Question: I’ve been recently reading that some homeschoolers are emphasizing in their home education programs that girls are to be wives and men are to be the leaders. As a teacher I am concerned about this trend and want your opinion. Is home schooling inherently sexist and do you think something should be done to legislate how these families are teaching? It seems to me that homeschoolers may well raise a generation of women who aren’t well educated.
There indeed has recently been some buzz about sexist home education. Since I have four daughters, I do of course have thoughts on the issue. To clarify, the trend is to focus on raising young ladies to be Godly housewives. This does not exclude regular studies like math, science, and English. It may very well include different “extras” when it comes to practical arts and home economics and I suppose you can call it sexist if you want. But no, I’m not concerned about it and I don’t think homeschoolers need more legislation to further regulate what they should and should not teach.
I Do Not Presume. . .
I am a staunch supporter of school choice. I just believe that parents have the fundamental right and responsibility to educate their children. Note that I didn’t say home school their children; home schooling is simply one option they could choose. Be it public school, private school or home school, parents are in the best position to choose what is best for their child..
With that said, I do not presume to tell other families what they should or should not believe regarding their daughter’s place in the world. You see it really goes both ways. I want the freedom to teach my children creation alongside evolution and I want the freedom to choose historical materials that have the word “God” in them. Those freedoms are mine and I’ll take them; thank you very much. But then I have to be okay with others who teach and think differently than I do. If I’m not, then what I really believe is that only I should be allowed to do whatever I want. . .not that everyone should have freedom. So as to the question of whether or not it is right or wrong to teach girls that their rightful place is next to their husband–it is not for me to say.
In my next blog, I’ll talk about whether or not home schooled girls are receiving a gender biased education.