By Grace Nilsson
Hello, and welcome back to A Homeschooler’s Perspective! So far, this column has focused on books, but I have always intended to write about other interesting topics related to homeschooling as well. This month, I will be reviewing The Secret Power of Homeschoolers. This documentary by VICE News explores the post-pandemic rise of homeschooling in the U.S., what is driving this change, and the potential effects on society. In other words, what power do homeschoolers have?
Summary
This documentary takes the viewer on a journey meeting different homeschooling families and homeschooling advocates. The creators seem to have a slight left-leaning bias, but the conservative individuals interviewed are allowed to express their opinions as well. One father was so frustrated by Covid regulation that he started his own academy that focuses on outdoor activities in addition to academics. The place functions like a small private school, although the children are registered homeschoolers. The narrator explains that alternative forms of education like this are becoming more common.
We visit a homeschool convention in Florida, full of parents passionate about their choice to educate their own children. The convention is surprisingly political (at least to me), and the parents complain about “critical race theory” and supposed inappropriate content being taught in public schools. Freedom is a running theme. In the eyes of the homeschool advocates interviewed throughout the documentary, homeschooling is about freedom from government interference, freedom to control their children’s upbringing.
However, there is another side to the story. This documentary also looks at what happens to children whose parents cannot or at least should not homeschool. In West Virginia a bill meant to protect children from abuse faces opposition from homeschooling organizations, who feel it is a threat to freedom. This part was also surprising to me. The interviewer also talks to a public-school teacher who worries about underfunding, and the students who have no other options but public education.
While many homeschoolers hold right-wing beliefs, there are also parents on the opposite side of the political spectrum. One mother homeschools her children in part to protect them from discrimination. What others may derogatively call “woke” she sees as simply being inclusive and teaching the truth. She runs a co-op meant to support black homeschooling families, and its popularity shows how homeschooling is growing among this demographic. To me, it was rather sad to see parents who were all passionate about their children’s education so divided by political views.
Worth Watching?
No one documentary could fully explore the complex world of homeschooling, and the makers of this one chose to focus heavily on politics. If a person who was unfamiliar with homeschooling were to watch it, I am not sure if they would come away with accurate picture of how most homeschooling families actually live. The Secret Power of Homeschoolers also does not give much guidance for how prospective homeschooling parents can homeschool successfully. Instead, the documentary provides an overview of the political forces behind the homeschooling movement, and how these affect society. In the views of the filmmakers, these effects may not always be positive. I would not consider The Secret Power of Homeschoolers to be a feel-good documentary on homeschooling, but it is thought-provoking. Do the parents interviewed have good reasons for homeschooling? Should homeschoolers still care about what happens in public schools? What are the unintended consequences of laws (or a lack of them)? How much do the creators’ own biases shape the message of the documentary? If any of this sounds interesting to you, I would recommend watching The Secret Power of Homeschoolers.
Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9kuNycfklN4
