Homeschooling is Heating Up Everywhere

The educational and political suppression of homeschooling around the world has been attempted for years, with some countries, like Germany and Sweden, banning it outright. Now France is close doing the same, using the same rationale as Germany and Sweden: homeschooling creates a parallel society that undermines democracy. This is an unproven assumption, particularly since homeschooling has a strong record of its children actively participating in society as government employees, teachers, scientists, entrepreneurs, artists and so on. Compulsory attendance in government schools does not automatically create a unified society, as illustrated by the ongoing strife Germany and Sweden have over immigrants and the variety of private schools they allow to operate, so these actions are much more about political agendas than education.

You can read French homeschoolers response to their situation in this press release. It is written by a cooperative of French homeschooling groups that are fighting the bill.

In the United States the rise in homeschooling over the years has often resulted in laws and regulations that clearly separate homeschools from private schools in most states. But the increase in homeschooling in response to COVID-19 has given this issue more salience. If two families pay a teacher to regularly work with their children in their homes is that considered an unlicensed private school? Do hybrid schools deserve public funding? There is a bill in WI to create "microschools," which totally blurs the lines between private and home schools. Homeschooling should remain a distinct practice from private schooling, as the Wisconsin Homeschooling Parents Association ably argues.

The latest bit of attention that homeschooling is receiving comes from Harvard University. You can register (it's free) to livestream its 6-week program, The Post-Pandemic Future of Homeschooling, here. The program starts May 6.

Not all the heat and attention is worrisome. I'm pleasantly surprised by the number of companies that are completely unrelated to conventional schooling that are contacting JohnHoltGWS.com for information about homeschooling for their customers, or to have their content on the HoltGWS site. I have many concerns about paid advertising and posts on my site. However, I am happy to spread the word about homeschooling, so I contributed a short piece about how homeschoolers create grades and transcripts for Porch.com, a home improvement site.

As the education and political establishments continue to push back on homeschooling, more parents are independently organizing homeschooling at the local level. A mother in Canada, Phyllis Thompson, and I had a long conversation that she taped as part of her free online event, "How to Thrive While Homeschooling." Phyllis has a good motto: "We don't have to be perfect, we just need to try." This is a good thought to hold as we move into the uncertain future.