So Cool to be Homeschooled

The New York Times reported a rise in the number of parents choosing homeschooling for their children. Their reason for homeschooling is different from the traditional reasons. These parents are not trying to get more religion to their children or rebelling against the tyranny of the government's hands in school; most have no problem at all with ordinay education. Most are choosing homeschooling for their children because traditional education does not fit their lifestyles.

"For someone who travels a lot or has a parent who travels and wants to keep the family together, it's an excellent choice," said Lisa's mother, Trish Mazzoni, who with her husband owns a speedboat company.

Although homeschooling is convenient, teachers charge from $70 to $110 an hour. Depending on how many hours a day these teachers work, to educate one child might cost upward of $30,000 a year. Since 1999 the number of students being homeschooled has increased by 29%.

Homeschooling is an educational alternative in which children are educated at home by their parents. The diferrent cultures of the early American Colonies dictated whether they had home schooling or public schooling. In the assachusetts Bay Colony a city with a certain population was required to have a school to educate the children. Cities with large populations were required to have a secondary school. These schools were usually supported by local churchs. The first tax supported public school was in Dedhma, Massachusetts. The New England interest in education was because of the puritan culture which required all people to be able to read the bible. In the southern colonies conditions were different. Cities were scarce because houses were usually separted by acres of plantation. Most southern children whose families could afford them an education, were homeschooled.