what are the advantages of public school versus home school?
409821
The number one advantage of public schools is SOCIALIZATION!  If you do research under that category, I guarantee that you will find many reasons to prove why home schooling isn't such a great idea.
747353
- Good health\n -Nicer overall look on school and district\n- Students, teachers and visitors wil feel a lot more comfortable.\n- Safer\n- Better environment around school\n- A good clean environment helps promote good learing!
687460
I most definitely agree with you. I have lived in the pacific northwest for over a decade now and the population of homeschoolers in this part of the country is on the rise. As a matter of fact, I still remain single to this day waiting for an educated woman who agrees with me on the subject because our public schools are failing our youth and our children are falling behind the rest of the world. Homeschooling is definitely a viable option as I have met many who have blown away their public school counterparts.
824815
There are actually a ton of differences in the two... The first one you will notice is the size of the school... Most of the time private colleges are much smaller than state schools.  This allows the private school to offer smaller teacher to student ratios and boast that there is more 1 on 1 attention for their students (which is true) On the flip side, the larger school can offer a wider variety of classes (even if they are taught by Grad Students rather than true professors).  Socially there are advantages to both larger schools give you more of a stereo-typical college atmosphere.  Smaller schools offer a closer community feel... more like high school.\n\nThe next thing you may notice is the price-tag.  All colleges and unversities are getting more and more expensive... the difference is that private colleges where more to start with.  It would not be uncommon to pay $20,000 or more per year.  At state schools it can be half that much.  This for a variety of reasons... State schools make money through reseach grants and by publishing and other avenues such as hospitals and through some athletic programs... Private schools rely more heavily on tuition and donor dollars.\n\nThere are tons more differences.. typically private schools have a more competitive admissions policy than public schools do... Private schools offer more financial aide etc... but the best way to make your decision is to visit campus and spend time around the students and see where you fit in the best.
647189
You need to know what the public schools are like in your area.  In some areas the public schools have equal or better student achievement that private schools. You can get as good an education for 'free' and save your money for college. In other areas, the public schools are dangerous zoos with little learning going on. Also, if your child has any special needs, better public schools are required to support him, while private schools that do not accept federal funds are not required to provide (or are not able to provide) appropriate accomodations.  Many large public high schools have a large number of interesting elective courses and clubs for every student to find his niche.  However, a smaller private school may be the better choice for a student who might get lost in a crowd. A little tongue in cheek, here.  When we were looking for schools for our teens, the parking lot made me uncomfortable in one school.   Way too many BMWs and here was I in my old mini-van...that is an issue.  If a school in your area has a reputation of being 'rich', a parent who is making sacrifices to remove their children from the problems in the local public school may be setting their child up for ridicule from those with 'better' cars, clothes etc.
1048412
Small schools are better for education, get more interaction with the teachers...but it is harder with growing up!  I'd pick one in between the two, like 80-100 per class!
346444
Yes. I attend public school, and kids can get away with murder there. (Not literally.. I hope).\n\nPrivate school is much better. More education, less of a class size, and usually stricter rules. Plus, I believe there is more parent / teacher conversation.
880377
The benefits....growing together as a family and FREEDOM!  Those are the biggest benefits for me and my family.  The freedom to learn as we see fit, the freedom to learn and explore what we FEEL like learning and exploring, the freedom to spend all day at the beach regardless of whether or not we are some type of schoolish "vacation".  \n\nWho needs recess when you can go outside all day, swim in your pool, walk, run, go to the park, etc. for much longer than at school?  \n\nAs far as friends, home educated children make them in their neighborhoods, extra curricular activities, and groups.  \n\nAs far as team effort...um, a family  IS a team and how silly for anyone to try and say that school is the only place where "team" work happens, what a crock.   When siblings work on something together or a child works with their parent on something that IS team work, and when home educated children get with their friends and do projects or are on a sports team...that IS teamwork.\n\nSocially?  I love the socializing that happens via home education and that is another awesome benefit of home schooling.  You are not stuck in an artificial setting with 30 peers 5 days a week, ONLY in school settings does that happen.  Outside of school people of all ages intermingle and socialize and converse with one another, share their knowledge, etc.  Even in a stuffy ole office building you more than likely will not find people of all the same age working together.  You can meet interesting people in your community, at the library, stores, at the Bus Stop, volunteering, etc...so awesome.  The world is so much bigger than the classroom, and how many people do you "meet" in school anyway?  Unless there is a new child or you are a new student you've already made a decision as to who you are going to hang with.  That is why many home schoolers are seen as odd, it really isn't an issue, so they aren't used to the situation and it is new and uncomfortable, so what?  Most fit in after awhile, same as a small town boy/girl making the move to the big city...some only take a bit of time to adjust, some may take longer but eventually you begin to feel comfortable and fit in.  \n\nSetbacks?  They may not know how to raise their hand to ask how to go potty...oh, but that doesn't happen outside of school, except perhaps in the military.  Standing in line?  Nope, they do just fine, as many are accustomed to standing in line at the store, bank, movies, etc. with their parents.  Taking instructions from other adults?  Most home educated children I know do something outside of the home that requires taking directions from other adults so no, they are fine there too.\n\nIgnorant people making bias and rash judgements on a group of people who are different than them...that is the biggest setback.  Having to defend your reasons for home educating to a bunch of ignorant people making generalizations based on opinions only or perhaps a couple of bad run ins.\n\nSometimes we get under each others skin, but that is normal for most families.  Sometimes it is hard to think of new and fun things to do and be creative.    However, I certainly wouldn't call those setbacks.
