Homeschooling and authenticity

Abstract

In this article, I address the relation between children’s authentic identity development and homeschooling. I show the limitations of claims that homeschooling protects children’s authenticity. I argue that the aim of homeschooling is the reproduction of parental beliefs and culture, which is inimical to the development of authentic children’s identities. Thus, I consider homeschooling prima facie unjustified. However, I do not advocate for a prohibition of homeschooling. Instead, I argue that parents could justify their homeschooling practices by satisfying specific authenticity-based requirements. I develop the outline of these requirements in the second part of the article.