I am currently a junior at Glendale High School. I have gone to school in-person my entire life since Pre-K. Now, I still have bad days at school, but I also have days where I’m really happy that I get to go through them.

Considering that we attended classes via Zoom during the COVID-19 pandemic, people have been bringing up the topic of homeschooling, as opposed to going to school in-person. I have seen that many friends and family members have decided to be homeschooled, due to the fear and anxiety they felt because of the coronavirus.

Every decision has advantages and disadvantages, particularly if a parent is deciding whether to send their child to school or expect them to be taught at home. In-person public school was the best choice for my family and me, but students who are homeschooled have a different experience from students who attend traditional school.

However, let’s discuss realistically the benefits of attending school in-person. With the curriculum and learning environment that practically every school provides, teachers and administrators work to make sure that we kids are getting the greatest education possible. They can provide us with the fundamentals of knowledge and  inspire us in terms of our careers and future.

From elementary through high school, I witnessed how motivated my teachers have been to make sure that we, as their students, comprehend the material at a fundamental level. Although they may sometimes act harshly, their ultimate goal is to ensure their students’ academic success. Even though they are excellent teachers, I have observed that they may often be tough and demand that students work hard to learn. Being a great teacher, in my view, entails having high expectations, not to harm us but to boost our understanding. 

Socializing with teachers, staff members and other students is undoubtedly another top priority. The ability to communicate and form friendships is a top goal for parents, who want their kids to grow in their social and friendship-building skills. Socializing and getting to know individuals from diverse backgrounds, genders and beliefs is the main goal of school. 

I personally have a strong desire to interact with people, and I’ve made some of my closest and best friends at school. Getting out of the house and interacting with others is something I could never get bored with doing. 

The best choice when attending school is to participate in extracurricular activities. Homecoming, Prom, sports, clubs, music and student government are all things that every student gets to experience. When I was in middle school, I couldn’t wait to start my high school career. Participating in Oratorical, Round Up, and the Homecoming Dance have been, and will continue to be, the most unforgettable events of my life. Every day when I wake up and go to school, I get to create even more memories. 

Regretfully, there are always drawbacks to going to school. Since some students can learn a lesson more quickly than others, teachers are limited in how they can pace their lessons. This causes students to worry constantly about their finals, homework and grades. A parent’s decision may also be influenced by the safety of a school’s community. Many students who attend public schools frequently experience bullying, harassment or fighting. 

There are also several benefits of being homeschooled. Students learning from home have personalized instruction. Parents or tutors are able to accommodate their students’ learning abilities and identify their strengths and weaknesses. Therefore, students won’t be put into a situation where they have to repeat a failed course. 

Another major advantage of homeschooling is flexible scheduling. A lot of young kids sometimes aren’t able to multitask with their school and personal life. Some students, for example, are young actors or actresses who don’t have the time of day to attend their regular classes. With their situation, homeschooling allows these people to work based on their best interests. 

However, homeschooled children may lack the social interaction with other kids and adults that they would normally receive in-person. Those students who learn from home may feel trapped in their houses, because they aren’t able to interact with others, and it may be difficult for them to make new friends. 

Another disadvantage is the limited number of extracurricular activities. Homeschooling doesn’t offer students the opportunity to participate in high school sports, like football, basketball or soccer. They are also not allowed to attend school events, like dances and rallies.

Sophomore Explosion staff member, Lily Bagdyan, has a unique perspective on this issue:

I have only been homeschooled for my entire middle school year, but it was terrible. Socializing is something I need to have, but unfortunately, I am an introverted person. But at the same time, I need to interact with other people besides my family members. 

I was all alone at home with my sister, my parents and my dog. I didn’t have any friends, except my friends at church, but it wasn’t that kind of relationship to text and go out often. 

Another bad factor was that I wasn’t learning at all. The fact that everything was online made it difficult to understand without a teacher physically helping and guiding you. 

But being homeschooled gave me a flexible opportunity to do anything. I didn’t have to wake up at a certain time, I could easily go out without missing my classes, and I had plenty of time to catch up on any assignments that needed to be done. 

Junior Explosion staff member, Elayna Ovasapyan, also offered her opinion on homeschooling: 

In-person school is the most popular, general style of school that the majority of students in the world attend every day. The best advantages are the social interactions and activities that students can do, [and] playing sports or attending different school events. 

However, if you aren’t open-minded, it may be difficult, because you are experiencing and witnessing different people with different perspectives and views of life at school. Attending school in person has, throughout the years, has built my social skills and time management skills, through getting assistance from my teachers one-on-one. 

Ultimately, when it comes to the issue of homeschooling, it all depends on the children and their ability to learn. The factor comes to personal education or accommodating their social skills. Nitros, if you are in a difficult situation with regards to your learning ability, please talk to your parents, teachers and counselor for more guidance.