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Home_School_I

Feature Article August 22

Feature Article August 22, 2001

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The student who never went to schoolHomeschooling: a closer lookPart one in a 3-part series by Meghan BaloghHomeschooled. You never get a snow day. You eat your meals in class. Recess is spent doing dishes. All schoolwork is homework. For home economics, you clean the house. These may be characteristics of homeschooling, but there's a lot more to it than having your mom as a teacher. Many people have a mistaken outlook on homeschooling, viewing it as confining and antisocial. However, homeschooling has its own place in the community today, and I hope as you read, you will come to realize the benefits of home education."Oh, so you're homeschooled."When I tell people that I'm homeschooled, I get different reactions: "What about friends?" they say. "Don't you get bored?" "I wish I were you." "What do you do all day?" "I wouldn't want to be homeschooled." Their opinions vary, but home-schooling has, in fact, many advantages.Homeschooling gives a student much more time to pursue and develop special interests. Time in schools is wasted through disruption and some students unwillingness to learn, which slows down the willing students' progress. The extra time homeschooling provides me with has allowed me to cultivate my love of music (violin and piano), as well as horseback riding and writing. Homeschooling also provides a student with a lot of one-on-one attention -- something that is not as freely available in a classroom of 30. For children with learning disabilities, homeschooling is ideal. Children without learning disabilities are able to progress much faster, which is the case with many homeschool students. Rachel, a 16-year-old homeschooler from Mississauga, just completed her high school requirements through the Advanced Training Institute, a homeschool curriculum program for families.

Homeschool students are not bound to the schedules of a normal school day. Hours are flexible, allowing time for different things that a student would otherwise be unable to do during the day. Parents are also able to monitor the amount of school work that their children must do. Each person has a different capacity for learning. When everyone is taught the same thing the same way, things are not retained as easily as when the program is specifically fitted to your learning capabilities.

One major reason parents choose to homeschool is because of the school peer group. Peer groups are not necessarily bad; however, peer pressure can be very difficult for a young person who has trouble standing up for what they believe. Many homeschool parents want to make sure that when their children are exposed to peer pressure, they will understand how to stand for what is right and "go against the flow."One benefit of not being pressured by a peer group is that homeschooled students can better develop their world views. Separated from the tugs of youthful persuasions, homeschoolers can cultivate their beliefs and conscience. This opportunity has allowed me to learn how to better follow my Saviour, Jesus, and live every day for Him. One of the biggest benefits of homeschooling is the attitude in the "classroom." When studying turns into exploring the unknown, learning turns into something fun. You can learn so many things through everyday living, and those everyday experiences make it come into perspective. Every student at some time or another will have something better to do than school work, but why not give an incentive to learn? Homeschooling gives a student this opportunity: to turn learning into a real joy.

With the participation of the Government of Canada