Some families have a negative opinion about public schools, for many reasons:
- Their child’s learning style doesn’t mesh well with their local school’s approach to education.
- The school’s values are out of touch with their own.
- There’s also this important consideration: Children who go to a traditional school spend more than 14,000 hours in school. That’s more of their waking hours than they will spend anywhere else, including home.
Home schooling has become the fastest growing form of education in America today, in part because so many parents have taken a more active role in their children’s education in the wake of the COVID pandemic.
As a result, many parents have begun questioning whether public school is really the best option for their children. We’ll help you answer that question on Focus on the Family with Jim Daly. I’m talking with Monica Swanson, a seventeen-year veteran of home-schooling, as well as a blogger, author and podcast host.
She has some good advice that will equip you with information you need to know if you’re considering home schooling your child. She also has helpful tips for parents who already home school, ways to help your children be good learners, to have a positive outlook about their education, and to spend their educational “hours” wisely and efficiently.
Monica explains these benefits of homeschooling:
- Efficiency and flexibility in learning. A typical day in public school involves wasted time: kids standing in line, waiting for teachers, etc. By contrast, home schoolers can complete their academics quickly and adjust their schedule for interruptions and opportunities, such as unique learning experiences or visiting relatives.
- Better education. Home schoolers consistently post above-average scores on standardized tests. Colleges notice that these students are often more mature, innovative, and self-directed in their education.
- Health benefits. Research shows home schooled children are more physically fit, get more sleep, and have healthier diets than traditionally schooled children.
- Prepping for the real world. Home schooled children are more often expected to participate in responsibilities around the house, which teaches valuable lessons about paying bills, maintenance, budgeting, etc. They also have more time for internships that offer valuable on-the-job training for future endeavors.
- Teaching through a biblical worldview. Home schooling allows parents to incorporate biblical truths and acknowledge God’s hand in every area of life. These parents live out Deuteronomy 6:6-7 – teaching God’s Word to their children as a natural part of everyday life.
Listen to my full conversation with Monica Swanson on your local radio station, online, on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, via Google Podcasts, or listen on our free phone app.
Monica’s book, Becoming Home Schoolers: Give Your Kids a Great Education, a Strong Family, and a Life They’ll Thank You for Later, is available for a gift of any amount. (Click here for details.)
