Mimi Rothschild - Home School Support & Home Education News

By Mimi Rothschild

I was overjoyed to read an article in the Boston Pilot that served as a pretty good introduction to the joys and advantages of homeschooling. Professor Michael Pakaluk is a professor of philosophy in Cambridge, Mass. who has chosen to homeschool his 16-year old daughter. He provides the following excellent list.

1. It’s efficient.
2. It’s inexpensive.
3. Homeschooling tends to develop good habits of reading.
4. Homeschooled children more easily become friends with their parents.
5. Homeschooling requires that the father play the role that he really should play in his children’s education.
6. Unity of studying and religious belief.
7. Homeschooling tends to foster a lively patriotism.
8. Homeschooled children can enjoy the innocence of childhood longer.
9. Homeschooled children socialize better.

I found the fourth point to be especially interesting. How many teenagers do you know that have healthy, loving relationships with their parents? Now, I’m not talking about parents who give their kids everything they want and allow them to walk all over them. I’m talking about good parents who are still able to claim that they are best friends with their kids. My teens and I have a wonderful relationship that exists because of homeschooling. Sure there are moments of antagonism and times that I must exact punishment, but for the most part, my kids and I enjoy each other’s company.
This may be one of the most coherent, simple, fair, and effortless defenses of homeschooling I have ever read. It is free from propaganda tactics or cheerleading for home education. Everyone considering homeschooling should check out the full article.