As of 2010, census data indicates that more than 80% of the American population was living in areas classified as urban. According to the Census Bureau, urban areas are defined as “densely developed territory, and encompass residential, commercial, and other non-residential urban land uses.” With that many American citizens living in urban areas, it comes as no surprise that more and more urbanites are beginning to homeschool their children.There are many reasons why so many urban dwellers are homeschooling their children. In this article, we are going to take a look at those reasons.
For both rural and urban homeschoolers, one of the main reasons they have chosen to homeschool is because they are concerned about the environment at school. This could certainly include crime and violence on public school campuses, which seems to be more common in urban areas. As videos begin to spread on social media depicting serious incidents of violence and disobedience in public school classrooms, more and more parents feel that their children simply aren’t safe in that kind of setting.
The choice to homeschool also includes the content and quality of the education their children receive in the public school system, and moving to a different school district just isn’t feasible. While private school can be an excellent alternative to public school, not all families can afford the tuition. Homeschooling is a more economical alternative for them to take advantage of and doesn’t require the family to relocate.
Another reason is the overcrowding of public schools, which is a major problem in growing urban areas. The ratio of students to teachers is dropping as classrooms become more and more crowded. The level of attention that students receive is forced to drop because many urban teachers find themselves overwhelmed with too many students and too many regulations to follow.
Another reason urbanites are turning to homeschooling stems from a desire to provide religious instruction to their children beyond what they can do in their spare time. This is one reason they have in common with homeschoolers in the suburbs and rural areas: a desire to instill religious principals in their child. As homeschoolers, their children have religious opportunities that simply don’t exist in a public school setting. They also have more control over what their children are taught than would be possible in a private school setting.
Another drawing point for homeschooling is the customization that is available. In a world where you can customize just about anything, a customized education is very attractive. Just like homeschooling parents in the suburbs and rural areas, urban parents want the best possible education for their children and they want their children to reach their maximum potential.
Homeschooling is not a passing trend, but has spread from the rural and suburban areas into the suburbs. Parents are concerned about the environments in the public schools, as well as the content and quality of education provided. Many of them want their children to receive religious training, and even more are attracted to a personalized education experience for their child.
Mimi Rothschild is a veteran homeschooling mother of 8, writer of a series of books called Cyberspace for Kids, and passionate advocate for children and education that is truly worthy of them. In 2001, Mimi and her late husband founded Learning By Grace, a leading provider of online Christian homeschooling Academies.
