He Was Homeschooled for Years, and Fell So Far Behind
A new memoir shows how a lack of accountability can hurt home-educated kids.
TL;DR
- Stefan Merrill Block's memoir, "Homeschooled," describes his unconventional upbringing, being homeschooled by his mother in the 1990s.
- Homeschooling has seen significant growth, with over 3% of US school-age children now homeschooled.
- Block's experience highlights the lack of regulation in homeschooling during his youth, with many states still not requiring evaluations or interventions for failing students.
- Research on homeschooler academic performance shows mixed results, with some studies indicating lower SAT scores and lagging math skills compared to traditionally schooled peers.
- Under-regulated homeschooling can increase vulnerability to child abuse and neglect, as lack of regular contact with external adults can prevent abuse from being discovered.
- Experts like Robert Kunzman recommend reforms including state notification, barring convicted child abusers from homeschooling, and annual basic-skills testing.
- Pro-homeschooling groups like the Home School Legal Defense Association oppose increased regulation, arguing parents are subject to existing laws.
- Despite the challenges, Block achieved academic success and built a successful adult life, though he believes the lack of oversight in homeschooling is a crisis.