“Teaching a child at home is not an easy task. It takes time, effort, and, most of all, love. “
And money. And a desire to reach out to other sources to open up new horizons to the child.
The boys in that picture look very like my two homeschooled grandsons.
First, look at cost/family income. Dr. Brian Ray, educational researcher, finds that there are successful home schooling families at every level of family income, according to the Dept. of Labor. Think of what that means: "at every level." It's not a question of what you can afford. It's a question of what you value.
Second, look at the question of expertise. If your child can talk and your child knows how to use language to learn, you have already taught him the most important skills he will ever acquire. If he is capable of forgiving and being forgiven, loving and being loved --- he has what he needs for lifelong mental and emotional health. These qualities can be deformed, and degraded by today's typical classroom experience.
Dr. Ben Carson --- politician, author, and pediatric neurosurgeon --- was raised by a virtually illiterate, divorced mother who had married at the age of 13. Although he attended schools --- very poor ones -- rather irregularly, he attributes his excellent intellectual development to the fact that his mother limited his TV time and required him to read and write book reports on two library books per week. An illiterate single mother who was employed outside the home as a domestic worker, did this. And she did it at home.
Even if you're of only average intelligence and education, you are capable of educating your kid by learning side-by-side with him and staying one jump ahead. That's how I taught my boys Algebra II!
I could say more, but let me finish up with this: Are you interested in home schooling? Try it provisionally for one year. That's how long it will take for you to start, experiment, fumble, fish around, and settle on the best way to do it for you and your kids. One size does not fit all. But YOU CAN find a way to do it that fits you and your kids.
Please, please keep your kids away from the intellectually tepid, emotionally defective, socially savage, sexually depraved public school. Adapting a question Our Savior asked: what good would it do for you to gain the whole world, and lose your kids?
I disagree with you on the money part. It does require an ability to live within your means, but in many ways, home education is cheaper to a family than “free” public school.
There are no participation fees for certain activities or classes, you don’t have to go shopping for back to school clothes and be part of the daily fashion show, there’s no additional cost for school lunches, no costs for extra field trips etc.
We homeschooled all four of ours. I don’t think we ever spent more than $1500 a year total in curriculum costs. The last 2-3 years were virtually free since we already had everything.
Then, we gave it all away to others who then had free curriculum.
All four are independent and making their own way. One is an artsy-craftsy type and knows how to get by on a small income. Another just got a great job at a publishing company. One is an astronautical engineer and the fourth will begin his truck driving career in a few weeks.
It does however take a great degree of dedication on the part of the parents. It’s truly a lifestyle, not just a choice.