There's no place like home
BY RONDA ADDY

Some of the greatest individuals of all time have one thing in common: they were all homeschooled. Who were these great people? Abraham Lincoln, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Albert Einstein and Thomas Edison are just some of the greats over the years who have been homeschooled. While homeschooling your child is no guarantee that you will turn out another Einstein, there are benefits to educating a child at home.

Homeschooling is often chosen for educational reasons above all else. Parents are fed up with overcrowded classrooms that don't allow their child to get the attention they need and they are tired of worrying about their child's safety while in school. While these are good reasons to homeschool, homeschooling is not for everyone. There are pros and cons that need to be taken into consideration before starting the endeavor.

Let's take a look at the pros first. Homeschooling allows students to study what they want, when they want and for as long as they want. In addition to state requirements, a child's age, emotional and interest levels play a role in what they study. Family comings and goings are no longer ruled by the school calendar. Vacations can be taken whenever convenient for the whole family rather than the entire school system. Homeschooled students don't have to get up at 6:15 in order to catch the bus at 7:15 and start school at 7:30 and then come home at 3:00 and stay up until all hours of the night doing homework. Public school classroom work sometimes takes days or weeks to cover. Homeschooling eliminates this need to drag out teaching a subject, plus it can lead to the elimination of homework. Homeschooling also means no bullies or peer pressure. Children who are homeschooled don't have to worry about fitting in and can act and dress however they want. Homeschooling can be a stabilizing factor during difficult times, such as a death in the family, moving or illness. It can also lead to a closer bond between parent and child, with both learning together and allowing the parent to incorporate their religious and spiritual beliefs into their child's teachings.

Of course, homeschooling also has its cons. Let's take a look at some of them. When considering homeschooling, a parent must make sure they are qualified and have the time to do so. Parents who work full time and take care of a home will have to find time to teach their children adequately. With any kind of schooling, there is a need for textbooks, workbooks and school supplies, as well. If one parent quits work or goes down to part-time, the household income will decrease, leaving less money to budget for supplies. Homeschooling also prevents interaction with others. Children will not have the same opportunities to participate in after-school activities or sports as those who go to school. Parents

who homeschool their children will also be with them nearly 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. If they have communication problems with these children, these problems could carry over into their schooling. Because homeschooling is considered something outside the norm, there are also bound to be some criticism and negative comments.

Parents who decide to homeschool their children should try to keep them part of the social scene. They should take advantage of any free after-school activities and any offered at local teen centers. By doing so, their children will be with others their own age that they can interact with and participate in activities of their choice, not those chosen for them. This is also a good way for parents to compare what is being taught in school to what they are teaching at home.

Whether you decide to homeschool your child should be a joint decision. If your child isn't receptive to the idea, then chances are they

will give you trouble the +

entire time, making homeschooling a miserable experience for everyone. The decision to homeschool is not one to be taken lightly. Think about it carefully and weigh the pros and cons.