Description
Book SynopsisHeath Brown provides a novel analysis of the homeschooling movement and its central role in conservative efforts to shrink the public sector. He traces the aftereffects of the passage of state homeschool policies in the 1980s and the results of ongoing conservative education activism on the broader political landscape.
Trade ReviewIn this fascinating and informative book, Heath Brown examines how the homeschooling movement has produced far-reaching and powerful political effects. By permitting people to opt out of public life, homeschooling has contributed to social sorting and polarization, and its supporters have constructed a formidable parallel set of institutions and civic organizations. Brown’s insightful analysis illuminates how conservative policy achievements yield enduring feedback effects that are transforming the public sphere. -- Suzanne Mettler, coauthor of
Four Threats: The Recurring Crises of American DemocracyHow do groups frame issues to their own members, and separately to policy makers and the broader public? How did the word ‘freedom’ come to mean separating oneself from public education, public neighborhoods, and public services? What is the nature of the broad right-wing parallel network of social and political institutions? Brown’s comprehensive analysis of the development of the homeschooling movement addresses these questions and many more. It is a model of policy history. And it is alarming. -- Frank R. Baumgartner, author of
Agendas and Instability in American PoliticsIn detailing the political, institutional, and social apparatus that has grown up around homeschooling, Brown shows how a parallel politics emerged that simultaneously withdraws from and undermines the public sphere. The significance of this study provides crucial insights into the deep political fault lines of our current moment. -- Adam Sheingate, author of
Building a Business of Politics: The Rise of Political Consulting and the Transformation of American DemocracyIn this exciting book, Heath Brown enlarges our understanding of conservative public policies and their relation to American political development, helps situate the homeschooling movement within the larger ‘New Right’ enterprise, and offers a novel theory of conservative freedom policies as they operate through and outside of the state. -- Kristin Goss, author of
The Paradox of Gender Equality: How American Women’s Groups Gained and Lost Their Public VoiceHomeschooling the Right has implications that go well beyond education politics and policy, shedding light on the interplay between organized interests, social movements, party coalitions, and public policy. It is also essential reading for anyone interested in the development of the modern conservative movement. -- Alexander Hertel-Fernandez, author of
Politics At Work: How Companies Turn Their Workers Into LobbyistsInstructors should consider adopting this book for a generic course in public policy as well as more specific courses including advocacy, lobbying, and social movements. Moreover, this book will be a valuable resource to scholars, practitioners, and students in the field. * Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly *
Brown succeeds admirably in demonstrating how the homeschooling movement undermines the state. -- Daniel T. Gresham * European Journal of American Studies *
If you are into dry jargon-filled prose that drones on and on and seeming never ends,
Homeschooling the Right is not for you. -- John B. Holbein * Political Science Quarterly *
Researchers interested in parental rights, school choice, political parties, and social phenomena will appreciate a close reading and examination of how significantly homeschoolers have played a role in 'transforming how policy beneficiaries think about government, how they think about themselves as citizens, and what they value' * Journal of School Choice *
Table of ContentsIntroduction
1. A Theory of Conservative Freedom Policy Feedback
2. The Development of Homeschool Policy
3. Design of Homeschool and Charter School Policy
4. The Pillars of Homeschooling
5. Homeschooling Organizational Feedback and Communications
6. State and Local Mobilization and Policy Change
7. Political Behavior and Community Effects
Conclusion
Acknowledgments
Appendix
Notes
Index
