| Title: |
Reasons Why Australian Parents Choose Home Schooling for Their Children: A Qualitative Investigation |
| Language: |
English |
| Authors: |
Terry Harding (ORCID 0009-0006-9295-497X); Rebekah Couper (ORCID 0009-0002-1972-2946) |
| Source: |
Issues in Educational Research. 2025 35(2):611-631. |
| Availability: |
Western Australian Institute for Educational Research Inc. 5/202 Coode Street, Como, Western Australia 6152, Australia. e-mail: editor@iier.org.au; Web site: http://www.iier.org.au/iier.html |
| Peer Reviewed: |
Y |
| Page Count: |
21 |
| Publication Date: |
2025 |
| Document Type: |
Journal Articles; Reports - Research |
| Education Level: |
Early Childhood Education; Preschool Education; Elementary Secondary Education |
| Descriptors: |
Foreign Countries; Parent Attitudes; Home Schooling; Decision Making; Educational History; Motivation; Preschool Education; Elementary Secondary Education; Educational Policy; Educational Environment; Family Environment; Parent Role; Religious Factors; Student Needs |
| Geographic Terms: |
Australia |
| ISSN: |
0313-7155; 1837-6290 |
| Abstract: |
This research examines the reasons why parents choose home schooling -- a growing educational phenomenon in Australia. A phenomenographic analysis of qualitative data gave a rich and detailed voice to those motivations. Six categories of description summarised the findings. Parents cited both push and pull factors that contributed to their decisions to reject traditional schooling for their children, in favour of this unconventional pedagogy. The findings demonstrated a juxtaposition of unwelcome influences on their children by non-familial institutions, with the vested interests of parents in meeting their children's formative needs. Our study presents important data and findings relevant to all stakeholders on the Australian educational landscape, as to what is important to parents when considering the validity of educational practice. |
| Abstractor: |
As Provided |
| Entry Date: |
2025 |
| Access URL: |
https://www.iier.org.au/iier35/harding-abs.html |
| Accession Number: |
EJ1476589 |
| Database: |
ERIC |