Articles and Essays

Homeschooling Freedoms at Risk

Homeschooling Freedoms At Risk - Electronic Edition

"The homeschool community stands at the crossroads, with a clear decision before us all: will we, as homeschooling families, maintain our individuality and our ability to make our own decisions about homeschooling matters - or will we hand those rights and responsibilities over to "experts" and their institutions which will handle homeschooling affairs for us all?" "...the words we wrote five years ago still ring true: 'The breaking down of the homeschool community is heralding more restrictive laws and regulations for all homeschoolers.'"

Who Stole Homeschooling? by Cheryl Lindsey Seelhoff

"...homeschooling families are always venturing into unknown territory. There are really no true homeschooling experts, and there never will be. Homeschooling is going to be different for every family, for every parent, for every child. There are no one-size-fits-all formulas or solutions; families must always work out their own solutions in the context of their own unique lives."

Special Report: Seelhoff vs. Welch, from HEM

This is a special report about homeschooling politics in general and Cheryl Lindsey Seelhoff's battle with the Religious Homeschooling Right in particular.

Battling for the Heart and Soul of Homeschoolers, from Salon.com

"Homeschoolers are more diverse than ever before, reflecting a wide range of ethnicities, incomes and approaches to learning. ...this new diversity of home-schoolers has brought to a righteous boil a battle that has simmered for years in the home-schooling community. Despite significant changes in the size and political leanings of the home-schooling movement, a coalition of organizations has dominated since the early '80s the public face and political advocacy of those who teach at home."

History of Homeschooling

A Homeschoolers' History of Homeschooling, by Cheryl Lindsey Seelhoff

A history of the homeschooling movement which I wrote for my own publication from the perspective of having lived through the early days of the movement in the United States. I have been homeschooling my children for 20 years. (these articles require Adobe PDF Reader - click on the icon to download) Part 1: Overview and Beginnings Part II: Influences Part III: 1990-1992 Part IV: H.R. 6 Part V: The Gentle Spirit Controversy Part VI: 1995-1997

Homeschooling is most successful as a way of life when we can separate ourselves from the limiting notion of a thing called homeschooling. We must truly free ourselves from the school model if we are to reclaim our lives, our families, our dreams and potentials. Although there are many things to learn (and things to study) about the world and life, learning need not be like schooling. Children want and need their parents to be parents, not teachers. Great joy comes in just being, learning, and growing together in mutual respect... --Lillian Jones