Homeschooling
“School at home” (also known as “at homeeducate”) refers to the act of educating one’s own children at home rather than through public or private schools-once largely attributed to those with political or religious motives. However, this reality has happened over the years Changes, especially with the development of modern technology, children can remotely participate in courses taught by experts.
Last year, due to the closure of schools and the rapid transition to a web-based learning platform, an unprecedented wave of home education emerged across the United States. This trend has caused renewed attention to the study of this educational method and its comparison with the education provided by public and private schools.
Risks and benefits
The new research details some obvious differences between homeschooling students and students receiving more traditional school education. In some cases, compared with public and private schools, homeschooling brings some benefits–for example, people who go to homeschool are more likely to become volunteers and express their willingness to forgive.
Other differences between these two educational groups are more neutral. Compared with students in public and private schools, homeschoolers are more likely to go to church, and less likely to go to college and earn a degree. Other notable differences include: homeschoolers have a stronger sense of mission in life, fewer sexual partners in their lives, and a slightly lower percentage of marijuana use.
Research details
Researchers evaluated data from 12,288 adolescents in the Growing Up Today Study (GUTS). The baseline of this data began in 1999 and covers the children of nurses. Information about these children was collected from 11 to 19 years old, including where they went to school.
Based on these data, the study found that there is “almost no statistically significant difference” between students who go to school at home and those who go to public and private schools. However, it is important to remember that this is an observational study and the parents of these children are all educated. In addition, the population studied is not very diverse, and most of the data comes from non-Hispanic white students.
The researchers said that although the study has some limitations, the results of the study may help formulate policies related to family education. This is especially important considering the epidemic and the possibility of many families continuing to receive family education.