{"status":"ok","elements":"
\r\n
\r\n
\r\n \"\"<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
\r\n 0 Response<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
\r\n LaDonna Sasscer: “We home educators should welcome accountability”<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
\r\n

\u201cThe homeschool community should be leading the way in demanding accountability in home education. We who are not abusing our children, we who are providing a quality education, we who want to be accepted participants in community life, should demand politicians put in place a process that differentiates between quality home education and child neglect, and in the worst cases, abuse.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n<\/div>

\r\n
\r\n
\r\n \"\"<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
\r\n 0 Response<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
\r\n Amanda Smith: “I want a professional looking at what I\u2019ve done”<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
\r\n

\u201cAs a licensed civil engineer, I would not think twice about my superior evaluating me. It simply wouldn\u2019t be safe for the public if I were to design something without that design being checked by my superior. I think about accountability and oversight of home education in the same way.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n<\/div>

\r\n
\r\n
\r\n \"\"<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
\r\n 0 Response<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
\r\n Jane Morgan: “I was the homeschooled kid who grew up to become a homeschool mom”<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
\r\n

\u201cIf there had been more regulations on homeschooling in the states in which I lived I would have been more aware of my success or failure as my children\u2019s primary educator. We are taught as homeschoolers to protect our privacy at all costs. But so much stress would have been alleviated with more oversight.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n<\/div>

\r\n
\r\n
\r\n \"\"<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
\r\n 0 Response<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
\r\n Keith and Gail Brightbill: “We are strong believers in accountability”<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
\r\n

\u201cSpace does not permit us to discuss the many more positive benefits homeschool parents and their children receive by having accountability procedures in place. Following a few requirements is not burdensome and provides protection for both the parent and child and ensures a successful homeschool experience for all. Remember, the goal is to prepare our children to be educated, moral, productive members of society.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n<\/div>

\r\n
\r\n
\r\n \"\"<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
\r\n 0 Response<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
\r\n Jackie Cordon: “I always felt very fortunate with Iowa\u2019s homeschooling laws”<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
\r\n

\u201cAs a Christian homeschooling parent of four, I always felt very fortunate with Iowa\u2019s homeschooling laws. I homeschooled my children in Iowa for fifteen years, all the way up until my youngest graduated three years ago. I\u2019m writing because Iowa\u2019s homeschooling law benefited my own children in a real way, and I want present and future homeschooled children in Iowa to have these same benefits.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n<\/div>

\r\n
\r\n
\r\n \"\"<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
\r\n 0 Response<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
\r\n Lara Kondor: “I had never actually intended to homeschool my son”<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
\r\n

\u201cChristian believes homeschooling did benefit him. He was allowed to explore reading, math, history and science at his own pace and to develop a great passion for learning. However, he worries that this may not be true of all homeschooled children. He especially worries for the girls he knew that were being told as young as five that they would not go to college because their duty was to be a good wife and mom.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n<\/div>

\r\n
\r\n
\r\n \"\"<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
\r\n 0 Response<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
\r\n Kimberly R.: “Every abuse had a magnified effect on us”<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
\r\n

\u201cMy mother . . . read to us a lot and corrected our grammar constantly. As a result, my siblings and I all have excellent literary skills. However, both of my parents were sorely lacking in the area of math and science. Since they were the only source of academic support that I had access to, I did not have access to a proper math and science education. I was told many times in my childhood that boys are naturally better at math and science, and that I, being a girl could never excel, so I never tried.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n<\/div>

\r\n
\r\n
\r\n \"\"<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
\r\n 0 Response<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
\r\n Megan P.: “I do not wish my experience on anyone”<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
\r\n

\u201cI was constantly reminded that if I didn\u2019t vouch for my family in the most favorable light, I could and probably would be separated from them. (I now recognize that to be another clear sign of abuse.) The fear of child protective services, and social workers in general (being agents who tore families apart), was both irrational yet deeply ingrained in me as a child.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n<\/div>

\r\n
\r\n
\r\n \"\"<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
\r\n 0 Response<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
\r\n Teresa M.: \u201cP only cared about her check clearing.\u201d<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
\r\n

\u201cAt the time my parents were homeschooling us in the state of Ohio a certified teacher was needed to sign off that the children were being educated. They were supposed to look over the last year\u2019s work to verify. The woman who did ours was also a member of our church and homeschool support group and never even looked at the stuff mom brought her, which wasn\u2019t much. I even remember mom commenting that \u2018P only cared about her check clearing.’\u201d<\/p>\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n<\/div>

