I have been homeschooling for 9 years, and honestly, I have never really thought about how far homeschooling has come. But, it has!
Freedom
Homeschooling has grown leaps and bounds, and many of us enjoy the freedom of homeschooling without really thinking about those who fought for our right to enjoy it.
Homeschooling began in the late 1960s and 1970s as a radical alternative to the public education system. It continued to grow in the 1980’s thanks to a movement by educational professionals Raymond and Dorothy Moore, as well as John Holt, both viewed home education as a natural aspect of life. NOT a reproduction of public education. By the early 1990’s homeschooling was legal in every state.
Laws vary from state to state, and you can see your state’s laws regarding homeschooling here.
Popularity
Today there are as many as two million American children who are homeschooled. This number continues to grow as much as 15-20% each year (U.S. Census Bureau). Due to the growth of homeschooling, it is safe to say that it is no longer reserved for Christian families. Homeschooling has become more diversified, and the reasons families’ homeschool varies widely.
Curriculum Options
Early homeschoolers had few options when it came to educating their children. The library and a few publishing companies were really the only help that they had.
Now, days we have a plethora of options. The internet opened up the world of learning at our fingertips. That combined with a vast amount of curriculum options ranging from Christian to secular, digital to literature-based, and much more means that families can teach their children how they see fit and find a curriculum that can help them do it!
Groups, Field Trips and More!
Many years ago there was not the number of homeschoolers that we have today. What did moms do for socialization? They had the park. Church activities, and community events, nothing like the socialization opportunities our kids have today. Now we have homeschool groups, co-ops, field days, public school sports teams (in many states), and field trips that involve more than just our family!
For more information regarding how far homeschooling has come check out these resources:
Look How Far Homeschooling Has Come
A Brief History of Homeschooling
History of Homeschooling in the US and Georgia
Author Bio: Misty Bailey is the blogger behind Joy in the Journey and the podcaster behind Joyfully Homeschooling. Her goal in this online space is to encourage and inspire you on your homeschool journey by providing practical tips for real life homeschooling. Through real stories, real struggles, and real life, Misty encourages her blog readers and podcast listeners to embrace imperfection and strive for a more joyful homeschool.
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