Embracing the Unknown: To Homeschool or Not to Homeschool

If I had the opportunity to do it all over again, to homeschool my daughter or not, I believe I would have homeschooled my her beginning in middle school. That statement surprises even me.

After spending more than twenty years as a public school teacher and earning my Ph.D. in Education, I never imagined I would one day seriously consider homeschooling as one of the best options for many families.

But education has changed. And with it, so have the questions parents are asking.

One of the first moments that made me stop and think occurred when my daughter was preparing to enter middle school. Suddenly, students were required to receive the pertussis (whooping cough) vaccine before entering seventh grade in California. I remember thinking, "Where did this come from?" I hadn't heard much about whooping cough since I was a child, yet now it felt urgent enough to become a school requirement.

Looking back, I wish I had slowed down and researched all of our options before simply following the expected path.

Today, parents are facing even more complex decisions.

Depending on where they live, they may be weighing questions about school safety, academic expectations, screen time, mental health, curriculum, vaccination requirements, school choice, and rapidly changing education policies.

For example, in June 2025, the Trump administration directed California to remove references to gender identity from a federally funded sex education curriculum or risk losing federal funding. The decision sparked nationwide debate over who should determine what children learn in schools and how those decisions should be made.

Across the country, parents are also asking broader questions about what belongs in the classroom, how current events should be discussed with students, and where the line exists between education and advocacy. These conversations often differ from one community to another, making it increasingly important for families to understand what is happening in their own local schools.

My goal isn't to tell anyone what they should believe. Nor is it to argue that one educational model is better than another. Rather, I believe parents deserve accurate information so they can make thoughtful decisions that align with their family's values and, most importantly, the unique needs of their child.

Eventually, my daughter completed her junior year through homeschooling before transferring to an alternative high school. Looking back, I often wonder whether we should have made that transition sooner.

That reflection has led me to ask an even bigger question:

What is the purpose of education?

Is it simply academic achievement? Preparing students for college? Teaching social skills? Helping children discover who they are? Perhaps the answer is all of it. The truth is that every child learns differently. Some children absolutely flourish in traditional public schools. They thrive on structured schedules, extracurricular activities, friendships, athletics, music programs, and learning alongside their peers. Others struggle in that same environment but excel when given the flexibility that homeschooling provides.

Some potential benefits of homeschooling include:

• A flexible daily schedule

• Individualized instruction and pacing

• The ability to tailor learning to a child's interests and strengths

• More family time and shared experiences

• Greater flexibility for travel and experiential learning

• Reduced exposure to bullying or negative peer pressure

• The opportunity to incorporate family values into learning

• Freedom to adjust learning for medical, emotional, or learning differences

  
  

Some benefits of traditional schooling include:

• Daily interaction with a diverse group of peers

• Organized sports, music, theater, and extracurricular activities

• Access to specialized teachers and educational resources

• A structured routine that many children thrive in

• Opportunities to learn teamwork, collaboration, and conflict resolution

• Access to counseling, special education, and other support services

• Preparation for navigating larger social environments

Neither path is perfect. Every educational setting comes with strengths and challenges. Perhaps the real question isn't whether homeschooling is better than public school.

Perhaps the better question is: Which environment allows your child to become the healthiest, happiest, and most authentic version of themselves?

As both a former classroom teacher and a parent, I have learned that there is no universal answer.

There is only the responsibility to remain curious, informed, and willing to make difficult decisions when our children's well-being is at stake.

That may mean choosing public school. It may mean private school. It may mean homeschooling. Or it may mean changing directions altogether if the first choice no longer serves your child. Education should never become a one-size-fits-all journey.

As parents, we are constantly embracing the unknown. We gather information, weigh our options, listen to our children, and ultimately make the best decisions we can with the knowledge we have at the time. And perhaps that is the greatest lesson of all.

Sometimes the bravest thing a parent can do isn't having all the answers.

It's having the courage to ask the right questions.