\r\n
\r\n
\r\n \"\"<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
\r\n 0 Response<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
\r\n Chandra B.: “Protections are a necessary part of all educational systems”<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
\r\n

\u201cToday as a public school educator, I advocate for strict oversight of homeschooling not only because of my horrible childhood, but also because I have been that typical homeschooling mom trying to do the best she can with little resources and support around her to daily keep her motivated.\u201d <\/p>\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n<\/div>

\r\n
\r\n
\r\n \"\"<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
\r\n 0 Response<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
\r\n Jerusha Lofland: “Ignorance leaves people vulnerable”<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
\r\n

\u201cI support oversight of homeschooling because every child deserves a good education in all subjects. I received a great education in English grammar, and I could recite entire chapters from the Bible. But my parents gave up teaching me basic algebra, my textbooks viewed history through a primarily anti-Catholic lens, I was warned against studying the humanities, and I have spent a decade unlearning much of the \u201cscience\u201d I was taught.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n<\/div>

\r\n
\r\n
\r\n \"\"<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
\r\n 0 Response<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
\r\n Jeremy C.: “For a long time, I did not support regulation of homeschooling”<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
\r\n

\u201cI still believe in John Holt\u2019s 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\u2019t matter, or that taking basic precautions to protect against abuse is an unreasonable hindrance to the learning process. Ultimately, I believe that I can best advocate for homeschooling by advocating for regulations that protect homeschooled children; being a supporter of homeschooling and a supporter of homeschooling regulation are, for me, the same thing.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n<\/div>

\r\n
\r\n
\r\n \"\"<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
\r\n 0 Response<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
\r\n Lana Martin: “I suffered severe depression, suicidality, and disordered eating”<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
\r\n

\u201cEarly in my childhood, my mother was diagnosed with major depression and generalized anxiety disorder; throughout the homeschool years she struggled to function as a mother, let alone as an educator. . . . My mother also exhibited traits of borderline personality disorder and was unpredictable and frequently intrusive, hypercritical, and explosively angry.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n<\/div>

\r\n
\r\n
\r\n \"\"<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
\r\n 0 Response<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
\r\n Jennifer P.: “My parents broke the state\u2019s homeschooling laws knowingly”<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
\r\n

\u201cUpon settling in Pennsylvania, which has regulations that are generally seen as \u201cstringent,\u201d my parents refused to report, having not reported previously. I met other homeschooling families who followed the laws and their children usually participated in a co-op or other activities with other homeschoolers. . . . I was not aware of any educational shortcoming in my friends\u2014even the large families used evaluators and spent a lot of time DOING school.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n<\/div>

\r\n
\r\n
\r\n \"\"<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
\r\n 0 Response<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
\r\n Jamie G.: “I want to see that change, now”<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
\r\n

\u201cI was homeschooled … in Illinois, a state that has no homeschool regulation, no testing requirements, nothing. Unless a homeschooled child has been in a public school district before being homeschooled (which would require the family to notify the district as they withdraw the student), local officials and the state quite frankly don\u2019t know you even exist if you are homeschooled.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n<\/div>

\r\n
\r\n
\r\n \"\"<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
\r\n 0 Response<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
\r\n Kathryn Brightbill: “I\u2019ve seen how wonderful homeschooling can be”<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
\r\n

\u201cI support oversight of home education not because I had a bad homeschooling experience, but because I had a good one. I\u2019ve seen how wonderful homeschooling can be when it works because I\u2019ve lived it. When I hear the stories of homeschooled students who experienced educational neglect or abuse, or the formerly homeschooled adults who are struggling to overcome the deficits in their education, it saddens me to know how much the system failed them.\u201d <\/p>\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n<\/div>

\r\n
\r\n
\r\n \"\"<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
\r\n 0 Response<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
\r\n Amethyst Marie: “The students most affected … were girls”<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
\r\n

\u201cI believe that the education I received through homeschooling was likely better than what I would\u2019ve gotten in my local public school districts. But I can\u2019t say this for all the homeschoolers I grew up with. I knew teenagers who weren\u2019t being given a complete high school education, particularly high school math and science. The students most affected by this were girls.\u201d <\/p>\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n<\/div>

\r\n
\r\n
\r\n \"\"<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
\r\n 0 Response<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
\r\n Caitlin T.: “In New Jersey, things fell apart”<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
\r\n

