The Most Overlooked Teachers in America Aren’t in Public Schools
Every year during Teacher Appreciation Week, politicians rush to social media to praise teachers.
And they should. Good teachers matter. A lot.
But there’s one group of teachers almost nobody talks about: Homeschool moms and dads.
The parents sitting at kitchen tables every morning teaching math, reading, history, science, and everything else in between.
The parents grading papers after dinner. Driving kids to sports practice. Finding music lessons. Organizing field trips. Buying curriculum out of their own pockets.
No union. No pension. No government paycheck. Just commitment.
And honestly, isn’t this what we’ve been told for years?
“Parents need to be more involved in their children’s education.”
Well, homeschool parents took that message seriously. You can’t get more involved than becoming the teacher yourself.
As a homeschool mom, I know firsthand this isn’t easy. It takes sacrifice. Time. Patience. Money. A lot of money.
Public school families get sports, theater, band, buses, counselors, and after-school programs funded through tax dollars.
Homeschool families pay taxes too. Then they pay again out of pocket if their kids want to play soccer, take dance, join theater, or participate in enrichment programs.
And despite that sacrifice, homeschool parents are often treated like outsiders by the same political system that constantly lectures everyone else about “equity” and “inclusion.”
That’s one reason so many Nevada families were frustrated during the last legislative session.
Gov. Joe Lombardo supported expanding school choice programs, including Opportunity Scholarships and Education Savings Accounts that would’ve helped more families afford educational alternatives.
Democrats in Carson City killed those efforts. Again.
That matters because school choice isn’t just about private schools. It’s about giving parents flexibility and giving kids opportunities that fit their needs instead of forcing every child into the same one-size-fits-all system.
Not every child learns the same way. I know that personally.
I didn’t learn to read English until I was sixteen because the education system kept passing me along instead of teaching me.
Years later, when my own daughter struggled in school and experienced bullying that administrators failed to properly address, my husband and I made the decision to homeschool.
It changed our family’s life. And we’re not alone.
According to the National Home Education Research Institute, homeschooling has grown dramatically across the country over the last several years.
Families from all backgrounds are choosing it because they want safer environments, stronger academics, more parental involvement, or simply more control over what and how their children are taught.
Critics say homeschool families shouldn’t receive financial support because public schools need more funding. But here’s the problem with that argument.
The average Nevada public school student costs taxpayers thousands of dollars every year. Homeschool families are educating their own children while still paying into the system.
They’re actually saving taxpayers money.
And unlike government systems that often resist accountability, homeschool parents live with the results every single day. If their kids aren’t learning, there’s nobody else to blame.
That’s real accountability.
Teacher Appreciation Week should absolutely celebrate classroom teachers who work hard and care about kids.
But it should also recognize the parents who made the decision to fully step into that role themselves.
Not because it’s easy. Because they love their children enough to do it. And in my opinion, that deserves a little appreciation too.
The opinions expressed by contributors are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Nevada News & Views. Digital technology was used in the research, writing, and production of this article. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
