Is homeschooling just for the rich?
As come to the homeschooling, the financial ability is the critical issue. Financial problem is the common suspicion of homeschooling; loss of the salary of parent is the main crisis of the homeschooling. The argument on website called Debatewise points out “homeschooling requires a parent to stay at home resulting in a loss of income.” One parent shall stay at home to educate the children, while the economic pressure and burden completely fall on the other parent. On the other hand, the cost of the tuitions, textbooks and additional cost for “extracurricular activities such as soccer, gymnastics, martial arts, piano lesson,” the field trips are also the large budget for homeschooling (Shaw, 2012). Vicki Bentley reports that “Average homeschool family spends about $900 US dollars for per student per year and the costs more than public school." (Bentley, 2013) The specifications of main costs on homeschooling are the curriculum, supplies and equipment. For example, if the child is interested in science, parents may consider buying the books and videos and equipment such as erlenmeyer flask, bunsen burner, test tube clamp and even the expensive binocular microscope. Besides, the child may go to attend the science camp or professional training. If the family attends the institute of homeschooling, they shall pay homeschooled Group Dues. In addition, the field trips, extracurricular activities and the transportation are the great charges for parents to pay. (Slide, 2010)
Consequently, the homeschooling seems only for the high-class family to afford the expense. However, the home Scholar, Lee Binz, points out “there are still some drastic, cost-cutting strategies that will help you survive.” First, parents could teach child by themselves without “a co-op class, an accrediting agency, or a homeschooled program" which need to pay the expensive fee. The free sources of knowledge or information can be retrieved from the public library or Internet. The books, pencils and papers make the great curriculum, since they are essential equipment for learning well. Second, parents could gain the purchases of used textbook or the recent version instead of the newest one; it can help to save amount of money. Third, parents can try to negotiate that one parent works "during the daytime” and the other works “in the evening” or one parent work “on weekdays” and the other “on weekends.” Fourth, homeschooling families could cooperate with other homschooled family together to teach others. (Binz, 2006)
In conclusion, the homeschooling is not just the privilege for the rich family. The common family or the family without abundant funds could also conduct the homeschooling if the family makes the wisdom decision on the expenditure.
Reference
Debatewise. (n.d.). Home schooling should be banned. Retrieved from Debatewise: http://debatewise.org/debates/2256-home-schooling-should-be-banned/#no6
Shaw, I. (2012, March 13). Homeschooling on a Budget. Retrieved from FamilyEducation: http://school.familyeducation.com/home-schooling/money-and-kids/38688.html#ixzz3LXhBsLu8
Bentley, V. (2013, fall ). What Does it Cost to Homeschool? Retrieved from Home School Legal Defense Association: https://www.hslda.org/earlyyears/Costs.asp
Slide, C. (2010). 7 Costs of Homeschooling – Home School Curriculum, Programs & Books. Retrieved from Money Crashers: http://www.moneycrashers.com/homeschooling-cost-home-school-curriculum-program-books/
Binz, L. (2006). 7 Secrets to Homeschooling Through a Financial Storm. Retrieved from http://www.thehomescholar.com/7secretsreport.pdf
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