\u201cIn New Jersey, things fell apart. Without oversight, there was no need to think about compiling a portfolio. Without state standards, there was no benchmark for my progress. We still tried to follow the Pennsylvania guidelines for high school (3 years of math, 3 of science, 4 of English, etc.), but no one was there to check up on us or offer help as I entered harder subjects.\u201d <\/p>\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n<\/div>

\r\n
\r\n
\r\n \"\"<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
\r\n 0 Response<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
\r\n Arielle G.: “I was a homeschool poster child”<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
\r\n

\u201cI was a homeschool poster child. When proponents tell skeptics about homeschool alums with soaring test scores, stellar credentials, and successful careers, I\u2019m one of the examples they cite. After being home educated K\u201412 in California and Idaho, I pursued my passion\u2014history\u2014at an Ivy League college, graduating with highest honors and moving on to a Ph.D. program in the same field.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n<\/div>

\r\n
\r\n
\r\n \"\"<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
\r\n 0 Response<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
\r\n Rachel Coleman: “Good homeschooling … is not something that happens automatically”<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
\r\n

\u201cI was homeschooled in Indiana, a state with no oversight of homeschooling. My parents did not even have to file notice of homeschooling. All of the things my parents did\u2014creating curriculum plans, putting together annual portfolios, having us tested\u2014they did in an effort to homeschool us effectively and responsibly. My parents would not have found oversight of homeschooling an inconvenience or burden because they already voluntarily did everything effective homeschool oversight generally requires.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n<\/div>

\r\n
\r\n
\r\n \"\"<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
\r\n 0 Response<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
\r\n Teresa M.: \u201cP only cared about her check clearing.\u201d<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
\r\n

\u201cAt the time my parents were homeschooling us in the state of Ohio a certified teacher was needed to sign off that the children were being educated. They were supposed to look over the last year\u2019s work to verify. The woman who did ours was also a member of our church and homeschool support group and never even looked at the stuff mom brought her, which wasn\u2019t much. I even remember mom commenting that \u2018P only cared about her check clearing.’\u201d<\/p>\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n<\/div>

\r\n
\r\n
\r\n \"\"<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
\r\n 0 Response<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
\r\n Chandra B.: “Protections are a necessary part of all educational systems”<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
\r\n

\u201cToday as a public school educator, I advocate for strict oversight of homeschooling not only because of my horrible childhood, but also because I have been that typical homeschooling mom trying to do the best she can with little resources and support around her to daily keep her motivated.\u201d <\/p>\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n<\/div>

\r\n
\r\n
\r\n \"\"<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
\r\n 0 Response<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
\r\n Jerusha Lofland: “Ignorance leaves people vulnerable”<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
\r\n

\u201cI support oversight of homeschooling because every child deserves a good education in all subjects. I received a great education in English grammar, and I could recite entire chapters from the Bible. But my parents gave up teaching me basic algebra, my textbooks viewed history through a primarily anti-Catholic lens, I was warned against studying the humanities, and I have spent a decade unlearning much of the \u201cscience\u201d I was taught.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n<\/div>

\r\n
\r\n
\r\n \"\"<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
\r\n 0 Response<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
\r\n Jane Morgan: “I was the homeschooled kid who grew up to become a homeschool mom”<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
\r\n

\u201cIf there had been more regulations on homeschooling in the states in which I lived I would have been more aware of my success or failure as my children\u2019s primary educator. We are taught as homeschoolers to protect our privacy at all costs. But so much stress would have been alleviated with more oversight.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n<\/div>

\r\n
\r\n
\r\n \"\"<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
\r\n 0 Response<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
\r\n Keith and Gail Brightbill: “We are strong believers in accountability”<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
\r\n

\u201cSpace does not permit us to discuss the many more positive benefits homeschool parents and their children receive by having accountability procedures in place. Following a few requirements is not burdensome and provides protection for both the parent and child and ensures a successful homeschool experience for all. Remember, the goal is to prepare our children to be educated, moral, productive members of society.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n<\/div>

\r\n
\r\n
\r\n \"\"<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
\r\n 0 Response<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
\r\n Rachel Coleman: “Good homeschooling … is not something that happens automatically”<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
\r\n

