Timothy Gilcrist
Problem-Solving Process
HUM/114
May 13, 2013
Elisabeth Nicholes

Choosing between continuing to allow my son to fall victim to the under-performing public school system. Or taking matters into my own hands, and home schooling him. The process of educating a child can be a daunting task, whether in traditional schools or the alternative, home schooling and charter schools. Everyone will have their own opinion and need to make their own decision about what is the best education path for their child. My son, Benjamin, is in the third grade, he is extremely bright and intelligent. Our problem with the traditional public school system is if a child does not fit in as a “cookie cutter” student and learn the material in the way that it is presented, he/she can fall behind. It is widely known that students learn in many different ways, some learn better in smaller groups, some learn better in an individual setting. Unfortunately, with the amount of students in each class, sometimes ranging between 28 and 34 students; a child can easily be overlooked and labeled as a “slow learner”, “lazy” or “unmotivated”. If teachers were held accountable more often for the success or lack thereof, we might see a change in how these types of students are educated. Charter schools are becoming very popular in the recent years, so much that some charter schools have to hold lotteries and potential students are put on a waiting list in order to attend the school. A parent must research the school to ensure the style of the teachers may work for their children. In the case of Benjamin, my wife and I are choosing to home school. Home schooling also has gained in popularity so much that since 1999 there has been a 75% increase in the number of home schooled students, for a total of over 2.4 million. The appealing aspect of home school is the ability to set your own