Philosophical Problems of Home Schooling (or strict religious education)

The purpose of education is to prepare an individual to reach their highest potential – to flourish.  One characteristic of this philosophy is the idea that the student should be capable of independence.  Individual autonomy promotes the critical capacity to make good decisions, independent of the beliefs of a group or religion.  Home schooling may cover the curriculum of a pragmatist philosophy on education, but does it truly create individual autonomy independent of any religious or social biases?

Children who are educated in the home or in small groups under a religious doctrine (ex. Amish) are at greater risk of misrepresenting their view of autonomy.  A student who is home schooled by their parents may receive a high-quality education similar to that set out by the state.  However, a large portion of their education in social interaction may go unlearned.  This subtle, yet extremely important, piece of the education puzzle could have severe repercussions for a home schooled student later in life.  

In On Education, Brighouse argues that true autonomy involves the ability to determine one’s own values.  In home schooled situations, values may be imposed directly, or indirectly, limiting a child’s ability to decide their own views.  For example, an Amish child may grow up to misrepresent modern social values as ‘evil’ or ‘ungodly’ simply because they had Amish values imposed on them from an early age.  High attrition rates by young Amish are a great example of what can result when autonomy is not a primary focus of education.

As an educator it is important to understand that a single-focused education in any area of schooling can lead to the development of homogeneous beliefs.  It isn’t a teacher’s job to expose children to every possible religious or educational view. However, it is necessary to guide students to understand that the concept of choice is essential in the idea of individual autonomy.  

Teachers must promote critical thinking skills in all aspects of school.  It is also essential to promote social interaction among students so that individual views and experiences can be shared.  The idea that thinking critically about their own beliefs while taking into account the views of others, is essential in developing autonomy.  A home schooled student would not have the luxury of social interaction with various view points and could disagree with or oppress other peoples viewpoints in social interaction.

The philosopher Daniel Dennett argues that in the case of religion, children should be taught the history and beliefs of all religions. Then they should be allowed to make decisions without the influence of parents, teachers or religious leaders.  In his book, Breaking the Spell, Dennett states that religious indoctrination can poison all of society.  Although his thesis is religiously based, it certainly applies to the concept of schooling and autonomy.  Children should be allowed to explore many different belief systems, viewpoints and religions and be given the ability to decide a value system for themselves.  This is an ideal theory and difficult to represent in the real world because almost certainly everyone will be influenced by someone and in the case of children, they receive the strongest influence from their parents.  However, the idea that a teacher can foster children to witness different viewpoints is essential in the development of autonomy.

Home schooling is a moral issue that deals with a student’s ability to function as an autonomous member of society.  Although publicly schooled and home schooled students may share the same skill set, the home schooled child may lag in social maturity.  This social education is a key element to become truly autonomous.  Without it, a student my not be able to flourish.