I grew up in the adolescence of the homeschooling movement. Though the practice was legal in all 50 states, the admission that you homeschooled your child (or were homeschooled yourself ) drew strange looks and patronizing nods. Homeschooling families were perceived through the lens of a stereotype, and the practice was viewed with considerable skepticism.
One of the more common aspersions questioned whether untrained parents were capable of effectively teaching their children. My own mother received more than her fair share of criticism, even though she had a bachelor’s degree in Christian Education. For parents who never went to college, the derision was worse.
The homeschooling movement has grown to adulthood, and much has changed since my mom had to field questions from skeptical friends and family. But, like a boomerang with a sense of comedic timing, some things circle back around. Thanks to the rapid expansion of homeschooling in recent years, a new generation of critics has begun to raise the same objections that homeschooling families heard in the late ’90s.
On the surface, it seems reasonable that parents with higher education levels would be more effective at teaching their children. However, the current body of research on the matter throws this theory into doubt. Formal studies suggest something you might already know anecdotally—that a parent’s involvement in their kids’ lives and education is the most powerful ingredient.