Bells, desks, stern but fair teachers, best friends and classmates - is it possible to do without these attributes of childhood? Some ten to fifteen years ago, it seemed that there was no alternative, school education was mandatory and few managed to avoid attending classes. Little circus performers and athletes, actors and musicians, and children of diplomats studied according to their own schedule. Everyone else was doing their homework well. In 1992, a decree was issued according to which any child had the opportunity to study at home and take exams externally. And family education (or homeschooling) quickly became fashionable. They choose him the most different people– advanced vegans and yogis, opponents of mixed or secular education, freelancers and free travelers, parents of children with disabilities, and even the most ordinary fathers and mothers who have had an aversion to traditional school since childhood. Is it good or bad?

Pros of Homeschooling

Children learn when they want and in the way that suits them.

Pressure from teachers and peers is excluded.

There is no need to follow unnecessary rules and rituals.

The ability to control moral and ethical standards.

The ability to live according to the natural biological clock.

Opportunity to study special subjects - rare languages, art, architecture, etc. since childhood.

Training takes place in a gentle home environment, reducing the risk of school injuries, problems with posture and vision.

An individual program helps to develop a personality.

Close contact between parents and children is maintained, and outside influence is excluded.

Opportunity to master school curriculum in less than 10 years.

Cons of Homeschooling

The child does not receive socialization, experience of interaction with the “typical” team.

Constant parental monitoring of the learning process is necessary.

There is no strict discipline, no need for constant work “from call to call.”

The experience of conflicts with peers and “seniors in rank” is not gained.

Difficulties arise in obtaining diplomas and entering higher educational institutions.

Parents are not always able to teach precise subjects or arts, or systematic thinking.

Parental overprotection can lead to infantilism or egocentrism in the child.

Everyday inexperience will become a hindrance when starting an independent life.

Imposing unconventional views, life values limits the child.

The child gets used to the image of a “black sheep”, “not like everyone else.”

Cool room

The need for home schooling is determined by several factors - the lifestyle of the parents and the characteristics of the child. For a family from a metropolis, in which both father and mother work in offices “from nine to five,” it is almost impossible, and it is also pointless, to transfer a child to external studies - hiring him a teacher in all subjects is quite difficult. This form of study requires an adult who can devote at least several hours a day to work with the child, contact with educational institution and control of independent lessons.

Home schooling– the best option for families who are forced to travel a lot, move from city to city, live abroad, in small remote villages far from decent schools. Individual classes or partial school attendance are necessary for seriously ill children with certain developmental disabilities (autism, ADHD) or disabilities, adopted children with severe pedagogical neglect. Temporary home schooling (for one academic year) is part of rehabilitation after severe stress and psychological trauma, dangerous diseases, etc. In some situations, it makes sense to transfer a gifted child with autistic personality traits to an external program. Individual training It is hardly suitable for sociable, active extroverts, as well as for children who are uninitiated, lazy and incapable of self-discipline.

Homeschooling forms

Unschooling– refusal of school and the school curriculum in general. Adherents of unschooling believe that they know better what and how to teach their children, they doubt the need for secondary education, the Unified State Exam, etc. The fatal consequence of unschooling is that by the age of 16-17, a child will no longer be able to master the knowledge necessary to enter a university and acquire any complex profession. In Russia, unschooling is formally prohibited.

Actually homeschooling – individual sessions with school teachers at home, taking tests, exams, etc. Issued according to medical certificate if it is impossible to attend school.

Partial Homeschooling– attending several lessons per day or per week. Part of inclusive education for children with special needs. Issued based on a medical certificate.

Externship– self-study at home with passing exams and tests, without going to school. Issued by agreement with the school management.

Distance education– learning via the Internet, contacting teachers via Skype or on forums, completing homework and tests online. It is issued by the school administration.

It’s not for nothing that a mass school is called “mass”; it is designed for the average majority of children; homeschooling requires an individual approach. What is best for your child is up to you to decide!