\u201cI was homeschooled in Indiana, a state with no oversight of homeschooling. My parents did not even have to file notice of homeschooling. All of the things my parents did\u2014creating curriculum plans, putting together annual portfolios, having us tested\u2014they did in an effort to homeschool us effectively and responsibly. My parents would not have found oversight of homeschooling an inconvenience or burden because they already voluntarily did everything effective homeschool oversight generally requires.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n<\/div>

\r\n
\r\n
\r\n \"\"<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
\r\n 0 Response<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
\r\n Jackie Cordon: “I always felt very fortunate with Iowa\u2019s homeschooling laws”<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
\r\n

\u201cAs a Christian homeschooling parent of four, I always felt very fortunate with Iowa\u2019s homeschooling laws. I homeschooled my children in Iowa for fifteen years, all the way up until my youngest graduated three years ago. I\u2019m writing because Iowa\u2019s homeschooling law benefited my own children in a real way, and I want present and future homeschooled children in Iowa to have these same benefits.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n<\/div>

\r\n
\r\n
\r\n \"\"<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
\r\n 0 Response<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
\r\n Kathryn Brightbill: “I\u2019ve seen how wonderful homeschooling can be”<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
\r\n

\u201cI support oversight of home education not because I had a bad homeschooling experience, but because I had a good one. I\u2019ve seen how wonderful homeschooling can be when it works because I\u2019ve lived it. When I hear the stories of homeschooled students who experienced educational neglect or abuse, or the formerly homeschooled adults who are struggling to overcome the deficits in their education, it saddens me to know how much the system failed them.\u201d <\/p>\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n<\/div>

\r\n
\r\n
\r\n \"\"<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
\r\n 0 Response<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
\r\n Lara Kondor: “I had never actually intended to homeschool my son”<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
\r\n

\u201cChristian believes homeschooling did benefit him. He was allowed to explore reading, math, history and science at his own pace and to develop a great passion for learning. However, he worries that this may not be true of all homeschooled children. He especially worries for the girls he knew that were being told as young as five that they would not go to college because their duty was to be a good wife and mom.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n<\/div>

\r\n
\r\n
\r\n \"\"<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
\r\n 0 Response<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
\r\n Amethyst Marie: “The students most affected … were girls”<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
\r\n

\u201cI believe that the education I received through homeschooling was likely better than what I would\u2019ve gotten in my local public school districts. But I can\u2019t say this for all the homeschoolers I grew up with. I knew teenagers who weren\u2019t being given a complete high school education, particularly high school math and science. The students most affected by this were girls.\u201d <\/p>\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n<\/div>

\r\n
\r\n
\r\n \"\"<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
\r\n 0 Response<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
\r\n LaDonna Sasscer: “We home educators should welcome accountability”<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
\r\n

\u201cThe homeschool community should be leading the way in demanding accountability in home education. We who are not abusing our children, we who are providing a quality education, we who want to be accepted participants in community life, should demand politicians put in place a process that differentiates between quality home education and child neglect, and in the worst cases, abuse.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n<\/div>

\r\n
\r\n
\r\n \"\"<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
\r\n 0 Response<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
\r\n Caitlin T.: “In New Jersey, things fell apart”<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
\r\n

\u201cIn New Jersey, things fell apart. Without oversight, there was no need to think about compiling a portfolio. Without state standards, there was no benchmark for my progress. We still tried to follow the Pennsylvania guidelines for high school (3 years of math, 3 of science, 4 of English, etc.), but no one was there to check up on us or offer help as I entered harder subjects.\u201d <\/p>\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n<\/div>

\r\n
\r\n
\r\n \"\"<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
\r\n 0 Response<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
\r\n Amanda Smith: “I want a professional looking at what I\u2019ve done”<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
\r\n

\u201cAs a licensed civil engineer, I would not think twice about my superior evaluating me. It simply wouldn\u2019t be safe for the public if I were to design something without that design being checked by my superior. I think about accountability and oversight of home education in the same way.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n<\/div>

\r\n
\r\n
\r\n \"\"<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
\r\n 0 Response<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
\r\n Arielle G.: “I was a homeschool poster child”<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
\r\n

\u201cI was a homeschool poster child. When proponents tell skeptics about homeschool alums with soaring test scores, stellar credentials, and successful careers, I\u2019m one of the examples they cite. After being home educated K\u201412 in California and Idaho, I pursued my passion\u2014history\u2014at an Ivy League college, graduating with highest honors and moving on to a Ph.D. program in the same field.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n<\/div>

