By: Kyle Langley
Each year thousands of gifted kids from across the country will start school with stellar performance, but will soon succumb to some of the weaknesses in the public education system. Their parents struggle to find ways to them on the right track, despite financial hardships.
Oliver Davis is a 8 year old student attending one of the most advanced and honored private schools in the country. He is lucky. When he was 7, Oliver was already learning 5 different languages and calculating math equations far ahead of his grade level. Oliver's parents recognized his potential and knew that the public school education would only hold him back. However, this pristine education comes at a cost. Oliver's parents must work two jobs in order to pay the $25,000 a year tuition to send him there.
Almost all parents cannot afford to make that huge of a financial sacrifice, but still want their kids to succeed in their academics without using the public schools. In the 1970s A man by the name of John Holt came up with an idea, Modern Homeschooling.
Modern Homeschooling allows more freedom to the students. If a student wanted to volunteer or participate in an honor program during the weekday mornings, now they have the option to. Gifted students can now find what grade level they should be at and study from there. In a recent report, Homeshoolers tested in the top 80th percentile of standardized tests. Because the students are at the house during "school hours" they have the opportunity to learn valuable life skills: change tire, pay taxes, and take care of others. Since Homeschooling is so great, how can there be any disadvantages?
One of the biggest issues with Homeschooling right now is the huge time commitment. While Homeschooling might save parents' pocket books, it will throw a wrench in their day planners. To correct this issue, former teachers and professors have set up Homeschooling cooperatives. Unfortunately, most of these programs are not known to the parents.
Homeschooling is a great alternative to an issue that appears to have no solution. As time goes on, Homeschooling programs will improve to hopefully remedy some of the issue parents face.
