SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – OVERNIGHT:

THE FADING OF THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS – FROM AMERICAN THINKER:   Homeschooling numbers have increased over 300% in the last two years, according to federal government Census data. This spike does not include Americans engaged in virtual learning through a public or private school program due to COVID protocols. These are full-time homeschoolers.  The United States Census Bureau has been tasked with collecting data through nationwide surveys for over 80 years. The data are intended for use by other government agencies and elected officials for policy decisions. This is the first time the Census Bureau has sought to identify the total number of homeschoolers in America. Previous surveys only marked children who were un-enrolled in public or private school. That rate usually hovered around 3.3% and was as high as 5.4% in 2019.  Homeschool families have been traditionally seen as a small minority and have been largely ignored by elected representatives. In 2020, due to the COVID school closures, Census questions were modified to specifically identify the number of homeschoolers, and the results were shocking for many. In October 2020, 11.1% of 22–23 million U.S. households reported being full-time homeschoolers, without any enrollment in a public or private school. Besides Alaska, who reported 27.5% of households dedicated to full-time homeschool, Oklahoma led all states at 20.1%. Other notable states included Florida at 18.1%, Vermont at 16.9%, Georgia at 16.0%, and Tennessee and Arizona at 13.0%.  There was little surprise at the exodus from public and private schools due to COVID mask mandates and health concerns in 2020. What has been surprising is that many of these students did not re-enroll for the 2021–2022 school year. No doubt the push for Critical Race Theory, and the loss of confidence in the traditional institutions' ability to teach children via virtual technology, played a significant role in a shift toward full-time homeschooling.  Read the whole story.  This is a growing revolution, and has the potential to change the face of American education.   As the number of homeschoolers grow, political leaders must pay attention.  After all, homeschooling parents are voters.   I suspect that the next big move will be proposals to provide subsidies to homeschoolers equal to the amount they pay into the public school system through taxes.  I also have no doubt that homeschooling families will have their own social networks, and will provide a social life for homeschooled kids in their area.  But look also for the counterattack by teachers' unions, and attempts to have homeschooling banned. 

October 2, 2021