Media mention: Fields-Smith discusses homeschooling with Forbes Alert
Cheryl Fields-Smith, an associate professor in the Department of Educational Theory and Practice, spoke with Forbes Alert about the increase in families deciding to homeschool because of the pandemic, concerns about curriculum and instruction, racism encountered in schools, and more.
Not only has homeschooling grown, but it has also become significantly more diverse. The proportion of Black families homeschooling significantly increased between spring 2020 and fall 2020—from 3.3% to 16.1%, far outpacing any other racial or ethnic group.
“The parent has to make a decision: ‘If this is how you see my child, as a problem, this isn’t going to be good for my child, so I need to educate,'” Fields-Smith said. “They will try to work things out with teachers and with school systems, but a lot of times, they can’t get what their child needs.”