For Black families, homeschooling has become a better option for their children's education.
There was a significant increase in Black families opting for homeschooling during quarantine when parents were home with children dependent on remote and virtual learning. As reported by the U.S. Census, 3.3% of Black families homeschooled their children at the start of the pandemic, increasing to 16.1% by the fall.
In the past, home-schooling was considered stressful and stigmatizing for kids due to the loss of one income for the whole household. But now, it could be an effective alternative to public education, and it can be an equitable option for Black families raising children in working-class households.
This equity is currently threatened by the censorship of their curriculum by racist legislation, such as Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' recent attack on an AP class created by the College Board, that silences critical topics in African American history.
Community learning pods are appealing to a growing number of Black parents, especially given the research that shows that in schools, there are racist policies that disproportionately affect Black students, a significant education gap, and the constant struggle over the teaching of “controversial topics” that discuss the histories and experiences of Black people.
There is no doubt that censorship of factual information related to African American history, and Black America as a whole, is not going to disappear anytime soon. As a matter of fact, the suppression of Black history and culture has been happening for centuries, and the politicians who continue to legalize it have become even more aggressive.
Do you think home-schooling is a viable, or even a better, option for Black families?
Source: The Huffington Post
Comments