More and more schools are experiencing trouble with drug abuse, violence, and immoral behavior. Shootings, bomb threats, gangs, teenage pregnancies and scanty dress standards are all on the rise. One way to protect children from these influences is to try home schooling.

In a home school environment parents, rather than peers, are the ones who shape a child's standards and values. Along with required subjects like mathematics, history, English, science, foreign languages, music, and art parents can teach their children religion and ethics in a home school environment. Perhaps this is why Christian home schooling is so popular.

As valuable as a safe environment is though, many parents are a little daunted by the prospect of teaching their own children. For one thing, it takes a lot of time. For another, it requires a lot of self- discipline from both parents and children. And finally, parents are overwhelmed by the task of coming up with a whole year's worth of coursework.

Well, there is no getting around the time costs and self-discipline factors, but the year-long curriculum can be an easy challenge to meet. It may cost a little money to get started, but there are several pre-made home school curriculums that come with their own workbooks, schedules, and activities to make home schooling as easy as possible. Parents can use those curriculums alone or supplement them with field trips, library books and extra lessons.

Making the decision to home school your children can seem like a scary decision at first, but there are several rewards that come from the time and effort you invest in the process. For example, the relationship between parents and their children is often strengthened from the extra time spent learning material together. Your children might also learn the material better because of the one-on-one attention you give them. And, as their parents, you can also cater your teaching style to their personality and needs.

Another benefit that many parents enjoy while homeschooling their children is incredible flexibility. When you are the teacher, principle and school board all rolled into one, you have the power to schedule family vacations, doctor's appointments and other activities that would normally interfere with school at the most convenient times. As long as you meet state requirements, you can school how, where, and when you please.