A Comparison Between Home and Public Schooling

A comparison between home and public schooling

A comparison between home and public schooling University of Phoenix Leona Stewart COM/170 March 4, 2012 Dr. George Williams

In this essay, the writer will make a comparison between home schooling and public schooling. Whereas similarities do exist, there also will be dissimilarities. Although there is a lack of diversity, both home schooling and public schooling are effective forms of education. According to research several similarities and dissimilarities exist between home schooling and public schooling. However, for the purpose of this essay, the writer will investigate the following: (1) courses taught; (2) required credentials of teachers; (3) class structure, and (4) peer relationships. By comparing the two types of schooling, parents will be able to make an informed decision in regard to their children’s education. In both home and public schooling the curriculum is very similar. Both types of education must contain lessons that include reading, language, social studies, science, and mathematics. While in public schools the school district can dictate the curriculum, in home schooling the parents have the right to make choices. As long as the student completes four and one-half hours daily the parent may decide how much time to devote to a specific subject. This allows more flexibility to work with a child’s specific needs. As long as the student achieves a mastery of a specific subject more time may be spent on the weaker subjects. In both types of education specific goals must be achieved. In public school Criterion-Referenced Competency Tests, known, as CRCT`s are the basis used in the classroom to assess the mastery of subjects. Home schooled students must take a nationally recognized assessment every third year in the third, sixth, ninth, and twelfth grades. An acceptable test would be the Stanford Achievement test. Upon completion the records for this test must be kept on file for three years (Carnes, 2012). There is a vast difference in credentials for the teacher in regard to home schooling and public schooling. To obtain certification to be a teacher in a public school system, the teacher must have a Bachelor’s degree at the minimum. Some states also require undergraduate credit for certification in a specific area. However, Georgia, is not a state that has this requirement. In contrast for a parent to home school his or her child the only requirement is to have a high school diploma or a General Equivalency Diploma commonly called a GED. With home schooling parents have the option to teach the student theirself or to hire a tutor to do the teaching. If the parent decides to hire a tutor the tutor must also possess the same credentials to qualify for home schooling. A Bachelor’s degree is not a requirement of either the parent or the tutor. Class structure varies tremendously between home schooling and public school. With home schooling children of every age will be in the same class. Elementary students will not be put into a separate classroom apart from students who are older. The students will not study the same level of class assignments, but they will be in the same class with the same teacher. In public school students in a class are approximately the same age. There may be a difference of months in student’s ages, but there will not be a difference of years in age. Generally in a public environment an instructor only teaches one subject and the teacher stays in one room. Classes follow a strict schedule in regard to a specific time frame with a break between classes for the students to change rooms. In a home school environment the student does not have to change classrooms, but has the mobility to attend class in a place of the parent’s choosing. This could include a specific room or place in the home, at a library, or even outside weather permitting if the parent chooses to do so. Also there is no specific time schedule. The parent has the leeway to change the schedule in regard to when the classes will be held. For example today mathematics could be the first subject covered, but the next day science could be first and mathematics could be the last. No specific time frame must be adhered to with home schooling. Many differences exist between home schooling and public schools in regard to relationships with peers. In home schooling the only classmates a student will have are likely to be family members. This is in contrast to a public school in which students are from other families, religions, and races. Extracurricular activities will be different for the home schooled student then for the public school student. There will be no after-school clubs, sporting events, or dances to attend. Whereas, the home schooled student may have the opportunity to attend extracurricular activities it will not be in a group with other classmates in attendance. Lack of diversity may be the biggest difference between home schooling and public schooling. The home school student will not have other classmates to collaborate with. Input into a conversation will be strictly between the student and the parent therefore eliminating many perspectives that are available with a group of students who come from different environments and cultures. In conclusion, there are similarities between home schooling and public schooling in regard to mandatory classes the student must take and demonstrate the mastery of. Dissimilarities exist between home and public schooling in regard to requirements for a teacher to qualify to teach the student, class structure, and relationships with peers. While taking the lack of diversity into consideration it appears that both home schooling and public schooling are acceptable forms of education as long as specific requirements are adhered to. In the writer’s opinion whereas there are differences, the most important issue is the similarity between both types of schooling that the same subjects must be taught and verification must be provided to show mastery of the subject. Students in both types of schooling have the ability to achieve the same level of education. The appropriate choice would be strictly a matter of opinion in making the decision whether to home school a student or to enroll the student in a public school. By doing careful research a parent would be able to make an informed decision whether home schooling or public schooling would be the best choice for his or her children. Also a decision could be made based on whether the differences would have an impact on the quality of education in the parents opinion.

References
Carnes, S. (2012). About.com.Atlanta. Retrieved from http://atlanta.about.com/od/governmenteducation/a/homeschooling-in-georgia.htm

References: Carnes, S. (2012). About.com.Atlanta. Retrieved from http://atlanta.about.com/od/governmenteducation/a/homeschooling-in-georgia.htm