659038
Home education\nU can take your time and do things at your own speed...\nA few people I know home school and they say that it is alot easier.
872681
I find it very doubtful that half the children in the US are home-schooled.  Home-schooling is fine with me, as long as there are dedicated parents involved, and the children have plenty of socialization opportunities.  A big thing that you learn in school is how to interact with other people.
917954
You raise a very good question. I home schooled for a year with my children who were in 3rd and 1st grade at the time. My daughter who was in 3rd grade benefited tremendously from it. And it worked for her. My son who was in 1st grade at the time and was diagnosed with ADHD should have benefited from it but didn't. He didn't want to cooperate with any of it, and thought he was on vacation! They are both back in public school. While my son still has occasional problems, he enjoys school much more.\nI know alot of home schooled children and public/private school children and I think it really depends on the home environment and the individual kids.  A person that teaches school at home has to be really organized, and I wasn't. I think that all programs are great when the parent stays involved in their education whether it is home school or other schools. I don't feel one is better than the other and they should be treated as the same.
295852
i guess they all have their own downsides public schools can be crowded private schools are expensive with a certain genre of people and home schooling doesnt give you all of the social aspects you may need in life. i think it all depends on the certain child and what their specific needs are
728039
just use common sense.\n\nextending pros:\n- longer and more thorough education\n\nextending cons:\n- shorter holidays (summer, spring break, thanksgiving)
749840
I like public schools because there is just alot more you can learn not just from teachers, but your peers. It teaches you life skills you may not learn otherwise at home. Public schools are like mini variations of what the real world is like. There is not only alot of pluses to public schools, there are alot of minuses as well... but so is everything else in life!
1051401
There are good and bad points to both. I personally think home schooling is better for children until their decision making skills are matured. This would ensure that they would not be easily influences by other children who were not exposed to the same values that they were. Some other negative things about  going to school would be the child's safety in the schools, overcrowded schools, shortage of teachers and then the inadequate teachers just to name a few.\n\nBeing home schooled the parents have the option to teach them the topics that they choose (within the curriculum guidelines) The negative thing about home schooling would be lack of peer interaction, the chance to develop pubic speaking skills and exposure to more than one teacher.
615142
As with any school, it will depend on the teacher.  I know that I'd have a VERY difficult time if I was the one who had to make my child learn.  He would fight me every step of the way.  Some kids and parents are better adapted to that situation than others.\n\nAs for social skills.  I would have missed out on a lot if I was home schooled during grades 1 through 5.  However, I would have loved to have been home schooled instead of going through middle school.  I don't like looking back on all the fights I got into there.  The teachers and students who persecuted me because I'm fat.  The gym teacher forcing students to take showers and standing guard over you with a 2 foot paddle.  \n   High school was better, but I would have preferred to stay home and just played with my friends outside after they got home from school.\n\nNow to answer your question.  I don't know of anyone that thinks home schooled kids are uneducated.
450829
The advantages to having uniforms at school are 1.) you can cut down on laundry cost. 2.) having to not buy school clothes is a great cost saving for large and low income families. 3.) time savings for single and working parents as you don't have to shop as much or spend time picking out clothes for your children to wear. 4.) allows for children to feel equal and may help their self esteem issues by not having to feel as if their clothing is up to par with the rest of the students. \n\nSome disadvantages are 1.) takes away from the students individualism and creativity. and 2.) The wounds created by teasing can be greater as the easiest thing to make fun of (a child's clothes) is taken away. \n\nI went to private school all through elementary and had the option of going to public school for high school. After the novelty of not having to wear a uniform wore off, I wished I could go back to wearing uniforms and not have to pick out clothes every day or have to go back to school shopping for clothes and supplies. Also, in high school, I had to buy my own clothes, uniforms would have been much cheaper,