History of Homeschooling: Oh, How Far We’ve Come!

History of Homeschooling: Oh, How Far We’ve Come!

Episode #36 –  Crystal shares the remarkable journey of homeschooling in the United States from colonial days to modern day, legal to illegal, and back again. You will come away grateful for the homeschool freedoms we enjoy today! 

At this point in American history, especially in the wake of mass shutdowns in 2020, homeschooling seems to most people as though it’s just another viable and obvious option when it comes to educating our children. Nowadays, it’s not uncommon to see school-aged children out and about with Mom or Dad while public schools are in session, and rarely does anyone even notice anymore. However, this has not always been the case.

Today, with an estimated 3.7 million children nationwide homeschooling at the end of 2022, it is obvious that homeschooling is quickly becoming a seriously considered and desired option for American parents, and even more so for military families. Thankfully, it’s an option available to parents in all 50 states. And military homeschoolers can usually homeschool while stationed abroad.

Is Homeschooling Legal?

It almost seems a bit odd now to think about homeschooling being anything but legal and welcomed in the United States, but the history of homeschooling has a long journey. It has not always been legal or allowed, and many families in the 70s and 80s even had to consider moving their families to a different state to hide the fact that they had children that would not be enrolled in the public school system. Parents who homeschooled their children during this time could get in trouble for “contributing to the delinquency of a minor.” It was a serious infraction that could even lead to jail time. Can you imagine? It seems like a different world!

It’s been a long journey in the U.S., but it’s been worth it as all families now have the ability to choose the best method of educating their children, including the option to homeschool. As military families, we know that freedom isn’t free. The same is true for our homeschooling freedoms. Moving forward, may we never forget the words of educator and homeschool proponent John Holt, “It is the duty of a citizen in a free country not to fit into society, but to make society.”

Listen to today’s episode to learn about the remarkable journey of homeschooling in the United States from colonial days to modern day, legal to illegal, and back again. You will come away grateful for the homeschool freedoms we enjoy today!

Resources:

National Home Education Research Institute

Better Late Than Early: A New Approach to Your Child’s Education

Homeschool Legal Defense Association (HSLDA)

Join Crystal and her guests each week as they bring relevant information to equip you, stories to encourage you, and content to inspire you. You don’t have to go it alone; tune in to the Military Homeschool Podcast and be energized in your military homeschooling journey!

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