Homeschooling and Political Affiliation.. is there a connection?

Question

Hello. I was on drudge.com this morning and came across this quote, "Liberal Democrats: They only thing they are pro-choice on is abortion. Everything else they are against choice."

http://www.drudge.com/news/105128/califo...

It got me wondering, is this yet another example of over-generalization (they are rampant these days!), or is it true that the majority of those who oppose homeschooling are liberals?

My questions are:

1. What are your political affiliation/leanings?

2. Are you supportive of parents' rights to homeschool their children, or do you oppose it?

Answer 1

Well I'm homeschooled. My mother was raised a democrat but switched to republican in college to support a friend of hers who was running for office. Really though, mom's not super active in politics and usually votes (IF she votes) for the candidate with the best ideas and plans. This year she's going for Obama, I think. But really she says the main reason she's voting this year is because I'm finally going to be old enough to vote, and I guess she sees it as a milestone (you know, since we missed that whole learning to drive milestone.)

I myself am a libertarian all the way.

Answer 2

I think the people who are really anti-HE are the big corporations and the politicians they own (i.e. pretty much all of them) because they want a nice, quiet, dumb and easy to control workforce, not people who can think for themselves. To them HE is a threat to the 'natural order'.

Supporters of the major political parties don't seem to be pro or anti-HE based on party.

I guess if I had to choose between US liberal or conservative I'd be liberal. Pro-choice in most things including HE, but that could make be a libertarian too couldn't it. Stupid labels, who needs 'em?

Answer 3

The homeschoolers I know are all across the spectrum.  OTOH,it is the conservative politicians who tend to support us.

Answer 4

I'm conservative, as is my husband, but my extended family is very liberal.  Oddly, they're the ones who are against us homeschooling - it apparently doesn't offer the "tolerance" and "choice" available in public school.  Ok...

I have other friends who homeschool and are liberal, and I've got others who homeschool and are conservative or anywhere in between.  I don't think it has so much to do with political or religious leaning as it does with getting out of the mindset that education can only be run by the state.

JMHO :-)

Answer 5

1. I'm all over the chart depending on the issue, my husband is a libertarian.

2. I'm supportive of parent rights to homeschool. I homeschool my own children.

Answer 6

1. I am libertarian

2. Totally supportive of the right of parents to educate their own children.

I do think that many who oppose homeschooling (at the moment, anyway) are liberals. I think this is in part because of the stereotype of the extremely religious families being the only ones who homeschool. I also think that they are more likely to view their beliefs as being so correct that it is okay, and even desirable, to make sure everyone thinks that way. Therefore, the idea that students might not be taught the 'correct' set of beliefs from their backwards parents, is a major concern.

Also, I hate that political test. Too many questions had implications such that I was uncomfortable with all of the answers. Try this one instead: http://www.theadvocates.org/quiz.html

Answer 7

Personally, my husband and I are both Libertarians.  I believe that what's right for me isn't always right for you.  You do your thing, and I'll do mine.   Free choice for each individual.

Answer 8

I'm a compassionate libertarian, for lack of a better label. I'm very much pro-freedom in every area, but I do believe that there is a place for government involvement in society.

I'm more than supportive - I've homeschooled my daughter. I've mentored other homeschoolers. I've taken care of their kids when they had to work (educating them alongside my girl). I'm one of the founders of a statewide homeschooling group here in Georgia. I've advocated for family educational freedoms for years, even before I had a child.

All the credible data I've seen indicates that there's a broad spread of political affiliation in the homeschooling community. The very first modern homeschoolers in the U.S. were hippies - liberals who wanted to be free to educate their children as they saw fit. The very vocal, conservative, Republican faction didn't come into the picture until the 1980s. They are still a minority, albeit a loud one.

The Kasemans (Larry and Susan? I'm having memory problems) have published some excellent material on the history of modern American homeschooling in Home Education magazine. Some of that material might be on the magazine's web site.