Let's take a closer look at home education, the pros and cons of this phenomenon. As a rule, switching to home education will require searching for a school that offers this form of education. You will need to enroll your child in such a school. Teachers at this school will be able to help you with textbooks and teaching materials. It is in this school that your child will be certified for promotion to the next grade, as well as pass all mandatory exams.

Of course, like any system, this one has its pros and cons.

Advantages

Of course, with home education, all the attention is focused only on your child. He becomes, as it were, the only student in the class. And this cannot but lead to a good result, because you can carefully monitor your child’s preparation in any subject, you can immediately notice gaps in knowledge, you can explain misunderstood material as much as necessary.

In addition, parents, as a rule, are the people who know the child best. It will be much easier for them to make the learning process effective. Moreover, they are the ones who are interested in this.

If you're enough educated person, at the initial level of training, your own knowledge is quite enough. In the future, you can not only teach your child yourself, but also invite the necessary teachers.

You will be able to guide and develop your child in exactly the direction that you consider most suitable for him. You will not need to focus only on the school curriculum - you can always add to the training plan those subjects that you consider necessary.

When teaching at home, a child will not have to be forced to follow certain general rules, mandatory for all, if they are burdensome and unacceptable for him (we are, of course, talking here only about the rules for organizing the learning process; rules of behavior or moral and ethical standards are a topic for another conversation ).

You can easily monitor your child's workload and condition. Educational process will be organized so that there is no negative impact for your child's health. Children studying at home have more opportunities for normal rest. Your child won't have to wake up painfully or adjust to the standard school schedule.

The child will be able to develop his/her abilities to the maximum Creative skills, because no one will ask him to choose template solutions and standard options. And he, for example, will not have to interrupt his creative activities just because the bell has rung for everyone. And if he is trying to realize some of his creative impulses, ideas or plans, he will have enough time for this.

Your child will be protected from the need to enter into conflicts with peers while studying. His habits and characteristics will not be a reason for ridicule and pressure from other children.

Homeschooling will bring your family closer together. Joint activities, common interests - this will help to avoid (or significantly smooth out) conflicts with parents that arise as the child grows up.

Flaws

Homeschooling your child will require a lot of effort and time from you. After all, you will not only have to deal with the training itself as such, you will have to find material for classes, work through it, and think through additional classes and activities. As a rule, homeschooling requires one of the parents to be fully engaged in this process, without the opportunity to be distracted by something else.

It is impossible to be truly competent in all areas and subjects that your child needs to learn. It may turn out that your child cannot pass certification (or pass exams) because you do not have enough knowledge for quality training.

Moreover, even if you do have all the knowledge your child needs, you may not be a good enough teacher. If a problem arises - for example, difficulty understanding a topic - special skills and techniques may be needed to convey the necessary information or experience to the child.

Many people think that studying at home is cheaper than school. This is not entirely true. Of course, you will be spared many of the expenses that will be required when educating your child at school. But, if you want to give your son or daughter quality knowledge, you will need a lot teaching materials. And their cost can be an amount quite comparable to expensive education in European countries.

One of the very serious aspects is communication. A child needs not just any communication, he must learn to interact with peers. The formation of social skills is an equally important part of the learning process. Will a child be able to make real friends if his social circle is limited? Will you be able to somehow compensate for the absence of children near your child, the absence of joint children's activities, games, holidays, conversations, etc.? However, you don’t have to be too afraid of this if your own social circle is large and includes families with children of a suitable age. Also, as an option, you can send your child to non-school children's institutions - for example, various clubs and sections, children's camps (summer recreational, sports), language schools, etc.

To make an informed decision about switching to new uniform education, it is necessary to think through everything carefully, weighing pros and cons of homeschooling.

What can homeschooling give you and your child?

1. Individual program- individual rather than standardized training. In homeschooling, you can independently build and educational program, and a curriculum based on your child’s interests, character traits and academic performance. You can go deep into one topic and go through another intensively. No one will anymore tell you when and what topic to study, what assignments to do and what textbooks to study from. Learning will be an exciting process, complete amazing discoveries and surprises. Of course, you should not forget about the certification deadlines in order to prepare for this time.

