Today, not only can parents choose to send their children to public schools, or pay for private schools, but they can also, legally and successfully, choose to educate their children at home. In light of the recent tragic events, the benefits are even more appealing. The safety factor is quickly becoming one of the main reasons parents choose to withdraw their children from public schools. In addition, recent studies have shown that home educated students score on the average of 20 to 30 percentile points higher on standardized tests. Finally, in home education, parents have the freedom to pick and choose their own curriculum.
Critics claim that home educated students are isolated and protected.
Any parent would naturally keep their child out of harms way, if they had the ability to do so. The typical home schooled student is far from isolated. A recent study of 20,000 homeschooled children found that they are involved in outside activities an average of five times per week, including sports, dance, drama, music, 4H, volunteer work, scouting, church and more. Successful home education is founded upon the one on one tutorial created within the home. Because of the commitment in time and scheduling, home education may be difficult for the single parent household or those under an unusual amount of stress.