I can't believe liberals are calling homeschooling child abuse | Opinion

Reading my first story in "How to Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons" was a triumphant moment for my mother and me.

It culminated over 100 mornings of patient study – our heads bent over the primer, sounding out letters and words, and joyfully celebrating each milestone of my reading journey. These mornings became the foundation of my educational journey: from my years of homeschooling, my time in Catholic high school, and ultimately my experience as a student at the University of Notre Dame.

Neither of us imagined that one day, progressive activists would smear our experience as "weird as f---," or abusive. Yet those are the exact words that "I've Had It" podcast cohosts Jennifer Welch and Angie Sullivan recently used to vilify the over 3 million homeschoolers across America.

"I think it's just f---ing weird as f--- that you want your kids around you all day," Sullivan said in the July 14 episode, adding that she doesn't "trust somebody that wants to be with their kids 24/7. I think a lot of dumb people do it 'cause it's just easier."

Welch similarly characterized homeschooling as a "crazy Christian problem." She even called it child abuse: "I think it's selfish for parents to push a religion on a child. ... I think it's all child abuse, honestly."

This bigotry displays surprising ignorance of homeschooling's popularity and success.

Families are fleeing from public schools with good reason

Homeschooling rates have steadily risen since the COVID-19 pandemic, when the difficulties of remote learning inspired many parents to pull their kids from school. This era exposed many parents to the widespread failures of the American education system. Many were confused why skyrocketing educational spending was not reversing plummeting student achievement nationwide.

To date, The Nation's Report Card shows that students are graduating high school with historically low reading and math scores. Only a third of high school seniors are considered "college-ready" in math, while less than 40% are "college-ready" in reading.

The pandemic also opened parents' eyes to the increased politicization of American education. From prominent teachers unions that donate exclusively to far-left candidates and causes to individual teachers who allow their ideological leanings to influence their instruction, it's clear that authentic education has taken a backseat to progressive priorities.

Parents of all ideological backgrounds find this distasteful ‒ especially conservative Christians and Catholics who have suffered discrimination for their beliefs.

Let's look at how homeschooled children are doing

Homeschoolers are faring far better.

Peer-reviewed studies have repeatedly found that homeschoolers score "well above the national average in reading, language, math, social studies, and science."

In fact, homeschoolers are scoring at least 15 to 25 points higher than their public school peers on standardized tests. This advantage is especially evident among Black homeschoolers, some of whom score up to 42 points higher than their public school peers.

Homeschooling even puts students at an advantage in college admissions, since homeschoolers often score "above average" on the SAT and ACT.

Growing up, my siblings and I didn't need peer-reviewed studies to tell us we were doing well. My mother's regimented homeschool routine ensured that all 11 of us received a high-quality education and the tools to succeed in life.

Every day, she gave each of us one-on-one instruction in reading, history, math and science. She sternly checked our workbooks to ensure we completed our self-taught vocabulary, cursive handwriting and Bible history lessons daily. She paired younger siblings with older siblings for creative writing opportunities or to quiz each other on homework.

She inspired us with creative ideas to showcase our short stories, artwork and even my sister's cringey poetry. She drove us to homeschool co-op, art classes, piano lessons and sports practices to help us maximize our interests and talents. She joined us in playing soccer, basketball, baseball and even bike-riding in "PE" class.

And every morning, she took us to Mass.

An attack on homescholing is an attack on conservatives

My homeschool background is a pivotal reason why I eventually achieved my dream of becoming a student at the University of Notre Dame (along with my oldest brother, who graduated in 2015, my sister who received her master's from Notre Dame in 2021 and my younger sister who graduated in 2024).

Homeschooling not only set my siblings and me up for success in life, but it also gave us the rare opportunity to truly enjoy childhood together. Not one of us found it "f---ing weird" that our mother enjoyed time with us. Every one of us benefited from knowing that we were truly loved and championed by a mother who sacrificed her own interests to give us every opportunity.

We were equally grateful that our father worked hard so that she could be home with us.

I resent that Welch and Sullivan smear my parents' sacrifice. It's insulting that they classify my college-educated mother as "dumb" for enjoying the upbringing and education of her 11 children.

And it's ironic that they imply that homeschooling parents like mine are abusive for wanting to instill faith and virtue in their children.

Welch and Sullivan likely know that homeschooling is not abusive, regressive or weird – they simply hate the values of many of those who homeschool. Their hostility to homeschooling betrays their own ideological agendas where education is concerned.

In fact, the "I've Had It" podcast received an award at GLAAD's annual dinner honoring media personalities who support LGBTQ+ "rights." GLAAD supports transgender interventions, including those on minors. In her acceptance speech, Welch made sure to say, "F--- Donald Trump" and "save trans kids!"

Her opposition to homeschooling likely stems from the fact that many homeschoolers are conservative and subscribe to traditional faiths. And long-term, homeschooling could make Welch's ideological opponents outpace their more liberal or secular public school peers.

Homeschooling certainly set my conservative Catholic family up for success. That's likely why progressive activists like Welch and Sullivan want to destroy it.

Theresa Olohan is a communications professional and a former fellow for USA TODAY Opinion.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: I can't believe liberals are calling homeschooling child abuse | Opinion

Reporting by Theresa Olohan, Opinion contributor / USA TODAY

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This story was originally published July 26, 2026 at 3:03 AM.