Homeschooling a path to online education
Kimberly Scammell

02/12/13

Home schooling a path to online education
When most individuals think of home schooling the thought of a taboo education comes to mind. Home schooling is like most things of taboo nature. It becomes more acceptable with time and prominence. Saying home schooling is a form of taboo is from social reaction. Home schooling is seen as socially improper or unacceptable. This is even more taboo during the beginning stages of education. I will cover more pros and cons toward the end of this article. Though most people do not remember or even know home schooling is where education all began. Compulsory laws were not introduced until 1852. This law only pushes parents to educate their child. It does not state how they are to educate them. Online education is the same basis of taboo education. Obtaining a college degree online is just another form of home schooling. The fact most people do not know is home schooling is a gateway to online education. Home schooled students are most likely to take online courses rather than in school academics. Most people are unaware of home school history. I was surprised when I found such a vast amount of famous American homeschoolers. Thirteen of the United States of America’s presidents were home schooled. I was unaware that some of our most influential artists and inventors such as Leonardo da Vinci who painted the Mona Lisa and Alexander Graham Bell who invented the telephone. Public schooled individuals receive praise and complement for their academic choices and degrees but home schooling has a reputation of silence. Online education is the same as home schooling just in a more advanced stage of an academic journey.
In 1997 I began my own home school journey. My parents had taken me from the third grade form of public schooling and placed me in a home education environment. Today I am taking online classes to obtain a bachelor’s degree with hopes of a career and auspicious future. The choice I made to take online classes was based on my previous educational experience. I find all forms of home schooling to be in my comfort zone and best interest for my future. I already knew what to expect when applying to an online college from experiencing a home school environment through my high school years. I have also taken in school college classes and GED. Classes so I am familiar with both academic environments. From my experience I am more comfortable with home schooling.
With online classes I have the convenience of my own schedule within the guidelines of my college. This is the same principle as home schooling throughout high school. I chose when to do my education as long as I still met the legal requirements of passing my classes. This gave me benefits public schooled children did not have such as going to work during the day; traveling at any time of the year; having more time with my family. Both areas of education are more lenient with time management than public schooling. I also find the comfort of not having other students in my presence, or teacher’s asking questions waiting for a quick response; gives me more ease and mental comfort. There is much less pressure with home school academics. Never having to ask permission to excuse myself from a classroom or walk down a hall. These things are the high-lights to an in home school environment but there is just as many cons to the academic choice.
When you choose to be in a home schooled environment, whether it be in your grade school years to your college courses. You have control of your surroundings. Most people do not think of how a classroom can affect a human’s mood or comfort level. Anything from color or the arrangement of furniture in the room is an overlooked answer. In home education you have the freedom to create your own environment. There are academic privileges which are less convenient. Such as school related sports, or dances. I cannot