This list is a detailed list of homeschooling disadvantages for students, but it is not all encompassing as homeschooling is a very individualized method of education based in part on the needs and interests of the student.
- Lack of guidance for homeschool curriculum. While most states do list their educational standards to be met by public school systems, they very rarely offer a specific curriculum to be followed. Therefore the guardian is responsible for developing the homeschool curriculum. While this can be done, it may be difficult of the guardian has limited academic knowledge or interest and may even lack the skills to develop a homeschool curriculum that will meet the standards expected for the age of the student.
- Lack of homeschool resources. Depending in the area and the technological resources available to the homeschooling guardian and home-schooled student, there can at times be a serious lack of homeschool resources. Many areas do offer homeschool groups and co-ops, but some smaller rural areas do not have these resources available. This can create homeschooling disadvantages in the form of lacking socialization and other skills that must be developed outside the home.
- Lack of structure. Children tend to thrive in a structured and stable environment. It's up to the homeschooling parent to create and enforce this type of environment. Some people do not have the organizational skills to develop such an environment in there home.
- Lack of or too much challenge. While some students end up with homeschooling disadvantages in the form of being pushed into material they do not understand by a guardian who is not aware of specific tried and true methods of teaching, other students are on the opposite end of the scale and have homeschooling disadvantages in the form of lacking any kind of challenge. This can happen through manipulation by the student, inattentiveness of the guardian, lack of knowledge about the subject matter on the part of the guardian and sometimes is simply the result of laziness on the part of the guardian and/or student.
- Lack of proper education of the guardian. Many homeschooling disadvantages for students are developed simply due to the fact that the guardian themselves do not have the knowledge required to teach the subject matter. For instance, an adult who cannot read would have some great difficulties in teaching grammar to the home schooled student.
While this article was not created to dissuade parents from homeschooling their students, parents should certainly take this information into consideration before pulling their child out of public schools and making the commitment to homeschool them. Many of these disadvantages can be overcome with some effort, but the guardian and the student both have to commit to make that effort.