2. Better results compared to the traditional form of training. It is a proven fact that homeschooled children learn better than their school peers and get better results.

3. The opportunity to devote study time only to studying. No one doubts that great amount Academic time at school is spent not only ineffectively, but simply in vain. And if you add to this class and school events, travel time, it turns out that home education can be built much more effectively than school education.

4. Using the latest technologies and approaches. Homeschooling is the fastest growing alternative form of education. Since family education is chosen by parents who are truly interested in their child’s education, the programs, materials and methods offered are highest standard. Modern technologies can make learning more flexible and varied. Children are now learning Newest technologies often faster than parents, so new forms of learning are well received.

5. Significantly less time is spent on classes than at school. This is a plus that almost all homeschooled children note. And the reason is not at all that family students undergo some kind of “shortened” program or do not take their studies seriously. Just the opposite. It is a responsible approach to classes that allows you to complete significantly more during your studying time than in a traditional school. As a result, children master topics faster than their schoolmates.

6. More creativity, less boredom. Who said that learning is what happens within the walls of a school, at a desk, with a textbook in hand and a teacher at the blackboard? And let the majority learn this way. What stops you from going to a park to study botany or visiting a planetarium when passing through a star system? You are not limited school boundaries, and for you the whole world is an educational space. The ability to gain knowledge not from textbooks, but from primary sources, not only increases efficiency, but also develops “passion” for the subject.

7. Studying is something more. At school, everything is measured by grades in the diary and scores for the Unified State Exam and Unified State Exam. At home schooling, children learn to create their own portfolio, which shows real knowledge and skills. And demonstrable results are becoming increasingly important both for universities and subsequently for employers.

8. You set your goals and objectives yourself. At school, children learn what was formulated by someone who does not know your child and his needs. In homeschooling, you choose what, how and when you study.

9. Pointless tests, assignments and reports will be a thing of the past. How can schoolchildren have a desire to learn if they are forced to complete the same type of assignments and meaningless tests?

10. Flexibility and convenience. You no longer need to drop off and then pick up your child from school at a certain time. And a vacation can be planned for any time, and not just for the “hot season” of the summer holidays.

However, certain difficulties may arise:

1. Responsibility. When you homeschool, you will be solely responsible for your children's education. If something goes wrong, you can no longer blame bad teachers or an ossified system. Although parents of children in traditional schools are also responsible for their children’s education, they, firstly, share it with the school, and secondly, they have much less opportunity to influence the result.

2. Time. Except for the rare evening or weekend when the children are with their grandparents, they will be with you: every day, all day. But this is one of the advantages of family education. You will finally have time to build close relationships with your children, to truly bond and get to know each other.

3. Freedom. Now you can send your children to school and go about your business. On the other hand, homeschooling will help you learn to manage your time better and become more creative. You can take advantage of home schooling support, contact specialists who will offer an optimal educational program for your child, and you can work remotely and find time for yourself.

4. Qualification. Many parents are not sure that they have enough knowledge, skills and patience to teach their children. But everything can be learned. Homeschooling has taught so many parents to remain calm when children are noisy, to be flexible when they are tired, to become wizards when they are bored. There are no perfect parents, just as there are no perfect teachers, but we all develop and learn from our own experiences.

5. Lack of knowledge. Are you afraid that your children will have gaps in knowledge, that in the end they will not know something? That they will ask you questions to which you do not know the answer? You can't know everything, and you don't need to. The main thing is to give children search tools necessary information and teach how to work with it. Plus, it’s so fun to search for answers and learn with your children!

6. Home restrictions. Most likely, your home does not have a playground, a swimming pool or a music room, but life is not limited to just the home. You can choose those playgrounds and clubs that best meet the needs of your children.

7. Independence. The sudden push to live independently at school forces children to rely on each other, while your child’s peers also have little life experience. The result is “the blind leading the blind.” Homeschooling provides parents with the opportunity to serve longer as an authority on their children and maintain their influence over them, giving them as much freedom and independence as they can bear.

