Normal School is better than Homeschool.

Hi. Refutation: Contention 1: Price Sure, if you have evidence to back up your claim that homeschooling children perform better, I agree. However, what happens in high school? Does the parents continue to teach, and if the child's intended major is not his parents, what will his parents do? In elementary school and maybe middle school, homeschooling is fairly easy as most people know how to teach 1 1=2 and all that good stuff. But in high school, as the intensity is higher, homeschooling becomes more as a hassle than a benefit, as parents may not know much of the high school curriculum. And what happens when the kid goes to college? It will be an entirely new experience as he will be socially awkward, and it is better to have training for that in middle school or high school. And please, I would like to say that the $10,000 is not entirely true, as donations etc. make up the bulk of it. Public school is free while in homeschool you have to pay money for supplies. In public school the material is funded by the gov. Therefore this contention is entirely refuted. Contention 2: More time to pursue interests This is a weak argument. Walking home takes only 5-20 minutes, and most of the time students get picked up. We cannot ignore all the benefits of normal school just because of the time it takes for a mere 20 minutes to walk back from school. I can turn this to my side too. As students will arrive 20 minutes later than homeschool, they will learn time management which can be a vital skill in college and the real world. While this may also be a weak argument, it does not matter as your contention is refuted already. Contention 3: No bullies This can be turned to my side of the argument. Bullies are GOOD. At least in school. Why? Because in the real world, there are tons of bullies like your manager or job interviewer. You just got to be prepared for them, and learning how to deal with them in school can prepare for the real bullies in life. It is the journey that counts and makes you stronger. This principle of having a weaker form of a bad thing to immunize the person from it can be demonstrated in vaccines. Therefore not only is this argument refuted, it is turned to my side of the debate now. Contention 4: Curriculum You talk about higher GPA. This is totally false as GPA is only in public schools, not home. Next, if the parent gets to choose the curriculum, then he will be biased, and make the curriculum based on their interests and what he wants his child to become, NOT his child's own interests. This breeds a weak child who struggles in his area because he does not like it, but is forced to do it. For example, a child is fascinated by science. However, his parents love math and computer engineering. They force their kid to learn computer engineering, which their child not only struggles with, but hate. This is a bad way of teaching. Therefore this argument is refuted. Contention 5: Attention This can also be applied to the real world. In the real world there are a lot of people who work with you and can "distract" you. Again, you just have to learn to deal with it. In homeschool, there is a bit too much attention, and can make the child self-centered and selfish. This will ultimately spoil the child. Therefore this contention is also refuted. Rebuttals: Contention 1: Social interaction Most friends stem from school. Parent's friend's children is more based on the parent, not on the child. The child may not have the same interests as his parent's friend's child. You say that children are not in the house 24/7 but this is a weak refutation. Even though children are not in the house 24/7, 1. other children who attend public school are at school, so therefore the homeschooled child is never in sync with public school students, therefore he cannot really meet and befriend other students, and 2. In public school, there is more social interaction than in homeschool, even when the child is in his free hours. Therefore this argument is won. Contention 2: Discipline However, in public school, there is a rigid discipline stronger than homeschool. In public school, this is the teacher's job, so she must get it right. Therefore they will work extremely hard, creating a well-rounded curriculum and schedule and having homework, and consequences such as calling parents. If children still disobey, they are brought to the principal, who will punish them. In homeschool, the schedule is very laid back, as they are in their own home, with their mom, so there wouldn't be a true schedule. They would just skip around as necessary and this is a bad teaching method. Homework would be classwork, and homework is more important as classwork as it strengthens responsibility. Therefore this argument is won. Contention 3: Preparation for the real world This is a weak refutation. In homeschool, you are isolated, while in public school you are with real people. Field trips wouldn't be the same without peers, as they are ultimately the competitors of the child when they grow up. Obviously, this is an illogical refutation so it should be disregarded.Therefore this argument is won. Contention 4: Tiring for the parent If the parent gives the older a task, the parent is not watching her, and she is at her home, and these two combined gives distraction. In public school, the teacher also does not watch you, but the student is not at home with all his toys and video games. Also, you keep on using your friend as a source and example. Your friend does not represent all the home-schooled kids. Therefore this contention is won. Contention 5: Schools have extracurricular activities and clubs Yes, they can do activities, but it is different as it is without peers, therefore without teamwork and cooperation. If they want to debate, then who to debate? Their siblings? Maybe, but that will get boring as they always have the same opponent. In school, you have teammates, and tournaments, and it is official. Doing something with peers have better life skill and normal skill development than with homeschool. Therefore this contention is won. Contention 6: Competition Graduation. Huh. What do you define graduation, as official (as with normal school) or just in name (with homeschool)? In homeschool, everything is laid back, and graduation at home is not the same at school, where it is much more competitive. Even if homeschooled kids have better scores and averages, they cannot improve, and cannot strive to compete as in the real world. Competition is ultimately more significant than with better scores temporarily, so this contention is won. Lastly I would like to add another contention. Contention 7: Bandwagon What bandwagon means it that since most kids (actually 90% ) go to public schools, kids at homeschool would want to go to public school too. They feel left out and different from the others and want to fit in. They would be more happy to be with their peers than with their little brother who is younger by 5 years and their mom. To clear this debate and organize it, voters, I will like to sum up the debate as of now. First, children like normal school, as stated in my 7th contention, parents like it, as stated in my 4th contention (they have less work), and therefore why not? Next, I would like to say that I have 7 contentions of my own that are still standing and 2 contention of my opponents's (contention 2 and 3) that I have turned to my side of the debate. That equals a total of 9 contentions, and since I refuted all my opponent's arguments, the contentions that we each have is 9:0. This is a huge difference and I have obviously won at this point. I still respect my opponent's new refutations and contentions, but I doubt (no offense) that they would be enough to win, as I have 9 contentions while my opponent has none. Vote Pro. Thank you all.