Homeschooling: A Growing Trend

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Introduction Today, many parents are homeschooling their children. A U.S. Department of Education’s report shows that approximately 1.5 million children were being homeschooled in 2007 (Lips & Feinberg, 2008). This is almost 3 percent of all school age children (Lips & Feinberg, 2008). A private researcher, the National Home Education Research Institute, estimates 2.5 million children were being homeschooled in the 2007 – 2008 academic years (Lips & Feinberg, 2008). By either count, homeschooling is growing exponentially. Parents have been teaching their children at home for centuries. During the 1970s, the interest in homeschooling increased. Legal advocates had lots of opposition when pressing for the legal right to educate their child at home and change compulsory school attendance. The National Education Association fought to place restrictions on home schooling. However, most of the efforts have failed. As a result, homeschooling is legal in every state. Reasons for Homeschooling Growth There are numerous reasons why parents turn to homeschooling. Changes in the families and public schools drive the increase. Public schools grew larger, more bureaucratic, and more impersonal. Parents felt more alienated as the school was less responsive and less adaptive to cultural needs. This was combined with the loss of the Christian culture and curriculum the parents found offensive or against their social values (Gaither, 2008). The major reasons for homeschooling cited by two-thirds of the parents interviewed are concern about the school environment, dissatisfaction with the academic programs, and the desire for religious or moral instruction (National Center for Education Statistics [NCES], 2004). Parents feel ... ... middle of paper ... ...ated, this was not true of the homeschoolers. The homeschoolers also tended to vote more often. They were also involved in more community service than the general population. The homeschoolers were not isolated, but politically and socially active (Ray, 2004). Conclusion There are a growing number of homeschooled students and it appears homeschooling is successful. Most parents homeschool because of the environment, both academic and moral. The states need to insure all children are being educated. However, the requirements vary by state. Michigan is the most liberal, not even requiring homeschoolers to report to the state. The internet has expanded the types of homeschooling. Combined with the availability of the public school system for specialized programs, homeschooling is now a more popular option. Homeschooling will continue to be a growing area.

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