More on the cost of homeschooling
Apr. 8, 2006 at 12:02 PM
Homeschooling
My previous post talked about how much you spend on homeschooling. If you haven't already commented, feel free to leave a comment there about how much you spend on homeschooling your family. So far it seems we spend quite a bit less than the $8000 average of the public schools. However, according to an economist we need to hire a better accountant.
Reader Rick provided a link to an econonomics professor who did some investigation and determined the cost of homeschooling to be not much less than the $8000 spent in public school. Here's what Clive Belfield professor at Queen's College in New York factored in:
Reader Rick provided a link to an econonomics professor who did some investigation and determined the cost of homeschooling to be not much less than the $8000 spent in public school. Here's what Clive Belfield professor at Queen's College in New York factored in:
Belfield's cost-assessment includes up-to-date textbooks and a library of other learning materials, computing equipment, ergonomically designed furniture, additional light, heat and air conditioning, as well as tutors for subjects such as higher-level science and math that parents are least likely to be able to teach.
He forgot to add in the private chef for the lunches too!
Seriously, adding in those types of expenses I could see where he would come up with $8,000. But as far as I can tell, some of those are just the cost of parenting. Or is it just homeschoolers that use heat and run the AC? And don't tell me we use more because we're home all day. My neighbors run their AC and lights even when their gone. And what's up with the erogonimically designed furniture? We call that a couch. I think most homes have those too! (Our last one was purchase at a sale for less than $100 dollars.) I do know some families who join coops for high school but few who hire private tutors. Maybe that's a New York thing. He also includes the cost of getting to and from activities. But again those are costs incurred by all parents and my neighbors with children in school seem to be on the go more not less than our family.
His assessment also included this statement,
Seriously, adding in those types of expenses I could see where he would come up with $8,000. But as far as I can tell, some of those are just the cost of parenting. Or is it just homeschoolers that use heat and run the AC? And don't tell me we use more because we're home all day. My neighbors run their AC and lights even when their gone. And what's up with the erogonimically designed furniture? We call that a couch. I think most homes have those too! (Our last one was purchase at a sale for less than $100 dollars.) I do know some families who join coops for high school but few who hire private tutors. Maybe that's a New York thing. He also includes the cost of getting to and from activities. But again those are costs incurred by all parents and my neighbors with children in school seem to be on the go more not less than our family.
His assessment also included this statement,
that families with more than three children almost universally give up on home shooling and opt instead for public schools. "This suggests that the monitoring and supervisory costs of home schooling are not that low," he says.
I'm not sure that this is universally true. This suggests to me he that his sample for his assessment was way too small.
The article also highlights virtual charters that allow "homeschoolers" to dip into public funds to defray the costs of homeschooling. This is just the sort of thinking that will trap homeschoolers into increased regulation. With government funds come government strings. Better to homeschool on a shoestring than be be tied to the government's purse.
Overall, I don't think this professor's assessment reflects the true cost/benefits of homeschooling which in my not so humble opinion are priceless.
One final note, when my financial planner speaks to families, he encourages them to live life by their convictions not their checkbook. "If you really want to homeschool you'll find a way to make it happen."
The article also highlights virtual charters that allow "homeschoolers" to dip into public funds to defray the costs of homeschooling. This is just the sort of thinking that will trap homeschoolers into increased regulation. With government funds come government strings. Better to homeschool on a shoestring than be be tied to the government's purse.
Overall, I don't think this professor's assessment reflects the true cost/benefits of homeschooling which in my not so humble opinion are priceless.
One final note, when my financial planner speaks to families, he encourages them to live life by their convictions not their checkbook. "If you really want to homeschool you'll find a way to make it happen."
Update I: Michelle Malkin's post today makes the cost of homeschooling worth the price. With teachers who show films with obscenities about the president to educate indoctrinate our children, it continually mystifies me why parents are still sending their children to these schools.
Update: Here's some websites in the free or inexpensive category.
Julie reminds us of the website Free Stuff For Homeschoolers.
Ambleside Online provides a free online curriculum in the style of Charlotte Mason.
Donna Young has lots of free printable resources and organizational helps.
Homeschool Math has free and economically priced math worksheets.
If your learning about the automobile the GMAbility website may be worth looking into.
