Homeschooling vs. Public Schooling Essay

Homeschool and public school, which one is better for my child? What about the cost? Which educational setting will my child benefit the most from? These are questions that parents need to ask before making a decision such as this one. Also, parents need to know that both homeschool and public schools appeal to people of all race, religion, and political viewpoints (Romanowski, 2001). Whether a parent chooses to homeschool their child or send them to public school, is a decision that needs to be researched on the performance, cost, and their child’s life after school. First, when choosing which educational setting is best for their child, parents need to research students’ performance for both types of schooling. Studies have shown that children who are homeschooled score better on test than those who are in public school (Some Fascinating Facts, n.d.). Possible reasons being that the homeschooled child has more one-on-one time with the teacher, and they are able to spend as much time as they need to on the subjects that they are struggling with, if any. The time that is allowed for each part of the curriculum may be too fast or too slow for the child who is attending public school (Homeschooling vs. Public, n.d.). Children who go to public schools are able to participate in group discussions and debates (Homeschooling vs. Public, n.d.). Students are able to develop their social skills, and learn to interact with children their own age. Next, the cost can also affect whether the parent decides to homeschool or  send their child to public school. Depending on the choices that a parent makes and the supplies that are needed, homeschooling one child can cost from $300-$2500 per year (Mohr, 2012). According to the National Retail Federation in 2012, the average cost for a parent to send their child to public school was around $634 per year (Klein, 2013). Lastly, depending on which educational setting the parent chooses can affect the student’s life after school. Children who were homeschooled had a GPA of 3.41 their freshman year of college, compared to other students who had a 3.12 (Some Fascinating Facts, n.d.). Students in public schools may even discover that the lessons they learned outside the classroom, in extracurricular activities such as basketball or chess club, help them cope with future challenges in the workplace (I Have A, n.d.). Therefore, choosing to homeschool or send a child to public school is not a very easy decision for parents to make; much thought and research needs to be done on students’ performance, the cost of each, and what is in store for the student after graduating. Homeschoolers score better on tests than those in the public setting. Though, children who are homeschooled are not able to participate in group discussions or even class debates. Homeschooling, for one child, can cost anywhere from $300 to $2500 per year; parents who decide to send their child to public school pay on average $634 a year. Homeschooled children had a better GPA their freshman year of college than the students who graduated from public school. The students who attend a public school and also are involved in some type of extracurricular activity, are able to cope better with the challenges in the workplace. Whatever educational setting the parent decides is best for their child, they need to know that there ar e both benefits and disadvantages with each decision. References â€Å"Homeschooling vs. Public Schooling.† (n.d.). _Homeschooling Ideas._ Retreived on May 24, 2014 from http://www.homeschooling-ideas.com/homeschooling-vs-public-school.html. I Have A Plan Iowa â„ ¢. (n.d.). _- Article_. Retrieved June 6, 2014, from https://www.ihaveaplaniowa.gov/Home/Article.aspx?articleId=IGeYH2kUApurN7JfmoFVeQXAP3DPAXXAP3DPAX&level=3XAP2FPAX6J7I3kztATGuYyXAP2BPAXDahIQXAP3DPAXXAP3DPAX. Klein, R. (August 20, 2013). â€Å"Back-To-School Shopping Costs: How Much Parents Should Expect To Spend This Year.† _Huffington Post._ Retrieved on May 24, 2014 from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/20/back-to-school-shopping_n_3751079.html. Mohr, A. (August 27, 2012), â€Å"How To Start Homeschooling Your Kids.† _Investopedia._ Retrieved on May 24, 2014 from http://www.investopedia.com/financial-edge/0812/how-to-start-homeschooling-your-kids.aspx. Romanowski, M. H. (2001). Undoing the ‘Us vs. Them’ of Public and Home Schooling. _Education Digest_, _66_(9), 41. â€Å"Some Fascinating Facts About Homeschool vs Public School.† (n.d). _Homeschool World_. Retrieved on 24 May 2014 from http://www.home-school.com/news/homeschool-vs-public-school.php.