As Junior Caleb Kuo is about to leave his house for school, he thinks of the hectic life of a public school student. Kuo started homeschool at the beginning of seventh grade because his family had a bad impression of the public school system.
Because of Kuo’s intelligence, the teachers realized his proficiency in math and science and made him teach other students.
“I thought the school system was too slow,” Kuo said. “I felt I was wasting my time.”
His mother was also influenced by the poor academic atmosphere of public schools when she worked as a nurse for a middle school. However, Kuo stopped the homeschooling in the middle of seventh grade and went to Oak Avenue.
Kuo realized that homeschooling takes a certain personality for it to work. One must be self-disciplined, self-motivated and the need for an experienced adult is necessary.
Despite the fact that he joined in the middle of the school year the transition back into a public school was not hard for Kuo.
“I was somewhat relieved,” Kuo said. “Order was being restored.”
The main difference between homeschooling and public school is the freedom to choose. When a student is homeschooled they decide from workbooks, textbooks and online courses.
However, homeschooling does not provide the extracurriculars that public schools provide such as sports teams, peers and musical programs.
“I prefer public school,” Kuo said. “I value the school atmosphere that homeschooling does not provide.”