Davies, Scott; & Aurini, Janice. (2003). Homeschooling and Canadian educational politics: Rights, pluralism and pedagogical individualism. Evaluation and Research in Education,17(2-3), 63-73. (Consider how, why, and whether homeschooling will continue to grow in Canada. Descriptions of the homeschooling community are accurate and insights and predictions are reasonable and believable. Although mention that some homeschoolers want no government control or regulation, possibly imply homeschooling will need to accept more state control if it is to grow. “Abstract: Homeschooling is becoming increasingly popular in Canada. Drawing on a variety of secondary sources and our own data from the province of Ontario, we advance three arguments. First, homeschooling is gaining legitimacy from the increasingly pluralistic nature of educational politics. Second, the lobbying tactics of homeschool advocates increasingly resemble other choice-seeking actors in education. Rather than expressing alienation from dominant political and cultural streams, most homeschool advocates frame their claims using the language of individual and parent rights. Third, as homeschooling enters the mainstream, more of its recruits are sharing in a burgeoning culture of ‘pedagogical individualism’ that prizes educational alternatives tailored to the needs of each unique child” (p. 63). “Fairly or not, mass public education is increasingly faulted for being insensitive and unresponsive to this imagined range of learning styles. As a result, private alternatives, particularly homeschooling, are being promoted through a language of rights, with homeschooling sometimes touted as the best choice to meet a child’s unique cognitive style. ….. Many existing homeschoolers, able to afford its time and expense, are willing to forfeit any financial support that would entail greater controls. ….. To grow further, then, homeschoolers will need to further elaborate their ‘rights talk’ to convince governments and the public that they are entitled to greater support, while attracting new members who will tolerate more regulation of their practice” (p. 71.)) (Key words: homeschooling, Canada, politics, rights, pluralism, individualism)
