| Wikipedia states that "Home education, also called | | | | provides. Many home-education families address |
| homeschooling or home school, is an educational | | | | these concerns by joining numerous organizations, |
| alternative in which children are educated at home | | | | including home-education cooperatives, |
| by their parents, in contrast to the compulsory | | | | independent study programs and specialized |
| attendance which takes place in an institution with | | | | enrichment groups for physical education, art, |
| a campus such as a public school or private | | | | music, and debate. Most are also active in |
| school." | | | | community groups. Home-educated children |
| Around the world Homeschooling has been | | | | generally socialize with other children the same |
| increasing quite substantially over the last 4 years. | | | | way that school children do: outside of school, via |
| In 2003, in the United States, approximately 1.1 | | | | personal visits and through sports teams, clubs, |
| million children were Home Schooled, up 29% | | | | and religious groups. |
| from 850,000 in 1999. Recent figures show that | | | | The academic effectiveness of homeschooling is |
| Homeschooling in other Western Countries are | | | | largely a settled issue. "Numerous studies have |
| also continuing to grow. For example, an | | | | confirmed the academic integrity of home |
| estimated 50,000 children are considered | | | | education programs, demonstrating that on |
| "home-educated" in the United Kingdom; Australia | | | | average, home-educated students outperform |
| - 26,500; and in Canada (as at 2001) it was | | | | their publicly-run school peers by 30 to 37 |
| estimated that 80,000 children were educated at | | | | percentile points across all subjects." The |
| home with the numbers continuing to increase. | | | | performance gaps between minorities and gender |
| Most home education advocates have individual | | | | that plague publicly-run schools are virtually |
| motivations to home-educate. Academic and social | | | | non-existent amongst home-educated students. |
| results of home education are varied and are the | | | | Notable home-educated individuals |
| source of vibrant debate. Some feel that they | | | | - Thomas Edison, United States, scientist and |
| can more effectively tailor a student's academic | | | | inventor |
| program to suit an individual strengths and | | | | - Alexander Graham Bell, Scotland, Inventor |
| weaknesses, especially children who are gifted or | | | | (Telephone, Hydrofoil) |
| have learning disabilities. Others are religious | | | | - Dakota Fanning, United States, actress |
| parents who see non-religious education as | | | | - Hilary Duff, United States, Actress/Singer |
| contrary to their moral or religious systems. Still | | | | - Charles Evans Hughes, United States, Governor |
| others feel that the negative social pressures of | | | | of New York, United States Secretary of State, |
| schools, such as bullying, drugs, school violence, | | | | and Chief Justice of the United States |
| and other school-related problems, are impacting | | | | - Frankie Muniz, United States, Actor |
| negatively to a child's development. Many parents | | | | - Rosa Parks, United States, civil rights activist |
| simply like the idea of teaching their own children | | | | - Susan La Flesche Picotte, United States, first |
| rather than letting someone else do so. | | | | American Indian woman physician |
| A common concern voiced about home-educated | | | | - Woodrow Wilson, United States, the only United |
| children is they lack the social interaction with | | | | States President to hold a Ph.D. |
| students and society that a school environment | | | | |