Is Homeschooling the Best Choice?

I read Luke's blog post from yesterday with interest ... and spent some time debating whether or not I agreed with him! After spending close to 20 years homeschooling our children I absolutely believe we made the best choice. What parent doesn't believe that their education choices are the best?

I'm not certain that I agree that homeschooling does not give you a better education than a public school. And no, I don't have up-to-date statistics to counter that which Luke shared, but I do read anecdotal stories such as this one that appeared in the Libertarian Republic, and wonder if perhaps, at least in some cases, it is true that homeschooling provides a superior choice over the public option.

Luke and I do agree on the matter of choice. The fact that Jacob's mother had the choice to take him out of the public system that was stifling his abilities is a blessing to never take for granted. There is no denying that for many children, a one-on-one tutorial environment is far superior to a classroom experience. Considering that there are more than 1 million children being homeschooling in the United States, there must be some families who do believe that homeschooling is a better choice for their students.

We also agree on the fact that other options deserve fair and gracious consideration. Homeschooling is not necessarily the best "choice" for all students. There are a myriad of family situations that make educating at home untenable, or simply not the wisest course. Public and/or private school can also be the "best" choice.

Whatever choice you make for your child's education, trust your instincts. You know your child best! Do the research, ask for input from friends, talk with parents who are further down the educational path than you are, and most of all, PRAY!

Still on the journey ...
~Judy Wnuk
Sonlight Customer Champion

PS. If you're wondering if homeschooling is the best choice for you, check out the Homeschool 101 resource section on our web site. Lots of great resources for help in making your educational choices.