Should Homeschooling be banned?

The Covid 19 pandemic caused homeschooling to become the fastest-growing form of education in America. This addition to the already large percentage of homeschooled children could be attributed to the perceived ease and control over education that homeschooling seems to provide. In reality, the homeschooling process is deeply flawed, many homeschooled children are not receiving the vital support they desperately need. The imbalance caused by improper schooling can only be alleviated by ensuring a rich academic journey.

Although it has existed for nearly 55 years, little has been questioned about the homeschooling process. Because of this, there is a shocking lack of regulation in the area. According to Harvard in 2020, “Only about 10 states require that homeschooling parents have any educational qualifications whatsoever. The handful of states that do require qualifications typically demand no more than a high school degree. Some states require that parents submit the curricula they plan to use, but there’s almost no check on what parents actually teach through home visits or meaningful testing requirements. All this despite the fact that we have laws and constitutional provisions in 50 states that guarantee children the right to education.”

A lack of support in the homeschooling process is not only limited to academics. A survey published by High-Speed Training Center indicates that homeschooled children are facing a mental health crisis due to isolation and lack of resources. “Homeschooled lose interaction by spending more time at home. They may be out of touch with their peers, have fewer friends, and have less experience interacting with people from different backgrounds. According to The Office for National Statistics, “People who often felt lonely were almost five times more likely to report high anxiety than those who never feel lonely.” There are a few ways for homeschooled children to reach out for support for these issues.

According to The Nation Magazine, “Complexity intensifies for homeschooled students who often find themselves in a precarious situation when trying to access mental health support. ‘These resources already exist, but parents can’t provide all of those, and kids can’t self-advocate because they can’t identify what they are going through’ But when you have the infrastructure of a school system, you have other people around who can help you identify what you’re going through.” For many students, mental health support is a lifeline, but it is almost completely inaccessible for homeschooled students.

Lastly, there is no real evidence suggesting that homeschooling is working well for the average student. According to The Harvard Gazette, “We have zero evidence that, on average, homeschooled students are doing well. There’s no way to learn how they do on average because homeschoolers don’t exist as a visible population due to the lack of regulation.” While there is no assurance that homeschooling is superior to public schooling, there is evidence proving that homeschooled children face tremendously negative consequences as a result of their schooling.

Because the effects of homeschooling are ultimately negative for students, with no significant evidence supporting the idea that it is even a guarantee for a better future, it is important to eliminate it altogether. Every child has a right to a proper education, and the only way to make this a reality for most children is to equip them with the resources they need in order to receive the mentoring they deserve.

Mineo, Liz. “Law School professor says there may be a dark side of homeschooling.” Harvard Gazette, 15 May 2020, https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2020/05/law-school-professor-says-there-may-be-a-dark-side-of-homeschooling/. Accessed 22 February 2024.

Hendy, Nell. “The Homeschooling Debate | Is it Right for My Child?” High Speed Training, 28 June 2023, https://www.highspeedtraining.co.uk/hub/the-homeschooling-debate/. Accessed 23 February 2024.

“Coronavirus and anxiety, Great Britain: 3 April 2020 to 10 May 2020.” Office for National Statistics, 15 June 2020, https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/wellbeing/articles/coronavirusandanxietygreatbritain/3april2020to10may2020. Accessed 27 February 2024.

Barton, Lauren. “Homeschooled Students’ Invisible Mental Health Crisis.” The Nation, 15 December 2023, https://www.thenation.com/article/society/homeschool-students-mental-health-crisis-resources/. Accessed 27 February 2024.