Sample Essay B, CH Peter Et Al, 2012 AW Skills 2 SB 2

Sample essay B
Educating Students in Public and Hom e Schools
One of the top concerns of parents is their children’s education.Yet, how and
where they can receive the best quality education remains open to debate. In
the United States, traditional public schools remain the common choice for
most parents, but a growing number are choosing to school their children in
their own homes. Officially, both school options must follow the same
educational guidelines established by their respective state. Having these
guidelines suggests that students study in similar ways in each school
environment. However, the guidelines only set goals for students, so the
methods each form of education adopts to reach these goals can vary
considerably. How students are educated in public schools and home schools
is quite different in terms of the curriculum, quality of teaching, and in the
interaction with other students.
One of the major differences between public and home schools affecting
how students are educated is the curriculum. Public school curriculums are
designed around serving a diverse range of students with diverse interests.
Along with core courses in language, math, and science, broad-ranging courses
such as history, geography, music, physical education, and social studies are
offered in order to provide a comprehensive education (Bielick 4).This variety
in courses serves to expose students to a wide range of subjects, thereby
giving them a chance to discover which subjects might be of particular interest.
Moreover, public schools must monitor and report to education officials on the
effectiveness of the curriculum (Ravitch 10).This ensures that the quality of the
curriculum is maintained and that goals are reached.The curriculum in home
schools, however, is much more flexible than in public schools. Despite having
to officially teach the same curriculum as public schools, most states in the U.S.
have fewer regulations for home schools (“Homeschooling Thru”). This lack
of regulation led to a New York Times report that found the majority of home
schools do not submit any information to local school officials (Homeschooling
Regulations). While some critics may argue that it is more likely for students
in home schools to be deprived of a diverse education, many home school
advocates believe that a less regulated curriculum allows it to be shaped
according to the interests and skill level of individual students, thereby making
it more educationally beneficial to the student.Therefore, parents considering
the best type of education for their children need to consider whether a
curriculum’s diversity or flexibility should be given priority.
While the curriculum is important, the teachers of the curriculum are also a
key factor in determining how students learn. In public schools, having teachers
who are not only certified but specialized in particular subjects is seen as an
asset. American College Testing (A C T) argues that along with their specialized
course knowledge and educational training, the variety in teachers’ styles
and personalities can stimulate students and foster a deeper appreciation
for subjects in both interested students and in students who may not even
enjoy the subject ("Benefits" 2). Considering the number of courses offered
during the years of school education, changing teachers regularly can be an
enriching experience for students in public schools. Most home school teachers,
however, are the only teacher for a particular student, and often this teacher
is the student’s parent and not certified as a teacher. Home school teachers
require no special teacher training or expertise in all of the subjects taught,
which leads to criticism over the qualification of these teachers to actually
teach (Romanowski 80). However, it can be argued that the personal attention
a student in a home school receives leads to better academic performance than
can be achieved by a certified teacher teaching a class with a large number of
students. Assessing the teaching situation in public and home schools, then, is
another crucial consideration for parents seeking the ideal learning opportunity
for their children.
A third critical aspect differentiating the education in public and home schools
is the presence of other students. In public schools, student populations are
often large and diverse, which some see as a major asset. Romanowski
points out that public school students routinely exchange ideas and work
together in groups.While they may not always like each other, they learn to
adapt and cope with the diversity of backgrounds, values, and experience
present among students in a public school class (82).This facilitates a type of
leaning beyond what books or even a teacher can provide, but which forms
an essential element in learning to live in a diverse society. On the other
hand, students in home schools are in a very different situation.While home
school students can interact with each other via the internet and even
participate in occasional field trips, they generally spend their day alone with
a parent, or in some cases, a small group. (“Hom eschoolingThru”).AIthough
this prevents them from experiencing the diversity to be found in public
schools, it is a situation some parents prefer. In her report for the National
Center for Education Statistics, Bielick found that almost 75% of parents
chose to home-school their children for religious or moral reasons (2 ).
This suggests that home-schooled students are purposely kept apart from
others to ensure only family beliefs are taught, or even to prevent them
from being negatively influenced by classmates. Therefore, when weighing
quality of education in public versus home schools, parents must decide
whether the presence of other students is a benefit or drawback.
In conclusion, public and home schools have contrasting attributes which

result in different educational styles and benefits. In public schools, more
regulated learning and more diversity in the curriculum, teachers, and
students can be expected. Many people see this as important in preparing
students for later life. Home schools, on the other hand, are less regulated
and thereby offer parents the opportunity to exercise greater control over
what their children are learning and with whom they are socializing.These
considerable differences between public and home schools mean that
parents will have to assess their own definition of quality education if they
are considering either option for their children.
101

Sample Essay B, CH Peter Et Al, 2012 AW Skills 2 SB 2

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Sample essay B

Educating Students in Public and Hom e Schools

In conclusion, public and home schools have contrasting attributes which

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