Homeschooling - Pros and Cons - Annotated Bibliography Example

Homeschooling Number) December 16, (Faculty) Homeschooling Homeschoolers are children aged between 5-17 years. Over the past few decades, homeschooling has gained roots in the United States with most researchers portraying it as a viable form of education. Homeschooling movements in the United States began in the colonial period with major roots taking hold in 1970’s (Moreau, 2012). Before then, most students in the United States were schooled in the formal public setting. Since it lies within parents to decide the fate of their children when it comes to education, they changed their minds and democratically resorted to homeschooling for the betterment of their children’s future. According to the National Center for Education Statistics (2008), the relative increase in homeschooling rate rose by 74% within a period of 8-years. The increase was from 1.7% in the year 1999 to 2.9% in the year 2007. This sample survey therefore implies massive rise in the number of homeschoolers. Research has therefore been conducted on this very subject matter in order to reveal the trend of homeschooling. Since the students who acquire education through the public formal setting are far much different from homeschoolers, literature has sought to compare the two types of education systems. Through literal criticism, light has been shed on homeschooling and its advantages distinguished from the advantages. This document is therefore a purposed deep review of homeschooling based on different authors perspectives. Ray, B. D. (2013). Homeschooling Associated with Beneficial Learner and Societal Outcome but Educators do not Support it. Peabody Journal Education, 88(3), 324-341. Ray (2013) reviews the outcomes of homeschoolers in their adulthood life. The author further goes ahead to into the academic performance of the homeschooled children without failing to acknowledge their social, emotional and psychological development. Ray reveals that students who were associated with homeschooling showed positive successful outcomes in their adulthood education. However, the author reveals should homeschooling fail to be regulated by the government, parents will cause harm to their children. This is based on the opinion of homeschooling critiques as well as those who oppose it. Ironically, proactive opposition to homeschooling is built on sentiments rather than substantial evidence. This is to mean that there is no empirical research evidence offered to prove that indeed homeschooling is harmful for individual children, families or the collective good. Indubitably, it is therefore right to stand with the opinion that homeschooling is in fact healthy for the current as well as the next generation. This is with respect to Ray (2013) which has revealed the good part of homeschooling and weighed it against the supposed harmful part. This stand suggests that Ray is right with the opinion that homeschooling is one fruitful way forward in education. Therefore, until empirical evidence against homeschooling is provided, claims against will always remain irrelevant. Ray, B. D. (2004). Homeschoolers onto College: What Research Show us. Journal of College Admission, 185, 5-11. In this book, Ray reveals the continuous expansion of homeschooling in the coming years. The author further stipulates that soon the number of home-educated students in colleges will be overwhelming due to the exponential growth of the homeschooling system. According to Ray (2004), the probability of home-educated students emerging successful once in college is exceptionally high. This is because these students seem to have strong self-discipline, self-initiative and motivation. Most advantages with homeschooled children is as a result of individualized instructions they receive. A combination of these individualized instructions with students’ studying experience are likely to show long-lasting effects. One interesting part about Ray’s revelation on homeschooling is that the college and university personnel that have always shown animosity towards homeschooling is now embracing it. Another section covered by Ray in his book is social and emotional development. The most commonly asked question in this field lies in the ability of a homeschooler to experience healthy social, emotional and psychological development. The only response that comes out of this question is higher problems in behavior scores amongst the institutionally schooled. The performance of homeschoolers in the ‘real world’ is another matter that raises the second question of concern according to Ray (2004). ‘Real world’ in this context is to mean adulthood where one is to manage their lives. The conclusion from a research on this subject was that homeschooling nurtures leadership at least as well as the conventional system. Seemingly, the author is right about his arguments on homeschooling. The arguments that homeschooling is a better option can be evidenced by the successful adults who went through