The chronicles of a PK

  In my last post, I talked about how homeschooling can be an incredible tool for meeting a child’s individual needs—but how the “movement” has turned it into a spiritual litmus test for “real” Christians. I also shared how my own kids’ education has been impacted by the complete lack of structure, guidance, or accountability in the homeschool world. That brings me to the next piece of this conversation: regulation. I know, I know—just saying the word in a homeschool group is enough to start a riot. But hear me out: I’m not talking about destroying homeschooling’s freedom and flexibility. I’m talking about common-sense oversight—enough to protect kids from neglect and abuse, while still giving families room to tailor their education. Because here’s the truth: when I see people absolutely losing it over any kind of regulation, I can’t help but wonder what they’re afraid will come to light. And I’m not talking about innocent differences in curriculum or teaching style. I’m talk...

  I actually went to public school for most of my childhood. My parents weren’t fully for or against it—they wanted me to experience the good and bad for myself. Looking back, I think they wanted me to see the hard realities, the parts of life you can’t avoid forever. I left public school in my junior year, not because I hated school itself, but because of abuse I was going through at the time. I needed a change. If K12 or Connections Academy had existed back then, it would have been perfect for me. Instead, I enrolled in a correspondence school and finished that way. For me, homeschooling worked. It gave me space to heal and complete my education. But my parents’ more neutral stance on schooling left me open to being pulled into “the movement.” And that’s where things got complicated. Homeschooling can be amazing when it’s about meeting a child’s individual needs. But the movement—especially in certain Christian circles—is another story. It’s been pushed as the only acceptable cho...