
| When you need to make sure that your children | | | | knowledge your child receives and when he or |
| receives state-of-the-art education so that they | | | | she should be taught and to what extent, it gives |
| can compete with regular school goers, expenses | | | | you a lot of freedom and a lot of power. Both |
| will naturally mount. The actual cost of educating a | | | | the children as well as the parents benefit from |
| child at home is surprisingly high. Up-to-date | | | | this mutually enriching experience. |