this private education system. The fact that there is one-on-one interaction between the homeschooler and the learner guarantees quality information conveyance to the learner. Furthermore, slow learner can hardly be disadvantaged in the homeschooling system of learning. Tutors are at their disposal. As much as Ray positively presents homeschooling in a better image, he fails to explore few vital effects such as the sociality of homeschoolers. Children in public schools have got higher chances of developing positive social life. Homeschoolers have minimal chances if interacting with their peers. This is one thing that might induce isolation and loneliness into the lives of these learners. It should therefore be known that as much as education is a treasure, social aspects of human life are equally important. Homeschooling should not be a stumbling block towards human social freedom. Gathercole, R. (2007). The Well-Adjusted Child: The Social Benefits of Homeschool. Maple tree Publishing Company, 65(23), 22-45 Socialization is pivotal in the modern life of today, this is something explored in detail by Gathercole (2007). The author reveals that besides sending children to school, there is a wide variety of possibilities for socializing children in the real world. According to this author, parents fond the opportunity to teach their children about the healthy life and social culture as part of homeschooling. Negative trends such as drug abuse, parental abuse, teenage promiscuity and violence ought to be taught against and can only be best achieved at the one-on-one interaction level. Seemingly, public education fails on this part. Gathercole (2007) is most probably right because research has already revealed the extent of destruction in modern institutions. The destructions are characterized by the entire list of mentioned aspects including drug abuse, promiscuity, youth violence, alcoholism amongst others. Home-schooling enables the youth to kept away from virtues as such and be taught proper methods of living. Gathercoles book presents stories, data and how homeschoolers develop social skills. This is quite appealing. It is one of the books you could hand over to someone worried about the social life of their childGenerally, Gathercole accentuate the belief that homeschooling is indeed a very preferable option for students as it equips them with skills of healthy living. Lubienski, C. (2000). Whither the Common Good? A Critique of Homeschooling. Peabody Journal of Education, 75(1-2), 207-232. In this article, Lubienski (2000) stipulates that homeschooling is in a way benefiting private learners over the students in public institutions. Home-schooling discourse essential issues of private benefits and individual rights rather the public good (Lubienski 2000). The author therefore affirms that homeschooling if widely against the public interests while it at the same time undermines the common good. The decline of social schools is also blamed on homeschooling with claims that this private system withdraws children as well as capital from the formal public setting. It is more of a statement that breeds bitterness. It also undermines the ability of public education to improve. Basing arguments on Lubienski (2000) it is evident that homeschooling should be abolished because it lowers the potential of public schools to serve common good in a democracy that is vibrant. One thing that makes Lubienksi less outstanding in his argument is that he does not take into consideration other factors that cause public schools decline. Lubienksi makes it seem as if the eradication of homeschooling could possibly cause exponential growth of public schools when in fact there are several factors uncovered. An example of an obvious factors that could lead to the downfall of most public schools is poor management and inadequate resources. Furthermore, everyone has got the right to choose a way in which they prefer to acquire knowledge. This is an implication that the arguments of Lubienksi are sentimental. Although homeschooling contributes to the downfall of public schools in one way or another, it solely lies within parents and their children to decide whether they want to practice it or not. References Gathercole, R. (2007). The Well-Adjusted Child: The Social Benefits of Homeschool. Maple tree Publishing Company, 65(23), 22-45. Lubienski, C. (2000). Whither the Common Good? A Critique of Homeschooling. Peabody Journal of Education, 75(1-2), 207-232. Moreau, K. (2012). Homeschooled vs. Public Schooled. Northern Michigan University, 164, 2-5 National Centre for Education Statistics. (2008). 1.5 Million Homeschooled Students in the United States in 2007. U.S. Department of Education. NCES 2009-030, 1-3 Ray, B. D. (2013). Homeschooling Associated with Beneficial Learner and Societal Outcome but Educators do not Support it. Peabody Journal Education, 88(3), 324-341. Ray, B. D. (2004). Homeschoolers onto College: What Research Show us. Journal of College Admission, 185, 5-11. Read More