As a dedicated homeschooler, whose husband was homeschooled grades 1-12, I certainly am a huge fan of school choice. I've been keeping a weather eye on public perception and general trends throughout the forced school closures and subsequent school-from-home situation. Of course, I have been following the backlash over Elizabeth Bartholet's poorly dashed-off opinion piece, The Risks of Homeschooling, with considerable interest. It is of particular interest because of the heinous timing with regards the global pandemic, as parents nationwide are labeling themselves as homeschoolers, and this issue, and thus taking note of the stir, where they might not have, before. Everything on the topic of schooling from home has become suddenly and acutely personal.
Allow me to cover a few things up at the outset. Some families have a work/life balance that will make a continuation of schooling from home untenable. Some parents are not of a tempernment to amicably spend 24/7 with their children. Let me also say, as I know many have, that the current school-from-home model that traditional schools have been forced into is not comparable to any homeschoolers I've ever met. My own children spend 4-6 hours a week in sports and classes outside of the home, and an equal amount of time with with their peers in regular socialization through field trips and intentional time with friends. We are out of the home for a school, extracurricular, or social related engagement every day of the school day, and weekends involve parties, friend time, and a large circle of friends at church. And most of our home is made up of introverts, so I personally know many homeschoolers who are are far more socially involved in extracurricular and academic pursuits than we are.
So, for one, the current understanding of school-from-home involving and imposed house arrest with digital connection with humanity is not representative of homeschooling. And secondly, most homeschoolers do not use what is referred to as "umbrella school," in which teachers meet digitally with students, and all academic work is graded and moderated by accredited teachers, so parents only have the responsibility of support, ensuring that the work is completed and helping with understanding. Usually, umbrella schools are a less common choice amongst homeschoolers because of either their expense or their lack of parental control. They are, however, a popular choice among those students whose extracurricular pursuits (art, music, acting, sports, or even a military family) do not allow a "traditional" school day with consistency. An umbrella school is an excellent choice for those who travel, as well. But, the current situation is more akin to umbrella schooling than a classic understanding of homeschooling.
However, the non-traditional schooling realm is vast and couldn't adequately be pidgeon-holed into any particular model. So, owing to that understanding, I wouldn't say that what most families have been experiencing recently isn't homeschooling. I would only venture that what must be considered is that what we face in front of us as a nation moving forward through the pandemic is a rapid growth in the non-traditional.
The following RealClear Opinion Research survey boasts that 40% of families are more likely to homeschool after lockdowns end. This is at once laughable and highly rose-colored optimism. I wouldn't object to the fact that the data shows an acknowledgement that schooling in America needs to change, and that this unusual situation has highlighted that need. Do I think that 40% of American families will remove their children form the public school system? No. Do I think that the public school system will have to change out of a practical caution toward the pandemic and due to a sudden glaring awareness at some gaps in the dominant mode of education in place to this point? Yes.
I think that the options are quite endless, really. Yes, there will be an increase in the classic homeschool population, with a growth in cottage schools, co-ops and support groups. Some people who didn't realize their capability have discovered a newfound confidence and desire to take charge of their children's education in a profound way. But the more broad-based changes are likely to be found with integrating alternate schedules, more k12 adherents, smaller class sizes, more charter schools and a brief, but powerful, involvement of parents in the reshaping of the education landscape in this country. I'm personally hopeful for a reduction in direct federal intervention in the school system as a whole, with a shift toward state-controlled programs, in which some could sanction a more localized, tailored experience to the needs of the community.
Realistically, a more interesting survey could be administered at this time next year, to see where actual shifts have occurred, not just hypotheticals. Hypotheticals are optimistic and interesting, but practical data will be more significant at exhibiting to what extent this seismic shift in the strata of education will cause lasting waves of change. Meanwhile, we soldier on, showing a gratitude that we can have the choice to assess our values on many topics, and being grateful to the educators who have loved out children through this time. Change, whatever it may be, will not happen in a vacuum.
