Going Public: The Disadvantages of Homeschooling

Many parents who homeschooled their children have done a remarkable job and have sent their children into the real world with a bevy of preparation and confidence. There are countless case studies that discount the overwhelming stereotype that children who were homeschooled are socially awkward and inept due to the cloistered environment that shaped their formative years. There are, however, distinct and undeniable disadvantages of homeschooling that should be common knowledge to any parent that is considering eschewing public or private school for free reign over their child's education.

Most people, when thinking about the negative consequences of homeschool, would likely point out problems with a child's social skills or the child being unable to learn how to cooperate and get along with peers. Interestingly enough, very few people consider the parent who will actually be teaching the child, and the hurdles that that person will face. Imagine the sacrifice necessary for a parent to create lesson plans, outside activities, tests, quizzes, homework, and the countless other activities that a teacher gets paid good money for (as well as paid summer leave and planning days) and the parent receives nothing for. Many parents entertain the concept of homeschooling but few are truly up to the monumental task of not only raising but educating their child. After all, education is the one thing that can make or break a child's future and no parent would want to be the cause for the future failings of his or her offspring.

In all likelihood, the most obvious aspect among the disadvantages of homeschooling would have to be the social opportunities that the child will be missing out on. While it can be argued that age-segregated classrooms don't lend themselves to social melding in the first place, there is much to be said for making friends and attending dances and school functions. If such matters seem trivial to the parent of an eight year old, imagine when that child is sixteen and has little to no friends. Imagine the child watching movies and television that celebrates high school proms, homecoming dances, "the big game", kissing on the bleachers, and all the other things that, while not necessarily important in the long run, are certainly things that one should at least be given the opportunity to experience. That leads us into another looming problem with homeschooling.

The sad fact is that, after talking with kids who go to public schools or watching school-themed programming, a child may in fact wish to go to a "real" school in order to gain the experience. All the lessons taught by the well-meaning parent will be meaningful, no doubt, but it is hard to forbid a child from seeking to gain knowledge about the world and the people that he or she will very much be a part of upon graduation.