Problem Description
With 2.8% of children in the United States being homeschooled (Number of homeschoolers in US 2015-2016, 2016), the choice between a public school and home studies still remains an issue. Although homeschooling incorporates a range of positive features, such as the possibility to create a unique program addressing the learner’s needs, the lack of distraction, etc., homeschooling has a range of effects that can be viewed as negative through the lens of nursing. The lack of agreement on the subject matter requires that a solution should be suggested.
Dilemma
From the perspective of nursing, homeschooling is a rather ambiguous issue. On the one hand, the environment in question prevents instances of bullying, which remains a prime concern for school psychologists in the U.S. (Rolstad & Kesson, 2013). Moreover, homeschooling creates premises for a child to bond with the parents, who are most likely to be involved in the learning process directly, being either mentors or the learner’s support. Therefore, the student is likely to develop strong positive academic qualities that may prompt the further process of metacognition and lifelong learning (Kaplan, Silver, & LaVaque-Manty, 2013). On the other hand, homeschooling blocks the process of interpersonal communication between a child and their peers. As a result, a homeschooled student is likely to suffer from a lack of social skills in the future. Therefore, when facing the need to confront a specific conflict in a hostile environment, a learner is likely to fail to develop the required problem-solving patterns and communication skills.
Ethics
Much to the credit of both sides, one must admit that the proponents of homeschooling and the supporters of the traditional teaching approach act on behalf of the child and in the latter’s interests (Walker, 2014). In other words, the people supporting homeschooling and those against it adopt the principles of utilitarianism. Traditionally defined as the philosophy based on the evaluation of the possible consequences, the specified approach requires that both sides should weigh each other’s arguments with due diligence.
Resolution
To address the issue under analysis, one must consider what is in the child’s best interests at present. There is no need to stress that homeschooling can be viewed as an option for children suffering from health issues that do not allow them to attend public schools. In the specified scenario, the choice of the alternate option is the only possible decision to make. In case the student is psychologically fit, though, one must consider the option of letting the learner attend the traditional school due to the need to socialize.
Thus, the environment that involves a combination of the factors that will help learners develop both academic and social skills has to be created. The cognitive process must be followed by the process of socializing with peers. Moreover, the students must be provided with an opportunity to resolve the emergent conflicts independently.
ANA
The solution provided above aligns with the foundations of the nursing ethics. Particularly, it complies with the ANA Code of Ethics, which says that it is the nurse’s duty to “in the best interest of their patient” (Lyons, 2013, par. 12). Once applied to practice, the strategy is bound to affect the quality of the learning process. Therefore, it is imperative to consider shaping the current approach toward public education so that students should feel comfortable in the educational setting.
Reference List
Kaplan, M., Silver, N., & LaVaque-Manty, D. D. (2013). Using reflection and metacognition to improve student learning: Across the disciplines, across the academy. Sterling, VA: Stylus Publishing, LLC.
Lyons, J. A. (2013). Code of ethics for nurses. Web.
Number of homeschoolers in US 2015-2016. (2016).
Rolstad, K., & Kesson, K., (2013). Unschooling, then and now. Journal of Unschooling and Alternative Learning, 7(14), 28–71.
Walker, B. J. (2014). Ethics and the autonomy of philosophy: Breaking ties with traditional Christian praxis and theory. Eugene, OR: Wipf and Stock Publishers.