What do you prefer and why, home study or sending kids to school? home study vs. sending to school

I
teach at a hybrid school: independent study Monday, Wednesday, Thursday; classroom activity
Tuesday, Friday. It is a nice compromise between private and home education. My own children,
however, attend a public school because the district we live in has some exceptional academic
and music programs that a small school (or home school) just couldn't match.

Home schooling requires tremendous discipline for both student and parent. I remind my
students that their parents ARE teachers. I also encourage both parents and students to set a
schedule for the independent study days. Traditional classroom students know where they will be
at any given time of the school day. It's too easy to think "I have all day" when at
home--which ultimately leads to cramming two days work into 2 hours. However, if a student can
master time management at 14,15, or 16, their prospects for success in the long term are
good.

If both parent and student are committed to getting the best out of
independent studies by working diligently, then the education can be superb. Home school,
however, is not for every family. There is certainly room in our education system for all
educational strategies.