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Increase in Homeschooling Linked to Recent School Shootings

Amanda Casanova : Jun 5, 2018
Christianheadlines.com

"When we ask families why do they homeschool, near the top nowadays is concern about the environment of schools, and that includes safety, pressure to get into drugs, pressure to get into sexual activity. It includes all of that." -Brian D. Ray

(Austin, TX)— [Christianheadlines.com] The Texas Home School Coalition has seen an increase in interest in home schooling following the recent school shootings. (Photo: Homeschooling/Monkey Business Images/Facebook/via Christian Headlines)

Texas Home School Coalition says it has been busy for months with inquiries after this year's shootings in Parkland, Florida and Santa Fe, Texas.

"When the Parkland shooting happened, our phone calls and emails exploded," said coalition president Tim Lambert. "In the last couple of months, our numbers have doubled. We're dealing with probably between 1,200 and 1,400 calls and emails per month, and prior to that it was 600 to 700."

Parents say they are also concerned about the environment of schools.

"One of the things we've seen definitely (is) an uptick in the last five years is the aspect of violence. It's the bullying. That is off the charts," said Christopher Chin, president of Homeschool Louisiana.

"I think what happens with these school shootings is they're the straws that broke the camel's back," Chin said. "I don't think it's the major decision-maker, but it's in the back of parents' minds."

Brian D. Ray, president of the National Home Education Research Institute in Salem, Oregon, says there are three main reasons why parents choose homeschooling: to provide religious instruction or different values, dissatisfaction with the school's curriculum, and worries about the school environment...

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