Homeschooling has been around for decades. There has always been debate over whether this should be allowed as an alternative to public schools. School was born at home, so why not continue the tradition? In the 1970s, about 15,000 children were homeschooled. In 1999, 850,000 children were already homeschooled (Stevens 1). Even during this 29-year period, the number of homeschooled children has increased significantly in the United States. “Long a normative practice on the American frontier, parent-directed education was almost entirely eclipsed with the achievement of universal compulsory schooling in the United States. in the twentieth century…homeschooling re-emerged…” By the beginning of the twentieth century, not only was it legal to homeschool your child, but it was also extremely accepted in the United States. The government made it easier for parents by providing small businesses that provided all the educational materials (Stevens 1). In a home classroom, there is a parent/teacher/child ratio of 1:1 or 1:2 compared to the 16 to 18 students who would be in a classroom at an elite private school. In the first years of teaching, this structure works very well. It lays the foundation for learning harder things that are easier. Most homeschooled children take time to go on field trips and visit many interesting places. They stay prepared for state standards by closely aligning their standards with those of the state (Neal 23). last." (Neal 24). When you have more flexibility, you have more time to focus on things... middle of paper ......chance 50). When it comes to the your child's education, you want what's best for them. For some it's public schools, others it's home schooling. Homeschooling is not for everyone so we should get rid of it altogether, we should keep it as an alternative for those who truly believe it would be best for their child Works Cited Haverluck, Michael F. “Teaching. at home provides socialization." Homeschooling. Berlatsky, first ed. Detroit: Gale2012. Neal, Andrea. “Homeschooled students perform comparable to others on standardized tests.” Homeschooling. Berlatsky, first ed. Detroit: Gale 2010. Stevens, Mitchell. “Homeschooling.” Dictionary of American History. Ed. Stanley 1. Kutler. 3rd ed. Flight. 4. New York: Charels Scribner's Sons, 2003. 153-154. Student resources in context. Internet. April 7, 2014. http://ic.galegroup.com