If a survey by the National Center For Education Statistics is to be believed, almost 1.1 million children underwent home schooling in 2005 alone. That’s a great deal of children. Not so long ago, homeschooling used to be a radical statement – something like a declaration of independence.

It was the right-wing Christians who pushed for homeschooling in the 1980′s and legalized it in every State. But nowadays the average homeschooling pupil is not religiously motivated.

Later surveys indicate that parents are quite fed up with the public school system where much of the learning is superficial and compulsory. They are also concerned about the damaging environment in school, ranging from drugs and abuse to negative pressure from their peers.

As a result, we have a surprising mix of people who form the homeschooling world of today. They cut across all religious creeds and all regional borders. Their chief goal is providing meaningful and productive education through a method that strengthens the bond between all the members of the family.

All these families have one major thing in common – a long standing commitment to the sanctity of childhood. The children of these families are given a primary position. Many believe, and, I think, rightly so, that home schooling allows parents to bring up their children in a more natural and nurturing environment.

Public schools can make a child nervous, diffident and downright mean. Children who get their education at home are protected from these damaging, negative influences until they attain an age where they can deal with them.

Home-schooling draws the whole family into the quasi religious job of teaching. Everyone has a role to play. Both the parents together form a bond with the children. Any experience can be turned into an educational experience. Both the parents are aware of exactly what is going into their child’s head.

Parents also have a greater say over the type of religious and moral values that the child is taught. Even watching a film together can become an educational experience. Trips to the libraries, zoos, museums and other places become educational as well as recreational.

A home-schooling family is primarily dependent on the income of one earning member. That means that often outgoings have to be curtailed and proper planning of expenditure is a must. This helps to bring the family members together and everybody becomes involved in the process of not spending money.

Just having a parent at home to supervise, to nurture and to care for the children brings with it a lot of love and caring. Even the husband takes part and there is just no room for boredom.

Yes, problems still do crop up, and there will be many misgivings in your mind, but when you know that your kids can always count on you, and your kids know it too, then homeschooling becomes a richly rewarding experience.

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