Profile Paper

A dream for many kids is not having to wake up every morning and go to school. This is the dream that Kyle Jacobs lived for 10 years of his life. He woke up at about 10:30 everyday. He showered ate breakfast and then began school. Kyle’s schooling began whenever he was ready. The reason for this special treatment is that Kyle didn’t even have to leave his house to go to school and his teacher was his own mother. Kyle is one of the many children whose parents decided to have their child participate in a homeschooling system.

I asked Kyle if he would be willing to be interviewed about his experiences of homeschooling. He generously agreed. The day of the interview I went to Kyle’s house. It was a well-kept home with many pictures on the walls. I could tell that Kyle and his family were very close and loving. They welcomed me and made me feel very comfortable. After talking with Kyle and his friendly family, Kyle showed me where his schooling took place. It was a spare bedroom in the house with a desk, computer, books, maps on the walls and a couch for breaks. It was like a regular classroom but even cooler. After the tour, Kyle and I sat down at the same desk he must have spent numerous hours at and began the interview.

At the age of 7 Kyle was done with the public school system. After he finished 2nd grade at Rogers Elementary in Allen Park Michigan, he began 3rd grade right in his own living room. He said that he has little memory of being in a classroom with other kids. It’s an experience he wished he had. Although he was young he still remembers some things. Kyle said, “I will never forget recess. I remember playing Star Wars with the other boys. It was something that I envied when I became homeschooled.” Kyle missed out on a lot of things an average student experiences— things as simple as recess, gym class, lunch tables, and lockers. He always wished he had a normal childhood. Kyle didn’t get to go to school dances and participate in school activities with his classmates. Kyle had only a few friends and little interaction with kids his own age. He felt weird, shy, and awkward at times because of this. These were the disadvantages homeschooling had on Kyle.

Along with disadvantages there were also many advantages of homeschooling. Even though Kyle missed out on a normal school life, he gained much more. Kyle received one on one attention every day. His mother was an excellent teacher and received her degree in teaching from Michigan State University. His father’s job was good enough to support the family so his mother decided to stay home and give Kyle a homeschooled education. She believed she could give her son a better education then the school system. His mother was right. He stayed focused on his school work and received excellent grades. His parents believed that homeschooling was the best decision they made for their son. A main concern about homeschooling is whether a child is obtaining the same information that is needed to prepare a student for college. In Kyle’s case he was getting that and more. On his ACTs Kyle received a score of 31. This is 10 points higher the national average score of 21. Kyle had an advantage over most kids. His parents were fortunate enough give their son all the attention, education, and support he needed to succeed in school.

Kyle is now a sophomore in college. He attends the University of Michigan—Ann Arbor. This was definitely a new experience for Kyle. He said, “When I found out I was going away to school and going to be learning in a classroom, I was excited but nervous at the same time.” Kyle began his freshman year in the fall of 2008. His first year went extremely well. Nervous he wasn’t going to fit in, Kyle decided to become very involved in school so he could meet new friends. He soon became comfortable in the school setting. Now as Kyle is older he realizes how lucky he was to have such a good education from his mother. Skills he learned from being homeschooled, like study skills and time management, helped him do better in college. Even though as a child he wished he was in normal school, Kyle now believes that being homeschooled was a great and rewarding experience for his future.

Homeschooling is a big decision for a parent to make. It can either help or hurt their child’s future. Some parents who keep their child homeschooled don’t take their education seriously enough. They allow their kids to slack off and practically do their child’s schoolwork. They also keep their child from interacting with kids their own age. This can be unhealthy and affect their ability to work with others. Kyle was lucky enough to have parents who were well-educated and knew how to prepare their son for college. They allowed him to be involved in city sports and church activities which helped him with his social skills. Many children who are homeschooled benefit from this experience, and Kyle Jacobs was one of them.