Writing for an Academic Discussion Homeschooling - Revised -

 Do you think it is a good idea for children to be homeschooled? Why or why not?

 

 

☆Let’s Think

1.        What is Amy’s point? Paraphrase it. Provide a case in point.

2.        What is Mark’s point? Paraphrase it. Provide a case in point.

3.        What other advantages and disadvantages does homeschooling have?

 

 

☆Hints for Points

Advantages

1.        Flexible teaching according to individuality is possible.

2.        It provides more opportunities for freer, critical thinking.

3.        It is free from bullying.

4.        According to a research, homeschooled children score more highly than children who attend school on measurements of socialization.

 

Disadvantages

1.        Less professional help can hamper enough learning.

2.        Less time to spend with other children of the same age.

3.        Less memory of schooling may make the individuals suffer later.

 

 

☆Responses for Ideas and Expressions

Homeschooling is a good idea:

I agree with Amy not only because homeschooling allows for personalization but also because I am not so much for homeschooling as I am against school. Schools are for the government to raise a population obedient to those in power. From kindergarten to high school, and even to university, we are taught to keep our mouth shut. You can’t ask questions about school policy and never can you try to change school rules. By spending our precious forming years in this environment, most of us have the wings of our mind torn off by the time we graduate and spend the rest of our lives in a huge cage of our government while always frustrated by feeling the loss of a real life that could have flowered in a freer environment. Homeschooling helps children evade this domestication by the government. In fact, a child I know who has been taught by her parents has learned to get around town by herself for birdwatching and demonstrates higher cognitive ability and articulation than children of her age. This benefit outweighs all the shortcomings because freedom provides the optimal environment for education.  (189 words)

 

Homeschooling is not a good idea:

I think Mark makes a good point that homeschooled children will miss socialization that only traditional schools provide. Homeschooling might be good as a supplementary tool for teaching, but it absolutely lacks important environment that school can provide for children. School is a special place in which hundreds of children gather, supported and protected by some professional adults. Here, we make most of our best memories in our early years. School events from team projects to various yearly events celebrate life of children as well as giving them learning and experiences to get ready to go into the real world. Homeschooled children miss the exposure to this enjoyable, nurturing environment. No one who were of school age during the lockdown in the pandemic of COVID-19 would disagree. It is true that there are children who are cut out for homeschooling, and they can take advantage of special programs that Amy mentions. However, except for such children and those who have a special condition that makes it impossible for them to go to school like those who have a serious disease, homeschooling is not a satisfactory choice especially for young children. (191 words)

 

Write your response in 10 minutes. Show each other your responses. Write down questions or suggestions to each other’s response.