8. Criticism. Most likely, some of your friends and relatives will not support your decision. Well, it's impossible to please everyone. Just remember that schooling very far from ideal and subject to even greater criticism. But the majority are accustomed to following the beaten path and do not try to look for better paths.

9. Lack of socialization. Some believe that homeschooled children spend the whole day within four walls and, as a result, do not know how to communicate with their peers. Of course, when switching to family education, all responsibility for the socialization of the child falls on your shoulders. But there are a huge number of places where your child can communicate with peers and not feel isolated from society. Clubs and sections, development centers and creative houses - you will have a much wider choice than parents who prefer traditional training, because you will have much more opportunities to create your child’s lesson schedule yourself. Besides, school experience is not always positive, and homeschooling will allow you to protect your child from negative influences and give him the opportunity to develop fully.

10. Transition to full-time training. It may turn out that you will need to transfer your child back to traditional education from family education. This process is complex, but it will be easier if the child has the skills independent work. In addition, these skills will help him achieve better results in full-time studies compared to his peers.

As with any matter, pros and cons are relative concepts. Even if difficulties arise, overcoming them can be a plus in the future, because when entering a university, the child will have developed all the skills for successful learning. self-education, career development.

We talked to experts to weigh the pros and cons of this form of education.

Cons: child socialization

The first argument of opponents of homeschooling is the lack of conditions for socialization for children. Nowadays, children hardly spend time outside on their own: residents of megacities cannot be called supporters of children walking unaccompanied. At the same time, and perhaps precisely because of this, the children's entertainment industry, despite the crisis, is experiencing rapid growth. The lack of socialization can be partially offset by going to clubs, development centers, and regular walks in well-stocked playgrounds.

However, to master the skills of working in a team, a comfortable family environment and even a sports section are really not enough for a child.

By singling out a child from the crowd and organizing an individual space for him to gain knowledge, parents also take a certain risk, notes Elena Sheripova, founder and director of the modeling agency and aesthetic development school Queen Models Studio Kids. “According to recent research, homeschooled children are much more likely to experience fear. public speaking. If parents decide to educate their child at home, they must fill the gaps in his communication with society.”

In addition, according to experts, the child may not develop the skill, and, accordingly, the incentive to defend his opinion in front of his peers.

It is important not only to resolve the issue of the child’s all-round development by enrolling him in clubs, sports sections, and additional creative classes in children’s centers. At least one of the directions additional education outside the home should involve teamwork.

Pros: psychological comfort

On the other side of the scale of forced socialization is the child’s psychological peace of mind: the absence of unnecessary stress, conflicts with teachers, peers or older students. Conflicts that are not resolved in a timely manner, or in the worst case, psychological “bullying” within the walls of the school, can haunt students from year to year.

“The main achievement of family education is the ability to get enough sleep in the morning. All learning at home is based on the rhythm of life of each child. Some people find it easy to study in the morning, others in the evening. Correct distribution load improves the assimilation of material, increases motivation to study. The ability to take subjects in a free mode helps to organize learning in a way that is convenient for you. Having free time allows you to concentrate on your child’s hobbies and interests. And gives more possibilities spend time with parents or friends,” notes expert on family and alternative education Alexey Semyonichev.

Cons: self-organization

After socialization, the second common question that worries parents who are studying the issue of switching to family education is whether the child will “shirk” from classes outside the strict framework of the schedule and compulsory attendance in a situation of abundance of free time.

The main principle of family education is following the child and his interests. Concept school year acquires individuality: the learning process can be both extended and accelerated when the child completes the program of several classes in one year.

As experts say, unobtrusive parental control and a curriculum are needed in any case. In addition, joint daily activities between parents and their child play a significant role. An adult should be included in the process as a colleague, a guide, without demonstrating a desire to teach, instruct or control. This position will allow you to unobtrusively track your learning progress. Joint classes in the case of family learning are not assistance in preparation homework in the traditional sense, but rather. mentoring. Learning happens everywhere. These can be themed walks through the forest or park, joint viewing of educational or feature films on a topic of interest, joint theatrical performances, as well as everyday and creative activities - soap making, rolling jars, picking mushrooms, drawing and anything else.

