Homeschooling is a Rising Alternative to “Traditional” Public Education Because the Effect it has on Freedom and Flexibility, Social Interaction, and Academic Success
Introduction
In light of the educational dilemma, many parents have grown impatient waiting for educational reform and are taking matters into their own hands. One alternative that is gaining popularity and acceptance is the educational option known as “homeschooling”. The National Center for Education Statistics defines homeschooling as,
Students are considered to be homeschooled if their parents reported them as being schooled at home instead of at a public or private school for at least part of their education and if their part-time enrollment in public or private schools did not exceed 25 hours a week. (National Center for Education Statistics, 2004, p. 1).
In the spring of 2003, an estimated 1.1 million students were being homeschooled in the
United States. This represents a 29 percent increase from the estimated 850,000 students who were being homeschooled in the spring of 1999 (see Figure 1). The estimated percentage of school-aged population being homeschooled rose from 1.7 percent in 1999 to 2.2 percent in 2003. “This spectacular growth not only testifies to the demand by parents for alternative and less-institutionalized options for their children’s education, but also has established home schooling [sic] as a significant and legitimate force in the American educational landscape” (Romanowski, 2001, ¶ 1). Some of the most current statistics show that during 2005 – 2006, an estimated 1.9 to 2.4 million children were homeschooled in the United States.
Homeschooled Children
Why are parents choosing to homeschool their children?
What motivates parents to choose homeschooling as a viable alternative to traditional education? There are many answers to this question, but the four most cited motivations were related to better education, socialization skills and development,...