To Home School or Not to Home School

Let’s imagine there are eight musicians who all have studied folk music their entire life. Nothing else at all, always folk music. Each can create wonderful folk music, completely uninfluenced by any other type of music because folk music is the only type of music they have ever known. Now these eight musicians group together and create even more wonderful folk music. Then one of them hears a Pop song and tries to recreate it with his band mates. But they are unable to do so because each of them is only knowledgeable of folk music.

In the same way, a group of home schoolers learning together will not be able to develop the type of social skills needed in the world, namely to interact with others of far differing backgrounds and customs, and they will only further develop their dependency on the protected life of the homeschooling community.

Home schooling during the early years of life can be very beneficial, and I would, in fact, recommend it. However, high school is an experience like none other and can only be experienced once. Should not students experience this unique opportunity, making friendships and developing socially, rather than remaining at home isolated from their peers? After elementary school, or at least junior high, children should get the chance to explore the world a little bit further by interacting with a diverse group of young adults.

Difficulties will be faced at any high school such as bullying, drug-offers, and other such peer-pressured ordeals, but this too is part of life and kids cannot remain unexposed to these things forever.

For those who choose to home school their children during the high school years, please be aware that your children are missing out on perhaps one of the most important avenues for growing up and developing into adults and that when they finally do step out into the world, they will be in for some trials and difficulties due to their lack of experience with those with different backgrounds, values, and customs.