You are thinking about or have already decided to teach your children at home. But have you considered the disadvantages of homeschooling? These are serious matters which demand your sincere and devoted consideration.

Number one on the list of disadvantages of homeschooling is the commitment required by parents. Usually, and it is very rare for this not to be the case, one parent is going to be responsible for the home school. That parent is going to have to take full responsibility for for the child's or children's education and the success or failure of the child cannot be blamed on a crowded classroom, incompetent teacher, or any of the other myriad of reasons parents give for their child's lack of success in education. Do you have the stamina, fortitude, discipline, knowledge, patience, and all the other skills and dispositions it takes to be a parent and a teacher?

Secondly is the cost. You are paying taxes to your local school district. However, if you home school your children, you will have to pay for tuition, books, materials, supplies, fees, and other costs and you will not get a rebate of the taxes you are paying to support public education. Are you able to bear those costs? Even with co-ops, used textbook exchanges, and a host of other devices intended to reduce the cost of homeschooling, teaching your child or children at home is going to cost you.

Thirdly, what about the development of your child's social skills? Will the close interaction between you and your child give your child the opportunities s/he needs to develop social skills? Herein lies what is perhaps the greatest criticism of teaching your child at home. However, in recent years this criticism has become less forceful given the emergence of homeschooling associations which have established parents forums, conventions, conferences, field trips, and other activities where parents and students can get together. Nevertheless, the lack of socialization persists as a disadvantage of teaching your child at home.

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