In the contemporary digital age, one school of thought holds that the advancement of the Internet has rendered schools obsolete and empowered students to study at home. While there are certain rationales for this belief, I would argue that schools, in many ways, are paramount to the development of children.
On the one hand, there are valid arguments for arguing that homeschooling and online learning supersede traditional education. One notable among these is that the immediacy and accessibility of the internet have conferred upon us access to a myriad of free, available knowledge. They effectively dispel geographical and fiscal adversities, thereby significantly streamlining the study process. A prime example is that there are several free online courses, such as Khan and The Forum, that have assisted millions of people in studying foreign languages. Also, home education is often assumed to be safer, as there is no risk of school bullying and violence.
However, despite the aforementioned benefits, I would contend that one should not underestimate the significance of schools in offering a holistic developing environment to children. Indeed, the role of schools extends far beyond the confines of academic institutions. They are microcosms of the larger society, in which children can hone their interpersonal skills by making new friends and expressing their personalities. In contrast, children studying at home often lack interaction with peers, thus becoming more taciturn and hardly improving their social capability. Moreover, it is at schools where children can receive the guidance of teachers, who are invaluable sources of useful advice and motivation. With the companionship of teachers, students are more likely to go in the right direction and obtain success.
To conclude, while self-studying at home offers unmistakable benefits, particularly in terms of accessibility and safety, it is precipitous to downplay the role of schools in facilitating comprehensive development.