The Disadvantages of Home Schooling

For example, the ideal learning environment is where there's one to one help available to the learner whenever he/she needs it. Formal schools have a disadvantage in that they simply can not offer this to the learner...no matter how much they'd like to. This is a disadvantage that can't be overcome.

Compare that to any of the disadvantages of home schooling listed below and you'll see that it is possible to overcome each of them given determination, commitment and a willingness to learn. In fact, you could say that one of the advantages of home schooling is that all of its disadvantages can be overcome!

The disadvantages of home schooling:

Lack of Expertize
This is probably the greatest of the disadvantages of home schooling. Teaching skills, the ability to assess your child's learning difficulties, knowledge about the best curriculum to follow, etc. are not things most of us have learned about or feel competent in. Such a lack of knowledge and wondering "am I doing this right?" can be stressful for the parent, no matter how hard they're trying.

Nowadays there's likely to be a local home schoolers group near you or at least a State home schooling organization that you can join or contact. There are always other experienced and helpful parents who can offer advice or direct you to where you can get the help you need. )

Time
Home schooling means committing yourself totally to your child's education. This means being available during most waking hours. The time home schooling takes is not just on one to one interaction with your child as they are learning but also in learning about home schooling yourself...contacting other home schoolers...researching curriculums...etc.

This doesn't mean that a home schooling parent has to abandon having a social life. And there is the wonderful fulfilment a parent gets from watching their child develop and achieve their potential under their personal guidance.

Lack of Socialization with Peers
Of all the disadvantages of home schooling this is the one you'll probably hear the most. Yes, children in formal schools do have a greater opportunity to spend time socializing with other people of their own age. And yes it's good for them to do so.

But just because your child doesn't go to school doesn't mean that there are no available opportunities for him/her to meet with, work with, play with, be on teams with, discuss with other young people. There are clubs, scouts, hockey teams...lots and lots of opportunities...for them to avail of.

It should also be remembered that formal schools can't provide for the essential real and meaningful interaction with adults that a developing child needs. This one to one interaction with an adult is the very nature of the home school.

Pressure from Family and Friends
This can often be the most stressful of all the disadvantages of home schooling. There's always going to be someone, maybe even in your own family, who thinks it's crazy to home school children.

This may test your mettle and maybe even some of your friendships. It will also, probably, raise doubts in your mind about what you're doing. This is a good thing because it forces you to reconsider the quality of what you are providing for your child.

A little advice: when someone questions what you're doing...explain what and why you do what you do...don't defend it...choosing to home school doesn't require a defence.

Lack of Resources
Home schooled children don't, usually, have access to the large array of equipment and resources that they would have in a formal school.

This can be overcome, to some extent, by pooling resources with other families.

Expense
It can be an expensive undertaking. One of the greatest disadvantages of home schooling is the cost of books, magazines, reference materials, encyclopaedias, art materials, outside tutoring, etc.

Objectivity
Parents think the world of their child...and may be less than objective about their progress. This is a danger rather than a regular occurrence...many parents are more demanding of their children than outsiders would be.