“The goal was lofty, but our secular home education was primarily based on a fear of negative outside influence. What my parents did not understand is that safety by isolation has many consequences long into adulthood.” While I have had both positive and negative experiences with homeschooling, I strongly believe in homeschool reform. I was … Continue reading Alex H.: “I often wonder at what cost”

“I support homeschool oversight because most child abuse is committed by parents against their own children. I believe people oppose homeschool oversight because most people only worry about their own kids. They won’t admit it, but as long as their own kids aren’t at risk, even “good” homeschoolers just don’t care.” I was homeschooled through … Continue reading Jessica A.: “Homeschool is an abusive parent’s dream”

“Oversight of my home education would have given me someone to see the severe authoritarian parenting happening in our home. The beatings that were handed to us daily as obedience to god. Maybe an agency of oversight would have missed the abuse. But I can tell you that not having anyone really paying attention to … Continue reading Bethany Brittain: “It didn’t take long for me to lose my excitement”

“If there had been more oversight, my mom may have been able to get more motivated to get organized and give me and my sisters the education we needed. My sisters and I would not be in the very difficult place we are right now because of being under educated.” My parents decided to homeschool … Continue reading Sierra S.: “My mom … was obviously overwhelmed”

“That moment made me realize that, while my parents were highly invested in us jumping through all the hoops to make sure we succeeded, not all parents are like that. Not all homeschool parents know how to educate their children — let alone educate them well. Not all homeschool parents care about the quality of … Continue reading Ryan Stollar: “Not everyone had parents like I did”

“I was a homeschool poster child.  When proponents tell skeptics about homeschool alums with soaring test scores, stellar credentials, and successful careers, I’m one of the examples they cite.  After being home educated K—12 in California and Idaho, I pursued my passion—history—at an Ivy League college, graduating with highest honors and moving on to a … Continue reading Arielle G.: “I was a homeschool poster child”

“I still believe in John Holt’s vision of a healthy, self-actualized society of lifelong learners, but I see nothing in Teach Your Own that says the lives of abused children don’t matter, or that taking basic precautions to protect against abuse is an unreasonable hindrance to the learning process.” My mom likes to say she … Continue reading Jeremy C.: “For a long time, I did not support regulation of homeschooling”