I was pleasantly surprised to learn that the two are quite similar and students can gain a great deal of knowledge in a mixed age classroom. Students in one room schools are mixed by age and learning level. Likewise, in a home school setting siblings could range in age from 5 to 18. Mixed age classrooms promote a place for the older students to become leaders. It is obvious that the mother in a home school setting or the schoolmaster in a one room school cannot instruct everyone at the same time all day long. Therefore, the older students have an opportunity to help the younger students. The younger students develop respect while the older students become leaders in the classroom. This fosters lifelong skills that only students in one room classrooms or those who are being home schooled can develop through their daily education (Pudewa, 2008).

With home schooling and one room schooling there is no way to hide in the back of the room as students in public school try to do today. Mothers and schoolmasters are always aware of the involvement of the students and expect their participation in the learning process each day. Some public schools expect little out of students. I have had many students tell me that their high school teachers failed to challenge them. Therefore, they were tempted to skip class. As a result, some even dropped out or were expelled from school because they felt as if they were lost in the system.

What are your feelings on public schools adopting some of the ideals of one room school teaching and home schooling?

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• home school class rooms
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