Author photo

By Roger Harnack
Publisher 

Amid virus mandates, 'seXXX ed' requirements, interest in homeschooling quadruples

 

Last updated 7/30/2020 at 9:25am



SPOKANE – In the wake of the coronavirus and new state requirements to begin teaching “inclusive” sex ed to students as early as kindergarten, it’s shaping up to be a banner year for homeschooling.

Last week, the Washington Homeschool Organization reported new parental interest in personally managing their children’s education had quadrupled.

The reasons are varied, according to director Jen Garrison Stuber, who teaches homeschool parental qualifying classes.

Traditionally, homeschool families opt out of public education due to religious concerns and a desire to focus on math, reading and science. But in recent years, families have been turning to homeschooling because of on-campus bullying, she said.

And over the last six months, it’s been due to caronavirus mandates, as well as the requirement to begin teaching what many now call “seXXX ed” to students as young as kindergarten.

“This is changing the face of homeschool,” she said.

Due to new state orders to limit social student interactions, contain pupils to as few classrooms as possible and mask requirements, parents are looking for educational options for their children.

“If schools go back on time, which I’m not convinced, a lot of parents are going to decide against it,” she said.

Many parents, like those in the North Franklin School District, are vowing not to return their children to a public classroom if they are required to wear a mask.

A survey conducted in the Connell area earlier this month said 78 percent of parents oppose requiring masks of children.

On the other side, Garrison said, many parents have told her they will refuse to send students to school if they are not required to wear a mask.

Some surveys conducted by other school district, like Columbia (Burbank), avoided that question all together and instead asked parents to choose what type of mask or shield students should wear.

That’s the type of approach pushing families away from public schools, Garrison said, noting parents are looking for options, not mandates.

According to Garrison, some parents are also turning to homeschooling because they “don’t want the rug pulled out from under them, again.”

She’s referring to Gov. Jay Inslee’s decision to shutter schools in March without giving parents viable options to care for young school-age children or options to continue educating older ones.

Homeschool interest

Prior to the start of the last school year, more than 32,000 students statewide were being homeschooled, Garrison said. If the surge of parental interest comes to fruition, the state could see well over 100,000 homeschool students this next school year.

“It’s certainly possible,” she said.

The likelihood of that scenario playing out increased this week.

On Thursday, July 23, the Washington Education Association – the teacher union – demanded schools statewide keep campuses shut down this fall.

“We believe the time between now and the beginning of the school year must be spent preparing educators to teach remotely, not on hybrid models or planning for in-person teaching,” a statement released by the union said, citing the possible dangers related to the pandemic. “School districts must invest now in the resources necessary to deliver high quality distance learning...”

Garrison said that requiring parents to keep their kids home and educate them under public school system edicts opens the door for families to move to homeschooling, where there is more flexibility and a stronger focus on the basics of reading, writing and mathematics.

Those families can also escape the “inclusive” sex ed mandated in public schools.

Garrison said most public school parents have the misconception that homeschool students are all alone.

Homeschoolers students can still play sports in their local public school districts. They can also take classes offered by the district. Students also get together for field trips and other educational activities.

According to Garrison, homeschool parents create educational opportunities among themselves, rather than just obey edicts issued in Olympia.

Many rural parents are now seeing homeschool as a viable education option, while also being able to avoid having their student exposed to the mandated new “inclusive” sex-ed curriculum, she said. That curriculum requires public schools to include gay, lesbian and transgender sex in discussions on traditional intimacy.

Parents are tired of the battle between on-campus, home-based and hybrid plans to educate students in the fall.

So is Garrison.

“It’s giving me whiplash,” she said.

In addition to homeschooling, Garrison noted there are parental groups popping up statewide looking at ways to fund private schools, set up charter schools, create mini-schools and generally get their child out of public schools. They are also looking at districts that offer virtual academies.

“Parents are trying to find a different solution,” she said, noting many may also decide not to have students ages 5-7 in class at all.

“Our state’s compulsory attendance is ages 8-18,” she said. “So, there may be an increase of folks just keeping their kids at home, too.”

Author Bio

Roger Harnack, Publisher

Author photo

Roger Harnack is co-owner and publisher of Free Press Publishing. An award-winning journalist, photographer, editor and publisher who grew up in Eastern Washington, he's one of only two Washington state journalists ever to receive the international Golden Quill for editorial/commentary writing. Roger is committed to preserving local media, and along with it, a local voice for Eastern Washington.

 

Reader Comments(0)

 
 

Our Family of Publications Includes:

Cheney Free Press
Ritzville Adams County Journal
Whitman County Gazette
Odessa Record
Franklin Connection
Davenport Times
Spokane Valley News Herald
Colfax Daily Bulletin

Powered by ROAR Online Publication Software from Lions Light Corporation
© Copyright 2024