An increasing number of children today are receiving a home school education. The reasons for making the choice to home school their kids varies from family to family but there are three main reasons why parents are removing their children from the public school system and giving them a home school education.

The first reason is that the public education system in the United States is struggling to provide a proper education for the nation’s children with out of date text books, run down school buildings and inadequate equipment. Provision of a home school education enables the parents to have control over the quality of the educational materials used by their children and the general conditions in which they are educated.

The second reason is that parents wish to assume more control over the influences their children will be exposed to. This is often on the basis of religious grounds but, very often, it is simply because a home school education will ensure the child learns the values upheld by the family and is taught from an early age what behavior is appropriate. Unfortunately, many public schools have a poor reputation for instilling good discipline in students. This often results in badly behaved children disrupting lessons and preventing their peers from getting the full benefit of classes. Discipline and the upholding of proper standards of behavior is an important part of a home school education.

The third reason many parents choose to give their children a home school education is fear for their safety. Violence is on the increase everywhere and the public school system has not escaped this trend. Violence in the public education system is getting worse and the individual acts of violence are more serious. Since the shocking events at Columbine High School there have been further tragedies involving firearms where teachers and students have been injured or killed. A home school education ensures the safety of children who would otherwise be seriously at risk of harm.

The Disadvantages of Opting For Homeschooling

Providing a home school education is not simply a matter of parental choice. In most cases the state education board of the state in which the family resides will have to approve a decision to give a child a home school education. The person taking on the responsibility of homeschooling must be certified to be a home teacher, the curriculum must follow the state curriculum, and the text books and other educational materials to be used must be approved by the state. Although this might seen like undue interference in what is a matter of personal choice, the state has a responsibility to ensure that all children receive an adequate standard of education and checks will be made to ensure that any child being kept away from public school is being properly educated.

A home school education might mean that a child is deprived of certain opportunities which would have been available within the public school system. There could be difficulties in providing facilities for athletic children to realize their potential. Musically talented children could be similarly disadvantaged. In some states there is provision for children receiving a home school education to take part in amenities such as being able to attend sports lessons and join after-school clubs. However, the level of assistance provided to homeschooling parents is not uniform and varies a lot from state to state.

The final potential disadvantage to affect children receiving a home school education is that they will not develop the social skills which will be important as they grow up. Social interaction with their peers and with adults outside the family is essential if a child is going to grow up with a properly balance personality and a reasonable level of social skills. These developmental issues can be fairly easily overcome if the child lives in a state where homeschooling parents are given support and the child receiving a home school education is accepted into classes and extra-curricular activities.

The decision to keep a child out of the public education system is not one any parent would make lightly and any weighing up of the pros and cons must take into account the level of support the state will provide. However, if the public school system continues to deteriorate, the number of children receiving a home school education is bound to increase.

While all states require a Bachelor Degree (BA) to teach in the public sector, some vocational schools offer transfer programs whereby an Associate Degree (AA) may be attained prior to earning additional credit hours at a college or university.

Common curriculums provided in elementary education training may include various levels of English Composition, Education, Communication, Introduction to Education for Children with Special Needs, Classroom Instruction, Educational Psychology, and Child Growth and Development. Other courses in an elementary education training program may include Mathematics, History, Science, Physical Education, and more.

Public school teachers are required to be licensed in all 50 states, and licensure is most often granted by individual State Boards of Education upon completion of an approved education training program. Those who wish to teach in the private sector may not always be required to have a Bachelor’s Degree. In this case, students may attain elementary education training via a vocational school and present an Associate’s Degree to gain a private school teaching position.

If you are serious about a career in teaching, requirements can go well beyond the education obtained in a traditional or vocational school; many educational boards encourage and/or require professional certification. In particular, there is currently a National Certification program (sponsored by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards) that allows teachers to transfer licenses from one state to another.

Typically, students who have successfully completed elementary education training at a trade school, and have gone on to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree, may acquire gainful employment as teachers in preschool, kindergarten, elementary or middle schools.

Mistakes:

1. Letting emotions get the best of you! Many parents are unable to control their anger which gets in the way of their advocacy for their child.

2. Forgetting your inner voice! A lot of parents give too much weight to what some special education personnel say, rather than following their instincts.

3. Accepting lies from some special education personnel without challenging them. It is important to have a working knowledge of the federal and state special education laws so that you can recognize when you are being lied to!

4. Using the B word, when trying to get an education for your child! The B word is Best! The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) states that children have the right to a free appropriate public education; not the best.

5. Allowing special education personnel to continue year after year of not giving your child an appropriate education. Your child’s life will be ruined if you do not advocate every year for the education that they need.

How to avoid these common mistakes:

1. If you are in an IEP meeting and find yourself getting angry ask for a break. Remember that the first person that loses their cool usually loses the fight. Stay calm no matter what! Find other parents that you can talk about your experiences with, this will help you keep focus and calm!

2. Always trust your instincts. If special education personnel are telling you something about your child that you does not seem right to you, start investigating. Possibly get an independent evaluation to help you determine if the school is being truthful!

3. If school personnel say something to you that does not sound right say: Show me in the federal or state special education laws where it says that you are allowed to do this! Always stand up to them in an assertive and persistent way, for the good of your child.

4. Always use the word appropriate, not best when advocating for your child.

5. If your school district refuses to give your child the special education services they need, consider an independent evaluation. If the independent evaluator states that your child needs the service, but the school district still refuses consider filing a state complaint or for a due process hearing Most special education personnel will continue denying services if the parent does not stand up to them.

If you follow these 5 things to avoid you will well be on your way to being an effective advocate for your child.