Do you know what your children are learning? Some parents make immersing themselves in their children’s education their personal mission. which means some parents may find their local public school lacking when it comes to the whole matter of their child's education. There are other options, if you're the kind of parent who is ready, and willing, to put in time and effort (and sometimes money) to make a change. These five alternative education styles may be the remedy for the mom who is wholly dedicated to being a catalyst for the development of her child’s education.
Homeschooling
The different methods of homeschooling are as varied as the children who participate. Most parents who choose homeschooling do so to become more involved in their child’s education, which they believe may be thwarted by the lack of one-on-one attention offered in traditional schooling. Parents who homeschool often follow the suggested curriculum from their child’s school district and teach the same lessons at home in an environment where they can help to fully engage their children in their studies without the social distractions of public or private schooling.
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Parents attracted to this particular method of education are often parents who have had unsatisfactory experiences with their own education or those who have witnessed a lull in the satisfaction of their child’s school performance. This heavily involved remedy to the dissatisfaction with traditional schooling pushes the parent to become the primary teacher which allows the child to be exposed to the world according to the parent’s worldview.
Parents of children with behavioral issues or children who are determined to have developmental issues are likely to choose this form of educating for their children because they feel that their child needs a loving, guided experience that only a devoted parent can offer.
Unschooling
Unschooling is an alternative education style that suggests that students learn primarily through life experiences. Real life experiences—including play, household responsibilities, internships and work experience, travel, books, family members and social interaction—are all used to help the mold the child. Unschooling is often viewed as an extension of homeschooling, yet the difference is that unschoolers do not follow the set curriculum and standards of traditional schools in the same way that the majority of parents who homeschool do.
Unschooling is popular among parents who have the time to devote to monitoring and participating in their child’s early development. While unschooling parents encourage their children to engage in a diverse range of life experiences, they actively participate; ensuring that their child learns valuable life lessons throughout each experience.
Children who engage in Green Schooling are often more aware of their eco footprint on the environment
Democratic Schooling
A Democratic education is one that promotes the student’s ability to make decisions and express their concerns when it comes to how they are being educated. While the normal student in the United States is taught to follow the rules and guidelines set by authority figures, a student involved in a Democratic school has an equal voice alongside teachers and administrators concerning matters of course work, instructor selection and administrative decisions.
A Democratic education is a valuable choice for parents who wish to raise children who believe their opinions matter. These children will blossom into adults who take action when they encounter a situation that is detrimental to their well-being because they will believe their input will help change the situation.
Green Schooling
A Green School is a viable option for parents whose aim is to make the world a better place. By planting seeds of awareness and cohesion between this planet and its inhabitants, parents who seek out Green School as the primary method for educating their children are actively preparing for the legacy they will leave behind.
Green Schools appeal to parents because of the small class sizes and teaching experiences that revolve around everyday interaction with the world. Children who engage in Green Schooling are often more aware of their eco footprint on the environment as well as culturally aware of the many reasons to celebrate our differences.
Montessori
Montessori schools have been a widespread educational tool in the United States. Dr. Maria Montessori’s theory that self-directed learning is the best method to educate students stems from her belief that children are not born as "blank slates" and are instead innately equipped with a natural penchant for learning that traditional education systems do not support.
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In a Montessori school students are free to explore the interests and lessons that they value the most while the teacher observes. Grades, tests and other forms of educational measurement are not found in Montessori schooling; quelling the highs and lows that competitive education garners.
Parents who see the value in Montessori schools report that their children develop an eager love for learning and are more likely to specialize in one specific area that brings them joy and satisfaction, ultimately resulting in grooming them into a young adult who is much more confident and happier with his life choices. Google Co-Founders Sergey Brin and Lawrence Page are both products of Montessori schools.
Would you choose an alternative school?
