Public School vs. Home School vs. Foreign School
Several years ago the topic if public schools never would have interested me. Now, I have a nine year old in grade school, and as I watch her education in public schools grow, I consider whether it is better to leave her in public schools or provide home schooling. I'm sure most parents have had these thoughts.
One-on-one parent influence in a child's education is a huge benefit to overall learning. Another benefit is learning pace. Not all students learn at the same pace or in the same way. Learning pace and style is as individual as a child is. Parents can tailor their instruction to coincide with the individual needs of the child, and this is something public schools can't provide.
No matter what school you choose, intimate parental involvement is essential. A few months ago, I had an opportunity to move to an Asian country with my family (daughter included). As I learned about the school, talked with the students, and met the neighbors etc. , I concluded Asian schools are not so drastically different from schools in the United States. I found that many students are overachievers and many are not. The overwhelming difference I've seen is parental involvement. While many Asian parents may not be directly involved with their kids learning, many have sold their home or are working two jobs to hire a tutor for their kids. Many kids go to regular school six to seven hours, then go to English lessons for two hours, followed by hours of homework, for a total of almost fourteen hours a day. So Asian schools aren't so different, but longer study time is achieved, and Asian parental involvement has outpaced the U.S.
About the Author Tom Holmes, Washington State, USA
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