Answer 9

I'm pretty conservative.Socially and politically. This reminded me of a survey a few years ago that had liberal conservative in 4 quadrants based on social conservatism vs political conservatism You might be interested to find where your leanings are. I posted a link.

Answer 10

Homeschool.. liberal baybee. ;)

Answer 11

Conservative.

I support parents rights.

I am against an intrusive federal govt.

Answer 12

I thought I was a Libertarian who voted Republican. Socially conservative, Moderate in Politics. According to the Political Compass- Economic Left/Right: 0.25

Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: 0.00

My little red dot on the chart is almost right in the middle....

Answer 13

1.  Fiscal conservative/ s/w socially conservative.  Independent.   Leaning toward constitutionalist.  Believe in minimal govt. , minimal entitlement programs.  (so I sure as heck am not a Democrat!)

Secret belief:  The most positive type of governmental mix is one in which most bills end in deadlock.  The less the government can agree on and accomplish......the less damage it does!

2.  I am supportive of public schooling (preferably without NCLB and no mandatory testing), supportive of private schooling, vouchers, homeschooling, etc.  I believe it is the parent's right to choose.  I believe that public school should remain in the control of the local public realm and that the alternatives should be self governing.   The great equalizers are the college entrance exams.  Those are the only ones that should be at issue.  

In my experience, the majority of those opposing homeschooling, regardless of party affiliations, are somehow influenced by the NEA rather than independently investigating the issue and forming thoughtful opinions,   (though most damage relative to parental rights and school choice seems to be initiated by the Democratic party).

To glurpy:  That was an interesting summary.  I have noticed that our Democratic party is definately far more socialist than ever before.  The Republican party seems to be moving toward the old Democratic ideologies.  I find that the more Liberaterian, Conservative, etc. are no longer truly represented in political circles.

Answer 14

I consider myself an extreme conservative. I was home schooled from 5th-12th grade and am now in my third year of college at age 19. I am supportive of parents homeschooling their kids. I feel that being home schooled afforded me opportunities that perhaps others in public school were not given. I was able to take the college prep courses that I needed and was better able to suit the materials that I studied to my learning style. As to whether or not liberals are primarily against home schooling, I can not say with any certainty, but most of the home school families that I know are conservatives.

Answer 15

well, im conservative in some things liberal in others. i think a parent has a right to homeschool. its just not for me

Answer 16

I am a conservative Libertarian, but I usually vote Republican.  I was raised in a Christian fundamentalist home and after much research and self-discovery (I am not my parents clone!) I decided to retain most of the beliefs I was raised with.  I have worked with political campaigns since I was ten and I where I am from (the Midwest) most campaign volunteers that are too young to vote are homeschoolers.  And yes I have volunteered for other parties besides the Republican party but to my surprise I was usually the only homeschooler.  Phonebanking, door-to-door, walking in parades, setting up for rallies, it doesn't matter matter what I was doing; if it was for the Republican party there were tons of homeschoolers, if it was for another party, I was most likely the only one.  

I can't even imagine why some people would think parents do not have the right to homeschool their children.  It is absolutely insane.  What's next?  Telling parents they don't have the right to make their children to eat their veggies?!

Answer 17

Well, I homeschool and have always considered myself a libertarian. I took the political compass quiz and I'm actually a little left of center economically, but totally libertarian socially.

Economic Left/Right: -2.62

Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -5.38

Answer 18

I'm Conservative and I definitely support our right to choose the education for our kids.

I think it has a lot to do with the fact that certain candidates want every child in public schools. I won't name who but we all know.

I believe that in order to protect our right we must choose people who believe as we do. I will say I don't like the republican candidate very much. He just rubs me wrong.

Answer 19

Where I live, we have 3 basic parties (Conservative--like your Republicans; Liberal--like your Democrats; NDP--more socialist bent). The vast majority of homeschoolers I know tend to vote Liberal.