The Utseys also belong to a growing subgroup of African-American homeschoolers, families dissatisfied with traditional education opting to take matters into their own hands. Research suggests that proportion is growing: Ama Mazama, a scholar of African American education at Temple University, said at least 200,000 black families homeschool today, more than double the 90,000 who educated their kids at home in 1999. “I never wanted them to have to walk through a metal detector when they go to school,” Utsey said of her sons. In 2004 Utsey founded the Sankofa Homeschool Community to support homeschooling families of color in the Washington metropolitan area. Charities distribute some funds to homeschooling families in need, but the government does not offer specific financial help to homeschoolers.

Source: Manila Times March 15, 2017 02:03 UTC