Benefits and Disadvantages of Homeschooling

by Becton Loveless
Parents who want to homeschool their children but still have some reservations about it should
take time to consider the positive and negative aspects of homeschooling.
The following information will help parents know what to expect when they homeschool their
children, detailing both the benefits and disadvantages. It will enable you to make a better
informed decision if you're still uncommitted to homeschooling, and it will help you determine
what negative aspects of homeschooling you will be able to tolerate and what positive aspects
of administering your children's education you will enjoy.
Top 15 Benefits of Homeschooling
Parents have the opportunity to:
1. Determine the curriculum and their children's schooling schedule
2. Demonstrate to their children that education is fun
3. Create strong bonds with their children
4. Adapt teaching methods best suiting how their children learn
5. Spend extra time with their children on difficult concepts and move ahead after children
master a subject or concept
6. Create a flexible schedule not possible for children enrolled in public school
7. Provide religious and ethical instruction for their children
8. Shelter children from school violence, drugs, and other negative behaviors children in
public schools frequently encounter
9. Provide their children with the personal interaction that teachers in large classrooms are
not able to provide
10. Spend extra time helping their children develop any special talents they possess,
including musical, athletic, etc
11. Discuss controversial topics at their discretion with their children
12. Enjoy spending more time with their children
13. Assist their children during adolescence and other trying times
14. Draw closer to their spouse as they homeschool their children together
 15. Take their children on vacations when public school is still in session

Top 10 Potential Disadvantages of Homeschooling

Homeschooling parents are required to:
1. Be around their children all day long. This can be difficult when children become restless
and misbehave
2. Frequently explain their reasons for homeschooling their children to friends and
relatives unsympathetic or confused about their decision
3. Restrain anger and remain patient when children struggle with learning
4. Effectively handle the difficulties of moving at a slower pace than public school
instruction
5. Spend large amounts of money on books and other learning materials
6. Constantly adapt to be effective teachers
7. Constantly motivate their children
8. Speak with other people homeschooling their children to get ideas about solving
difficult problems if they're unsure about the best course of action
9. Spend time reviewing numerous curriculum programs up to their standards and best
suiting their children's learning needs
10. Spend more time finding playmates and friends for their children in similar
circumstances
Although there are many other benefits and disadvantages associated with homeschooling, the
aforementioned information provides you with an idea of what to expect as a homeschooling
parent.
Homeschooling can be very stressful, but it's also rewarding. However, homeschooling is not
for every parent, and parents unprepared or unwilling to make the commitment to be an
effective teacher should avoid it.
Level 1–Rote: Child can repeat the facts without thought of meaning. You can see this in a
toddler who can parrot a Bible verse, or a child who can tell you the facts of a Bible story but
has no understanding of the meaning of those facts.
Example: The story of baby Moses being found by Pharaoh’s daughter.
The child can tell you that mother made a basket, put Moses in the basket, and put him in the
river. Sister watched the basket and saw Pharaoh’s daughter find Moses in the basket.
Level 2—Recognition: Recognition is the ability to recognize biblical concepts. You could also
call this comprehension of the facts.
Example: If you asked the child a multiple choice question about the facts, he can process the
answer and reflect an understanding answer.
Why did mother put Moses in the basket? [child can pick out the answer: because she could not
hide him any longer]
The next three levels go beyond facts to meaning. In these levels, the teacher is not an active
teller, but rather a guide. The students are active participants rather than just listeners.
Level 3—Restatement: Restatement is the ability to express or relate concepts to a biblical
system of thought. The child understands the meaning in terms of biblical worldview.
This requires the child to do more than just recognize the truth, but rather to relate the truth
to other ideas.
Example: Why do you think mother had the idea to make a basket? [God gave her the idea as
His way of protecting Moses.] (The child understands that God interacts with man.)
In the last two levels of learning—relation, and realization or response—the student is able to
understand the meaning in terms of his own life and personal experience.
Level 4—Relation: Relation is the ability to relate Bible truths to life and see an appropriate
response to that truth. In other words, the student understands the relationship between the
truth and his own life.
Example: Could be a flash of insight: Wow! I guess I don’t have to worry about whether God
can protect me on my camping trip.
Could understand developed through questioning: Jimmy, do you ever worry about getting
hurt? [Yes, I am sometimes afraid of storms. I sometimes wonder if my house will get struck
with lightning.] Does this story help you with your fears? [Well, I think if God is big enough to
take care of Moses in the river and to protect him from being killed by Pharaoh, He is big
enough to take care of me. The next time I am in a storm, I am going to remember that God is
big enough for anything.] If something bad did happen to you, do you think that God is big
enough to help you in that situation?
In order for a child to respond to the Word of God, he must first understand how Scripture
applies to his life—he must understand how he can act on the truth he has heard. It is
important to help the child answer the question, “What difference does this make in my life?”
Once again, rather than tell children the concepts and application of the lesson, we must, lead
children to discover the truth. Ask many questions and encourage children to think, look up
answers for themselves, and draw conclusions. Then, move to encouraging the children to
respond to what they have discovered.
Level 5—Realization (or Response): Child makes a response to the truth—he applies biblical
truths to daily life. He acts on the Word instead of just hearing it.
Example: Jimmy remembers that God is a big God the next time he is in a fearful situation. He
remembers the story of Moses and God’s care, and he prays and rests in God.

Richards biblical and theological analysis conveys an excitement that makes Christian
education a mission and not just a responsibility. His approach is imminently practical,
insightful and motivational.
The most important method: Teaching by example
Jesus and Paul taught in many effective ways, but the most important method
that we have mentioned is teaching by example. Too often there is a gulf
between the things we teach and the things we do. Jesus taught obedience by
choosing to obey not just once but thousands of times during his lifetime here
on earth. God became man to teach us by example.
Jesus commanded us to follow him, to learn of him so that we can we become
like him. Jesus taught by example when he healed the sick, forgave the sinner,
and ate with outcast, taught his followers to love God, to love one another and
to love the lost. We must teach obedience by example. Our first lesson should
be to teach to love God with our whole being. Children learn more from what
parents do than from what they say. Teaching by example is the perfect
illustration of how the Hebrew method is superior to any other method.
Children learn by doing.
Hebraic Teaching Method
The Hebrew taught their children at home. The father was the primary teacher. The Word of
God was the primary focus and was used to teach both morality and worship, as well as both
reading and writing.
Hebrew education stressed the importance of recognizing and remembering the acts and
events of divine providence throughout history through the example of the parents and object
lessons. Hebrew education also stressed the responsibility that individuals have toward God
and others, the accountability of human behavior, and the need for disciplined training in
making right choices. Learning was for life, and life was for learning. Study was considered
form of worship. The heart of wisdom teaching approach seeks e reproduction of these
elements found in biblical teaching method.
 Parents are to diligently instruct their children to love God; obey His law; be thankful to
His blessings; and be separate from the worship of the pagan gods. (Deut. 6:1-9)
 Parents are to teach by example, modeling Bible standards in daily living – loving God
and loving others, and by being in prayer in God’s Word daily. (Proverbs 23:26)
 Teaching involves using object lessons to help children recognize that all of the creation
reveals God’s handiwork and presence. (Psalm 19)
 Special weekly and annual days are set apart for worship, and as members of God’s acts
of protection and provision. (Lev.23)
Is homeschool formal or non-formal education?
Do you recommend homeschooling?
Parents home school their children because they think they can educate their children better
than schools.
Do you agree that socialization is one of the major problems in home schooling?
Do you think children would prefer homeschool or conventional school?