\r\n
\r\n
\r\n \"\"<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
\r\n 0 Response<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
\r\n Jennifer P.: “My parents broke the state\u2019s homeschooling laws knowingly”<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
\r\n

\u201cUpon settling in Pennsylvania, which has regulations that are generally seen as \u201cstringent,\u201d my parents refused to report, having not reported previously. I met other homeschooling families who followed the laws and their children usually participated in a co-op or other activities with other homeschoolers. . . . I was not aware of any educational shortcoming in my friends\u2014even the large families used evaluators and spent a lot of time DOING school.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n<\/div>

\r\n
\r\n
\r\n \"\"<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
\r\n 0 Response<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
\r\n Jamie G.: “I want to see that change, now”<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
\r\n

\u201cI was homeschooled … in Illinois, a state that has no homeschool regulation, no testing requirements, nothing. Unless a homeschooled child has been in a public school district before being homeschooled (which would require the family to notify the district as they withdraw the student), local officials and the state quite frankly don\u2019t know you even exist if you are homeschooled.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n<\/div>

\r\n
\r\n
\r\n \"\"<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
\r\n 0 Response<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
\r\n Jeremy C.: “For a long time, I did not support regulation of homeschooling”<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
\r\n

\u201cI still believe in John Holt\u2019s 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\u2019t matter, or that taking basic precautions to protect against abuse is an unreasonable hindrance to the learning process. Ultimately, I believe that I can best advocate for homeschooling by advocating for regulations that protect homeschooled children; being a supporter of homeschooling and a supporter of homeschooling regulation are, for me, the same thing.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n<\/div>

\r\n
\r\n
\r\n \"\"<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
\r\n 0 Response<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
\r\n Lana Martin: “I suffered severe depression, suicidality, and disordered eating”<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
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\u201cEarly in my childhood, my mother was diagnosed with major depression and generalized anxiety disorder; throughout the homeschool years she struggled to function as a mother, let alone as an educator. . . . My mother also exhibited traits of borderline personality disorder and was unpredictable and frequently intrusive, hypercritical, and explosively angry.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n<\/div>

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\r\n Kimberly R.: “Every abuse had a magnified effect on us”<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
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\u201cMy mother . . . read to us a lot and corrected our grammar constantly. As a result, my siblings and I all have excellent literary skills. However, both of my parents were sorely lacking in the area of math and science. Since they were the only source of academic support that I had access to, I did not have access to a proper math and science education. I was told many times in my childhood that boys are naturally better at math and science, and that I, being a girl could never excel, so I never tried.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n<\/div>

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\r\n Megan P.: “I do not wish my experience on anyone”<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
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\u201cI was constantly reminded that if I didn\u2019t vouch for my family in the most favorable light, I could and probably would be separated from them. (I now recognize that to be another clear sign of abuse.) The fear of child protective services, and social workers in general (being agents who tore families apart), was both irrational yet deeply ingrained in me as a child.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n<\/div>

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\r\n Declan: \u201cI want in any way I can to be the person I needed to advocate for me\u201d<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
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I have suffered with imposter syndrome for the last 15 years; feeling like I have somehow lied or tricked my way into getting a seat at the tables where I find myself seated, not being able to feel truly proud of my own social, academic and career accomplishments despite my childhood and upbringing. Content Note: This testimonial contains detailed descriptions of physical and emotional abuse, and instances of ableism and queerphobia.\u00a0 I was raised and homeschooled by fundamentalist Christians in south Louisiana for the majority of my childhood, later ‘graduating’ in Texas. Louisiana law required yearly submission of coursework to…<\/p>\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n<\/div>

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\r\n Candice K.: “I do not think my story is rare or even exceptional.”<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
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\u201cI am sharing my story now because I have seen the society that I live in repeatedly fail its most vulnerable members, those who have no volition over their own lives. I have seen my neighbors\u2019 children endure substantially increased abuse and neglect due to homeschooling during the pandemic, and others just not attend school at all because our government and its protocols of red tape and bureaucracy seem more concerned with protecting the rights of the adults abusing their children, than of the children being traumatized.\u201d Content Warning: This testimonial contains graphic descriptions of child abuse, and a brief…<\/p>\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n<\/div>

