The Hidden Costs of Public School
The hidden costs of public schools are things that parents may not really consider, but could be something to think about. This is for parents who are considering taking their children out of public schools and putting them in homeschool.
Public schools cost money in ways you may not realize
I think that public schools actually cost parents a lot more money than they realize. One cost that you may not think about right off the bat is school clothes. Of course your kids need clothes either way, but the clothes you get and the amount you need is different when you’re home most of the time.
Wasted, unhealthy, or uneaten school lunch
They also have to pack special lunches or pay for school lunches. If the kids actually qualify for free lunches, what parents don’t often realize is that many times the kids aren’t eating as much as they should be. Sometimes these lunches at school are gross to them, so even though they’re free, it’s not doing much good if the kids don’t want to eat the lunch. Many times, even if they are eating them, they’re not healthy lunches because they have lots of additives and bad ingredients in them. You could feed them much better at home.
School supplies, Gas, Schedule constraints
Parents also have to pay for school supplies, gas to go to and from school, and they have to adjust their schedules around the schools scheduled times and holidays. Without being restricted by times and days that you must take the kids to a building for school, you’re able to travel more and give your children a variety of experiences that gain them a relevant, real-life educational value. You have the freedom to do schoolwork wherever you are and at the time that works best for your family.
Opportunity Costs- Missing time with loved ones
Another thing to consider is the great opportunity cost due to time missed with aging grandparents and other family members. These family members could spend time with children, show them love, bond teach them, and teach them skills.
Far less time available to learn skills
Many skills that the older generations had were not passed down to younger generations due to lack of time spent together while kids were in public schools. Younger generations are missing many useful skills because they’ve spent their time sitting in government run classrooms.
Learning is not Biblically based
They have been learning from set standards, teachers, and peers. Many times they have been learning things that contradicted the word of God and pulled them farther from family bonds and into peer bonds that undermined what their parents taught them. This has led to a decline over many years of the importance of family and home life and reliance on the government and a corrosion of good moral values and loyalty to God.
Should I pull my kids from public school?
Yes! You absolutely should. Your kids deserve better. Public schools have seen a major decline in effectiveness, particularly with literacy skills. Check out this article, “America’s Education System Is a Mess, and It’s Students Who Are Paying the Price,” for more information.
Should I homeschool my kids?
Absolutely! You are your child’s teacher already as their parent. You love and nurture your child like no one else. Don’t turn them over to someone else to educate. Instead, train them up in the way they should go. Dig into the Word together, study all sorts of topics from a Biblical worldview, and nurture them in every way, not just academically.
Let them spend time with your friends and family who you trust to learn skills from people around you. Don’t force them to sit in a government classroom all day because it’s more convenient for you. Do the hard work of raising them yourself. It’s worth every bit of effort and love you’ll pour into them. Homeschool your kids, and give it all you’ve got!
Ready to homeschool and need help?
Come back to this site for Free Printables to help you homeschool, made by me, a Christian, homeschooling mom of 4. I’m so excited for you in your homeschooling journey!
