Homeschooling: Frequently Asked Questions by Parents

Most American children start their K-12 careers in public or private schools, but some find their way into homeschooling at some point before they earn their diplomas. Surprisingly, the trend is catching on. Government and news media reports both show that homeschooling is on the rise as more parents decide to give it a try versus "traditional" schooling.

There are many different reasons for homeschooling. Each parent has his or her own motivation for doing it, but some of the most popular arguments for it include:

-Freedom. Many parents homeschool their children so that they can teach religious concepts and beliefs along with "regular" schoolwork. Some parents choose homeschooling because they want more influence over what their children learn. This is a common choice in low-performance school districts, where children might not actually be prepared for college or the working world after they graduate.

-Safety. Some school districts aren't safe for students. When there's a metal detector at every entrance, some parents consider alternatives to sending their children to that school.

-Flexibility. Just like adults, children learn in different ways. Some do better when they can finish math homework before going on to English. Some learn by seeing. There are many different ways to learn, but because teachers have well over a dozen students per class, it's very difficult to make sure that each child can grasp the concepts. With homeschooling, the classes are smaller (yes - some homeschoolers still go to classes), so there are more opportunities for one-on-one assistance.