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\r\n Valerie: \u201cI know that not everyone in my position is so lucky\u201d<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
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At first, being home seemed fun and easy. However, as the subjects progressed, I felt myself falling behind. I would overhear other kids at the co-op talking about their classes and I was never learning about any of the same things. My parents pulled me out of private christian school when I was only in kindergarten. I had recently been diagnosed with ADHD and was really struggling with school, despite my love of reading and how much I enjoyed being at school. At first, being home seemed fun and easy. However, as the subjects progressed, I felt myself falling behind….<\/p>\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n<\/div>

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\r\n Abbey L.: \u201cIf anybody ever saw something concerning, nobody ever said a word.\u201d<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
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If I had been in a normal high school I would have noticed that other people lived differently. I also would have been around mandatory reporters who would have noticed my Dad\u2019s obvious psychosis and the emotional, spiritual and psychological abuse I lived with. But instead, I didn\u2019t even have a close friend to confide things to. And if anybody ever saw something concerning, nobody ever said a word. I have never had so many emotions as those that flowed through me when I heard that Josh Duggar had finally been brought to justice. I actually got on the phone…<\/p>\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n<\/div>

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\r\n Song HyoA: \u201cThey mold me into an identity that is perfect for them, but not for me\u201d<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
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\u201cIt takes time, dedication, experience, expertise, money, resources, and structure to homeschool your children, not just spending dollars on a curriculum that will not help them get into university. You give your children a future that changes their lives.\u201d Homeschooling has been quite popular in Malaysia during the COVID pandemic as many children stayed at home, but in reality, it was a tough decision to homeschool or send your children to homeschool centers. It takes time, dedication, experience, expertise, money, resources, and structure to homeschool your children\u2013not just spending dollars on a curriculum that will not help them get into…<\/p>\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n<\/div>

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\r\n Amber Moore: \u201cNobody could help me except myself\u201d<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
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\u201cThe cognitive dissonance grew so intolerable that it took me down a road that led me to throw away many of the beliefs I grew up having.\u201d I am 25 years old and I am the middle child of five. We were all homeschooled from a very early age up to adulthood. My family moved to Connecticut when I was young. My father made sure we went to a state with little homeschooling legislation. When my mother got arrested for assaulting our neighbor, they decided that the best course of action was to move to another state with little legislation…<\/p>\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n<\/div>

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\r\n Mary T.: \u201cHomeschooling tends to attract parents who value control\u201d<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
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\u201cI was terrified to make my own decisions, unsure of my ability to survive outside of my parents\u2019 controlling framework.\u201d I was my family’s “first.” The first to learn to read at home. The first to complete K-12 without ever attending school. The first to fully benefit from this great experiment full of boundless potential and equally boundless expectations. I was five when my parents pulled my older brother and sister out of school and started homeschooling. My mom, terrified, turned to God and Sing Spell Read & Write to teach me to read. I\u2019m not sure about God\u2019s involvement…<\/p>\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n<\/div>

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\r\n Sage N.: “My parents were clearly unprepared to be teachers”<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
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“Some level of oversight would have really helped me because I think my parents would have felt compelled to keep up with my education far more than they did, and it may well have prevented my experience from also happening to my sibling.“ I was home educated by my parents from birth to age 16. As an adult, I have since discovered that what happened to me is known as ‘unschooling’ and constitutes nowadays as educational neglect. Coming to terms with this has been, and continues to be, an incredibly difficult journey which has permanently altered the way I view…<\/p>\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n<\/div>

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\r\n Hope M.: “I don\u2019t even know how many people knew we existed”<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
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“There were certainly several years in which we didn\u2019t take any sort of test. There was no way for me, as a child, to connect with anyone outside of my household. There was no way for anyone to even see that I existed.” I am the middle child out of five sisters (I\u2019m smack in the middle). My sisters and I were all homeschooled all the way through school, never once attending any other sort of public or private school. While homeschooling can be a great experience, the lack of oversight creates a breeding ground for abusers to trap their…<\/p>\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n<\/div>

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\r\n Danielle C.: “The state never followed up on my education”<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
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“Enforcing the current requirements that Indiana has in place could help to prevent children like me from slipping through the cracks.” As Gloria Steinem said, \u201cThe final stage of healing is using what happens to you to help other people.\u201d In 2019, I was diagnosed with anxiety, depression, and PTSD stemming from the years of isolation and neglect I experienced during my childhood. I was homeschooled in the \u201890s and early 2000s in the state of Indiana. From birth through my \u201cgraduation\u201d at age 18, my mother oversaw my entire education. In Indiana, there are very few regulations on homeschooling…<\/p>\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n<\/div>","max_pages":3}