From Pedagogy to Ideology: Origins and Phases of Home Education in the United States, 1970-1990

The politics of homeschools: Religious conservatives and regulation requirements

“…However, as states began to adopt compulsory public schooling laws, by 1920 homeschooling became socially unacceptable and illegal (Knowles, Marlow, & Muchmore, 1992;Murphy, 2012;Reich, 2002), and the number of homeschooling families declined (Knowles et al, 1992). Religious parents at the time did not take issue with compulsory attendance laws, because public schools included Protestant Christian values and teachings in the curriculum (Deckman, 2004).…”

“…Religious parents at the time did not take issue with compulsory attendance laws, because public schools included Protestant Christian values and teachings in the curriculum (Deckman, 2004). Homeschools were, however, an option for liberal-minded parents who did not agree with the nationalistic, capitalistic teachings in public schools, or those who favored more pedagogically oriented, childdriven instructional approaches (Gaither, 2008;Knowles et al, 1992;Murphy, 2012). This began to change in the mid-twentieth century when public schools incorporated evolution in the science curriculum (Gibson, 2004) and no longer included bible readings (School District of Abington v. Shempp, 1963) and prayer (Engel v. Vitale, 1962).…”

“…As a result, homeschooling became an option for religiousminded parents. This set the stage for conflict between religious parents and school districts over the enrollment of children in local public schools (Knowles et al, 1992).…”

“…During this era, the arrest and imprisonment of homeschool parents was a media field-day, particularly in some cases where homeschoolers were local church leaders (Knowles et al, 1992). This resulted in state changes to compulsory attendance laws and their enforcement (Knowles et al, 1992).…”

An Evaluative Study of the Academic Achievement of Homeschooled Students Versus Traditionally Schooled Students Attending a Catholic University

“…However, the history of modern homeschooling can be traced back to the 1960s and 1970s as a reactionary response by religious fundamentalists (ideologues from the countercultural right) and experimental unschoolers (pedagogues from the countercultural left) to the perceived inadequacies of the public school educational system (Aurini & Davies, 2005;Gaither, 2008). Emerging as the representative of the countercultural left's disappointment with public school pedagogy was John Holt (Knowles, Marlow, & Muchmore, 1992). According to Holt (1967), children learn best not because they are compelled to do so by those in authority, but because of their own personal interests and curiosity.…”