According to the U.S. Department of Education (2017), “the number of homeschooled students increased from 850,000 students in 1999 to 1,773,001 students in 2012.” This same source, though, claims “the increase between 2007 and 2012 was not statistically significant.” Nevertheless, one cannot help but ponder why these numbers multiplied so quickly in the first place (Redford, J., Battle, D. and Bielick, S., 2017), and why according to some sources (Ray, 2016) homeschooling is increasing from 2012 and beyond.
Several positive reasons for homeschooling such as the ability of parents to get more involved with their children’s lives, learning alongside with their children, reinforcing family value, and bringing children and parents together have been noted. (Ceceri, 2019) In fact, Rebecca English (2015) states that homeschooling ‘parents may be using their home education choice to further establish the bonds between them and their children.’ (English, 2015) In addition, homeschooled students may receive social benefits as they interact not only with their parents, but non-parental adults and other homeschooled children. Richard Medlin (2013) hypothesizes that “the kind of socialization experiences homeschooled children receive may be more advantageous than those of children who attend conventional schools. (Medlin, 2013)
These are some motivating factors. Yet, a survey conducted by the U.S. Department of Education shows the top motivation for parents choosing homeschooling for their children is a concern about the environment of traditional school. (U.S. Department of Education, 2017). In other words, parents have unenrolled their children from public schools out of concern for safety.
The second top reason why the homeschooled movement has grown so rapidly is dissatisfaction with the curriculum at other schools. (U.S Department of Education, 2012) This finding harmonizes with other studies which show that some minorities are discontented with “European-centric curriculum” (Ray, 2015) and that some parents are displeased with education that fails to address the needs of special needs children. According to Morse and Bell (2018), “Results of the study suggest that when parents perceive needs of a child with SEN [special education needs] are not being met in a public or private school, the child’s SEN is an important factor in their decision to homeschool” (Morse and Bell, 2018). Parents, therefore, resort to homeschooling to provide their children with customized curriculum that meets their children’s needs.
The third and fourth most common reasons for homeschooling, according to the U.S. Department of Education (2017), is the desire to provide religious instruction and moral education. There are some companies that serve the needs of homeschooling families. The abundance of these companies and their profitability are a testimony to the truthfulness of these research findings. In concurrence, the ability ‘to impart and teach a particular set of values and worldview’ is listed by Dr. Brian Ray (2019) as a prevalent motivation for parents to homeschool their children.
In summary, we have examined several factors for the growing trend toward homeschooling. Dissatisfaction with the environment of traditional schools, dissatisfaction with curriculum that fails to meet individual needs, and the ability to provide religious instruction and moral education are some of the top reasons why homeschooling is so ubiquitous and continues to increase.
Ceceri, K. (2019). Positive Reasons to Homeschool. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/positive-reasons-to-homeschool-1832587
English, R. (2015). Use Your Freedom of Choice: Reasons for Choosing Homeschool in Australia. Journal of Unschooling & Alternative Learning in Australia, 9 (17) 1-18
Medlin, R. (2013). Homeschooling and the question of socialization revisited. Peabody Journal of Education, 88 (3), 284-297.
Morse, M. and Bell, S. (2018). Homeschooling: A Growing School Choice Option for Meeting Special Educational Needs. International Journal of Educational Reform, 27 (1), 156-172.
Ray, B. (2019). Research Facts on Homeschooling. Homeschool Fast Facts. National Home Education Research Institute. Retrieved from https://www.nheri.org/research-facts-on-homeschooling/
Ray, B. (2015). African American Homeschool Parents’ Motivations for Homeschooling and Their Black Children’s Academic Achievement. Journal of School Choice, 9 (1) 71-96
Redford, J., Battle, D. and Bielick, S. (2017). Sarah Grady Project Officer. Homeschooling in the United States. American Institutes for Research. U.S. Department of Education. National Center for Education Statistics Retrieved from https://nces.ed.gov/pubs2016/2016096rev.pdf
© 2019 Aurelia McNeil, www.TheLanguageProfessor.com
Several positive reasons for homeschooling such as the ability of parents to get more involved with their children’s lives, learning alongside with their children, reinforcing family value, and bringing children and parents together have been noted. (Ceceri, 2019) In fact, Rebecca English (2015) states that homeschooling ‘parents may be using their home education choice to further establish the bonds between them and their children.’ (English, 2015) In addition, homeschooled students may receive social benefits as they interact not only with their parents, but non-parental adults and other homeschooled children. Richard Medlin (2013) hypothesizes that “the kind of socialization experiences homeschooled children receive may be more advantageous than those of children who attend conventional schools. (Medlin, 2013)
These are some motivating factors. Yet, a survey conducted by the U.S. Department of Education shows the top motivation for parents choosing homeschooling for their children is a concern about the environment of traditional school. (U.S. Department of Education, 2017). In other words, parents have unenrolled their children from public schools out of concern for safety.
The second top reason why the homeschooled movement has grown so rapidly is dissatisfaction with the curriculum at other schools. (U.S Department of Education, 2012) This finding harmonizes with other studies which show that some minorities are discontented with “European-centric curriculum” (Ray, 2015) and that some parents are displeased with education that fails to address the needs of special needs children. According to Morse and Bell (2018), “Results of the study suggest that when parents perceive needs of a child with SEN [special education needs] are not being met in a public or private school, the child’s SEN is an important factor in their decision to homeschool” (Morse and Bell, 2018). Parents, therefore, resort to homeschooling to provide their children with customized curriculum that meets their children’s needs.
The third and fourth most common reasons for homeschooling, according to the U.S. Department of Education (2017), is the desire to provide religious instruction and moral education. There are some companies that serve the needs of homeschooling families. The abundance of these companies and their profitability are a testimony to the truthfulness of these research findings. In concurrence, the ability ‘to impart and teach a particular set of values and worldview’ is listed by Dr. Brian Ray (2019) as a prevalent motivation for parents to homeschool their children.
In summary, we have examined several factors for the growing trend toward homeschooling. Dissatisfaction with the environment of traditional schools, dissatisfaction with curriculum that fails to meet individual needs, and the ability to provide religious instruction and moral education are some of the top reasons why homeschooling is so ubiquitous and continues to increase.
Ceceri, K. (2019). Positive Reasons to Homeschool. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/positive-reasons-to-homeschool-1832587
English, R. (2015). Use Your Freedom of Choice: Reasons for Choosing Homeschool in Australia. Journal of Unschooling & Alternative Learning in Australia, 9 (17) 1-18
Medlin, R. (2013). Homeschooling and the question of socialization revisited. Peabody Journal of Education, 88 (3), 284-297.
Morse, M. and Bell, S. (2018). Homeschooling: A Growing School Choice Option for Meeting Special Educational Needs. International Journal of Educational Reform, 27 (1), 156-172.
Ray, B. (2019). Research Facts on Homeschooling. Homeschool Fast Facts. National Home Education Research Institute. Retrieved from https://www.nheri.org/research-facts-on-homeschooling/
Ray, B. (2015). African American Homeschool Parents’ Motivations for Homeschooling and Their Black Children’s Academic Achievement. Journal of School Choice, 9 (1) 71-96
Redford, J., Battle, D. and Bielick, S. (2017). Sarah Grady Project Officer. Homeschooling in the United States. American Institutes for Research. U.S. Department of Education. National Center for Education Statistics Retrieved from https://nces.ed.gov/pubs2016/2016096rev.pdf
© 2019 Aurelia McNeil, www.TheLanguageProfessor.com
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