Exploring Single Black Mothers' Resistance Through Homeschooling (Palgrave Studies in Alternative Education)

This book expands the concept of homeplace with contemporary Black homeschooling positioned as a form of resistance among single Black mothers. Chapters explore each mother’s experience and unique context from their own perspectives in deciding to homeschool and developing their practice. It corroborates many of the issues that plague the education of Black children in America, including discipline disproportionality, frequent referrals to special education services, teachers’ low expectations, and the marginalization of Black parents as partners in traditional schools. This book demonstrates how single mothers experience the inequity in school choice policies and also provides an understanding of how single Black mothers experience home-school partnerships within traditional schools. Most importantly, this volume challenges stereotypical characterizations of who homeschools and why. Preface Acknowledgements Contents List of Tables 1 Voices Speaking Truths from Our Past and Our Present Speaking to Our Past: Relevant Historical Context of Black Homeschooling Voices Speaking to Our Present Discipline Disproportionality Lack of Sociocultural Connection in Curriculum and Teaching Low Expectations School Safety and School Climate Purpose References 2 Conceptualizing Contemporary Black Homeschooling and Single Black Mothers’ Resistance Historical Conceptions of African American Resistance Conceptions of BFT and Single Homeschool Moms’ Resistance Conceptualizing Spirituality Distinction Between Spirituality and Religion Spirituality and the Education of Black Children Endarkened Feminist Epistemology and the Study of Single Black Homeschool Mothers Methods Participants Context Data Sources Analysis References 3 Margaret: Homeschooling as a Mother’s Right Background Motivation to Homeschool Religious Beliefs Perception of Public Schools Motherhood as a Motivation to Homeschool Faith-Based Homeschool Practice Nurturing Children’s Independence Community Connections in Homeschooling Modeling Her Beliefs and Empathy for Public Schools Athletics and Intellect Race References 4 Dahlia: Homeschooling as a Last Resort Background Navigating School Choice Options from the Under-Resourced Side of the County Researcher Perspective Navigating More Choices Navigating Homeschooling Options The Middle School Experiment Self-naming, Homeplace, and Homebound Socialization for Dahlia and Jason References 5 Yvette: Homeschooling as Split-Schooling—Homeschooling One of Two Background Yvette’s Sojourn Decision to Split-School Making It Work On Spirituality Conclusion References 6 Chloe: Homeschooling as Way of Life Background The Decision to Homeschool Making It Work Spirituality and Finances Homeschooling Lifestyle Community Connections Integrating Field Trips Nurturing Cecilia’s Interests Spirituality Motherhood Race References 7 The Significance of Single Black Mothers Homeschooling Expressions of Faith, Religion, and Spirituality Multiple Perspectives on Motherhood Younger Mothers Older Mothers Race New Ways of Thinking About Homeschooling Homeschooling as Constructive Criticism of Public Schools Expressions of Empathy Homeschooling as a Pathway Toward Healing References Index