“A child studying at home will feel better, get enough sleep and study for as long as needed - from one hour a day to a regular school day of many hours. On the other hand, the child’s home regime will limit the personal freedom of the parents, since someone will have to devote all their time to compiling interesting program training, cultural outings and other educational events,” notes Kirill Bigay, co-founder and CEO of the online platform for finding tutors Preply.

“Freedom of education is often put first, that is, the child can choose what, when and for how long to study. The question is: on what basis should a child make such a choice? The child’s personality, his interests and values ​​have not yet been formed; they should be formed in relation to the boundaries that adults set for the child, including during education. Another component of learning to keep in mind is motivation; Unfortunately, it is not always stable in a child,” emphasizes Victoria Timofeeva, director of the “Parenthood Center” family complex, perinatal psychologist.

And yet, as experts note, a well-rested child who masters new information at a comfortable pace, with sincere interest, and not “under pressure” is not at all the same as the one who is off on vacation and doesn’t want to hear about it. additional classes or reading.

Pros/cons: intra-family ties

Home is initially a place of comfort, tranquility and joy. Creating conditions that promote maximum concentration in a place where a person tends to relax is not an easy task. The creation of a learning environment that opens up additional opportunities for self-development and choosing something to your liking will help level out this complexity: the availability of freely available encyclopedias, books, creativity kits, musical instruments, sports equipment, construction sets, and learning devices environment(microscope, telescope, telescope, etc.).

A parent, of course, cannot equivalently replace 12–15 professional teachers, but every loving mother can study child psychology and pedagogical techniques more deeply. Children easily “light up” when they see the sincere interest of an adult. A creative approach and joint attempts to figure it out encourage the child to further master complex material and compensate for the lack of knowledge on the subject of an adult, and especially the lack teacher education. In a subject that causes difficulties when studying within the family, tutors or themed clubs, schools.

“Canadian parents, according to Dr. Brian D. Ray of the American National Institute for Home Education Research, believe that by not attending school, the child better assimilates family traditions and values ​​and lives a better life. life to the fullest. They are probably right, given the rapidly growing percentage of families who have refused to attend school, comments Kirill Bigay. - But don’t forget: sooner or later, every person has to learn to be in society, and it’s easier to do this at a young age. If now a child has enough communication with parents and close relatives, then as he grows up he will increasingly need the attention of his peers. In addition, the problem of non-acceptance of an “unformatted” person by children’s society may arise.”

Pros/cons: quality of education

If at school classes are organized in accordance with clear instructions, plans and requirements with selected textbooks, then at home parents and children are free to use any source of information, as well as study subjects of interest in depth at a comfortable pace. Experts are confident that this has a positive impact on the quality of the education received.

“Most of the schools are aimed at the average student. A “strong” child has nothing to learn there, and a “weak” child does not even reach the “average” level. Much depends on the teacher. In addition, schools now place a tremendous burden on students. Parents complain that their children are introduced to the subject superficially, and children have to master the rest of the material at home with their parents. Then the latter has a question: is it worth going to school at all? And they transfer their children to full home schooling,” emphasizes Elena Sheripova.

“Children who are homeschooled not because of forced circumstances or for health reasons can already compete in terms of knowledge with their peers who attend school,” notes Kirill Bigay. “Dr. Brian Ray stated back in 2012 that all existing reliable research comes down to one conclusion: both academically and socially, the results of homeschooling are at least as good, and often better, than those of school.”

Experts note that the principle “The main thing is not to know, but to know where to find out” is relevant in the family education system. For any question, you can find a specialist willing to share information. Free forms of education, depriving the child of the principle of receiving information “chewed and digested,” stimulate him to search for and study in more depth the material that aroused his interest.

Homeschooling is not a magic pill. It may not be ideal for most children, much less every child. There are those whose need for close cohesion with the team and a wide circle of communication is extremely high, and the home environment is not able to fully satisfy this request. The readiness of the parent also plays a role, who, in addition to high erudition and the availability of free time, will also need a thirst for their own development and improvement.