On the third Tuesday of each month we post a quick roundup of some recent academic publications and news about homeschooling, offered for your interest. These are typically university research papers, and they may have a positive, negative, or neutral outlook on home education. The title links generally point to the full text of each publication, which is often a printable pdf file. In some cases, a paid subscription may be required to read the whole article. The article abstracts or introductions below are quoted in full whenever possible, without editing.
We have three items this month, from all around the world:
(1) Parents’ Attitudes Towards Homeschooling in Romania — A. Barbaroș & M. Bocoș (2023)
Abstract: Homeschooling has become a more debated topic nowadays, both as a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic where education took place at home, but as well as a result of the informal existing initiatives on homeschooling in Romania, where Romanian students were enrolled in different international homeschooling umbrella schools. The study seeks to find out parents’ attitudes and interest regarding the homeschooling education in an effort to observe the societal tendency and educational policies in relation to the homeschooling phenomena. In order to observe parents’ perception on this matter an online survey was applied in the month of June 2022. The study reveals which are the internal drives that would make parents enroll their children in a homeschooling alternative. A specific look is given to the relationship between important pedagogical concepts, such as: e-learning, online and asynchronous learning and homeschooling. In addition, an important is given to the educational legislative framework of Romania in order to observe how this educational dimension matches with the legislative documents in order to offer recommendations. The results of the study are useful for decision-makers to improve the existing education policy and highlights the general characteristics of this educational alternative in relation to the parents’ attitudes.
(2) Exploring Parental Perspectives on Homeschooling in the Context of Pakistan’s Educational System — S.A. Fatima, S.R. Kaukab, & I. Sheikh (2023)
Abstract: This study explores the parental perspective towards homeschooling in the context of education in Karachi. Using a qualitative phenomenological approach, we conducted interviews with parents who homeschool their children to gain insights into their experiences and attitudes toward homeschooling. Semi-structured questions were used to explore themes such as parental qualifications, awareness about homeschooling, views on traditional schooling, and the challenges faced while homeschooling. Thematic analysis was applied to the collected data to identify major outcomes, including the impact of parental qualifications, awareness, dissatisfaction with traditional schooling, improved academic performance, better personality development, cost differences, and challenges faced during homeschooling. This study sheds light on the benefits and challenges of homeschooling in the context of Education in Karachi and provides insights into parental perspectives on this educational approach. Qualification of parents, awareness of the process, unsatisfaction with school environment and system due to the absence of ethical values, bullying culture, grading and exams, enforced & burdened learning, distracted learning, good social, physical, and psychological effects on the children, cost difference, and good performance in the tests without schools all these are the elements mentioned by the parents for deciding to homeschool their children. Also, they face some challenges like social pressure and extra requirement of parental involvement. The findings of this study may be useful for parents, educators, and policymakers interested in alternative forms of education in Karachi.
(3) Why Homeschooling? ”The Role of Parental Leadership in Choosing Homeschooling: Maximizing Children’s Potential” — I. Pratiwi et al. (2023)
Abstract: This article aims to find out what are the parents’ reasons make the decision to send their children to homeschooling. In this context of education, choosing to homeschool is an alternative for parents who want to provide more personal education and focus on their children. The decision to choose to homeschool is influenced by many factors, that parents’ beliefs about formal education, availability of resources, environmental conditions, and children’s preferences. This research method uses a qualitative approach with case studies. Where this research uses case research at institutions that provide homeschooling services, in Bogor Area. This study used interview and observation techniques, the research team conducted interviews with principals, parents, and students. These results indicate the selection of homeschooling is based on parents who understand that every child has a nature, they learn of coercion. Children have to be given comfort in learning because comfortable learning will make children not bored in learning. The teacher’s task is as a facilitator about what they need. Teachers and parents together in achieving goals tailor-made for their children, because to get there, an interview with parents is needed regarding their readiness to become partners, if parents do not cooperate with the teacher, then the school will follow up and it is not recommended to take part in the learning process.
What interesting homeschool news and academic research have you come across this Hercules Term? 🎓
❡ Explore more: If you’d like to investigate the academic literature on homeschooling more extensively, the best place to start is Google Scholar, the special academic search engine from Google. Just enter a search term or phrase of interest (“homeschool,” “unschooling,” “classical homeschooling,” “deschooling,” etc.), and Google Scholar will return a list of research publications that mention your topic. In addition, for research prior to 2020 in particular, see the comprehensive bibliographic essay by Kunzman & Gaither (2020), “Homeschooling: An Updated Comprehensive Survey of the Research.” 🔎
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