Following the issues related to home education, and answering the questions that the readers have transmitted, in this topic I will develop which are, from my point of view, the pros and cons of this educational option.
Academic education at school is the way in which most families consider it most suitable for their children. It is the official formula and has the full support of the educational community and the State. In addition to structured knowledge, students are offered a social space in which to begin their relationship with others. And, in addition, families, apart from considering it the best for their children, need them to go to school to develop their work activities. There are many advantages, of course, even though our school system has to improve in many ways.
But for those who are interested in knowing, for personal concern or for having raised the possibility, we will see that advantages and disadvantages home education offers.
On the one hand there are reasons why a family can decide that it is a suitable path for them, always counting on the child, that, although he does not have all the information elements, and think what the parents think, he must be satisfied with the decision.
You will surely ask yourself if a child can make this important and countercurrent decision, and you are right. However, in many of the decisions we make for them, we would encounter the same question. On this issue, as I say, the child must be satisfied with the education he will receive. In the end, the ideal in my opinion is that all children could be heard on these topics, but can we always do it all?
There may be reasons for personal conviction to opt for home education. The way in which knowledge is transmitted in school, the pedagogical formula of the official line, is not accepted as the best by all specialists and families. The way to explain and live the values of coexistence, especially competitiveness, are other reasons that families explain.
There are also children with Special educational needs that do not find their place in school, no matter how much effort is made to achieve their integration and use in schools. Children with hyperactivity or dyslexia, gifted or with school anxiety due to bullying problems are poorly integrated into the system and many of them may suffer school failure. This would undoubtedly give us to talk long and hard, because there are many things to improve in the school system and not all depend only on educators, parents can also help improve it.
In those cases the option of the Homeschooling, always accompanied by external and socializing activities, can help them in some cases or simply be considered as an option by families as it is feasible to organize the study in a more personalized way.
If the family is prepared and involved, a more personalized education, spontaneous and flexible, which, basically, would be the objective of the school, but that, due to the number of students or lack of resources, is partially achieved in some cases.
Another advantage that is cited is that the family can spend much more time together, carrying out common activities and talking about topics that interest them, making natural curiosity nourish themselves with emotional contact.
Of course, there are also disadvantages The family has to rethink their schedules, priorities and jobs, even when they can educate at home. The change is huge for everyone since the child always has to be accompanied by a parent or family members involved in the project. I imagine it must be complicated, so I think that those who decide on this path do so very consciously.
Even economically home education It has repercussions, you have to reduce expenses, since you cannot have two full salaries. This seems to me to be a reason that, apart from the personal conviction that face-to-face schooling is better for the child in the opinion of most families, it will mean that not everyone can do it.
Another disadvantage is that the child may feel different from others. I do not believe that isolation is achieved, because, as I will explain in another subject, socialization can be focused creatively to be effective. But without a doubt, the child has a life experience different from that of his friends, who may envy him, but will make him perceive that way.
If that happens and the child lives it uneasily it is always possible to consider returning the face-to-face system. But in other cases, too, it will be a reason for personal enjoyment and a way of creating a self-concept independent of the age groups, which although they have advantages, they also have disadvantages.
Being different is not bad, we are all different in one way or another, the real challenge of a democratic society is to accept the differences of each one of us.
There are other disadvantages that we have already seen, such as access to qualifications and the way to socialize and, above all, to have continued contact with children, but I leave that for another article in which I am documenting myself.
Can you think of others advantages and disadvantages of home schooling?