Related Tags: homeschooling, home school, education, parenting, family, public school
Related Tags: homeschooling, home school, education, parenting, family, public school
10 Comments and Trackbacks
posted by Boltbabe on Apr. 8, 2006 at 1:07 PM
I will be posting about this on my blog. Great topic!
posted by KarenW on Apr. 8, 2006 at 6:17 PM
Do they have ergonomically designed furniture in the public schools? I don't remember any...
Yes! We are still going to Michigan. I just don't know our exact date of arrival. John will be calling a pastor on Monday and hopefully we'll know some more specifics.
posted by gottsegnet on Apr. 8, 2006 at 7:35 PM
They also kind of neglect to mention some of the costs homeschoolers might claim as homeschooling expenses just to rationalize it. Like the butterfly garden we didn't really need but I wanted to do with the kids. Or the gymnastics class that I decided I would call PE. So I call it an expense of homeschooling. Our neighbors call it birthday presents and...well, whatever other people call the absurd amount of activities they enroll their children in. The fact is, most of the things I buy for "school" I'd buy anyway. Quality books, engaging toys, games and puzzles, and a little scientific equipment for discovery. The only thing I probably would not have bought if my kids were in PS is the math workbooks ($32 per year) and her history books (I think 3 at $28 each, but I don't remember the price).
posted by SusannahCox on Apr. 8, 2006 at 9:08 PM
Upon reading this post, my mind immediately flew to Amy Dacyzyn's discussion in her Tightwad Gazette about the government's estimate of what it costs to raise a child. Way more than what we spend! Her conclusion: It's all about your priorities. If you want it badly enough, you'll do without for it.
I find goodies at yard sales all the time, and use the internet extensively (Donna Young is awesome!). Our major "curriculum" materials probably cost about $400 per year, all told, for three "School-age" kids, and some of that is really for "extras."
I'm sure lots and lots of homeschoolers use eBay to buy and recoup, too.
posted by Laura A on Apr. 9, 2006 at 1:06 PM
Maybe there is something to your suggestion of a New York mentality, Spunky. Indeed, there are some who hire tutors, mostly later.
But Mr. Belfield (of Queens) doesn't know New York City homeschoolers: Large families do homeschool! And one reason is fairly obvious: Lots of people who would be game to send two children to private school, or fanagle to get their two into coveted public school programs, balk at the idea of doing so for four or five.
But meanwhile, about homeschooling costs, My answer is the same as most people's would be: So far I spend very little on the three R's, and a lot more on the extra-curricular classes that would cost the same whether we homeschooled or not. True, my gas/electric bill is above the stated average, but then, I not only school at home, but I even cook, apparently a rarity among New Yorkers. That said, one of my homeschooling friends really did suggest recently that some of us might go in together and hire a private chef! (As a learning experience, of course.)
I happen to look at homeschooling as a bargain compared to private school (or public school, if I were given that sum to spend). If homeschooling costs $2500 per year, that's a tenth of private school tuition in the city. But even if it weren't a bargain, I'd do it as long as I could--the benefits are precious.
posted by Anonymous on Apr. 9, 2006 at 1:28 PM
Sorry to clutter up your comments section with more posts, but I got curious, looked up Belfield's faculty pages, and found the following reference, among other things:
"...Belfield...expressed greater concern about child-abuse issues, stating that having children in school in a public space at least provides a venue for identifying if they are mistreated at home."
So that's where he stands. Here's the source:
http://www.tc.columbia.edu/news/article.htm?id=4574
posted by Amber on Apr. 9, 2006 at 1:33 PM
I just found out about AO and I love it...I should say WE love it! $8000--SHEESH!
0:) Amber
posted by nitrocat on Apr. 9, 2006 at 3:25 PM
Granted, I am only schooling one so far, but I have spent less than my budgeted $600 for this school year. That includes all curriculum and field trips, a familypass.com membership and HSLDA membership. It also includes a few extras for helping with special ed needs.
The ergonomically designed furniture cracks me up!
posted by cricket313 on Apr. 9, 2006 at 7:28 PM
This is my first visit to your site. Thanks for the article. This upcoming school year we will be under $300. Now intially not knowing my children's learning style, etc. I know I spent more. I'm just now trying to keep track of everything. I'm please to announce I don't see us ever getting to $8000!
I love homeschooling. I'm of the opinion you don't have to spend a lot to educate well.
Michelle
posted by esperanzavallero on Apr. 10, 2006 at 12:24 AM
We generally spend less than 500 a year. We find a lot of used curriculum and so most of our education spending is books, games, field trips and activiities, which as others stated, people would spend whether they homeschooled or not.
Jennifer