The Cult of Homeschooling

Sounds Like A Cult

Studio71

Comedy, Education, Religion & Spirituality, Society & Culture

4 • 3.8K Ratings

🗓️ 2 April 2024

⏱️ 78 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

There's still time to preorder a copy of Amanda's new book The Age of Magical Overthinking, out April 9!!

Snag a signed first edition: https://www.skylightbooks.com/pre-order-signed-copies-amanda-montells-age-magical-overthinking

Preorder the audiobook.

Preorder from the big online book retailer with fast shipping 👀 https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1668007975

Catch Amanda on tour next week!!!
April 9: Los Angeles, CA — feat. Pauline Chalamet (tickets here) *less than 5 tix left*

April 12: Brooklyn, NY — EXCLUSIVE VARIETY SHOW feat. Ceara & Griff from Petty Crimes (tickets here) Use code CULTMAGIC for 10% off!

April 13: Boston, MA — EXCLUSIVE VARIETY SHOW feat. Meredith Goldstein & Sasha Sagan (tickets here) *less than 5 tix left*

April 16: Philadelphia, PA — EXCLUSIVE VARIETY SHOW feat. Kelsey McKinney from Normal Gossip (tickets here) *new promo price*

May 1: Atlanta, GA — Wild Heaven – West End with A Cappella Books (tickets here)

Stereotypes say that homeschool kids are a little, well, ~quirky~ but is that because they grew up in a "cult" of sorts? The American homeschool landscape is currently undergoing an especially fraught *paradigm shift* with upwards of 2 million kids being taught at home as of 2023. This surge is fueled by a range of sociopolitical factors, from the relatable (school shootings are scary!!!!) to the undeniably sinister (ahem, IBLP… ahem, Lord of the Flies-style unschooling practices that overlap with the troubled teen industry???). Homeschooling—with its insular communities, lack of regulation, and sometimes radical approaches to child-rearing—can add up to something eeeeeeeerily reminiscent of a fringey, paranoid sect. To help parse it out what “cult category” homeschooling falls into, Amanda is chatting with her pal (and homeschool *survivor*) Justina Sharp. This is delicate subject matter, and everyone’s experiences are different, so if you’re interested in learning more, be sure to check out the resources below! Thanks to all the culties who called in to share their personal experiences on the topic!

Sources:

Home schooling is surging, but lax regulation can leave kids vulnerable to abuse: https://www.npr.org/2024/01/18/1225324564/home-schooling-is-surging-but-lax-regulation-can-leave-kids-vulnerable-to-abuse
Coalition for Responsible Home Education: https://responsiblehomeschooling.org/
Home schooling’s rise from fringe to fastest-growing form of education: https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/interactive/2023/homeschooling-growth-data-by-district/
‘Unschooling’ Isn’t The Answer To Education Woes—It’s The Problem: https://www.forbes.com/sites/nataliewexler/2020/05/25/unschooling-isnt-the-answer-to-education-woes-its-the-problem/?sh=7541bc55543c

Thank you to our sponsors, who make this show possible:

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Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	Babe, wake up, you have to get tickets to see all your favorite podcasters on tour together.
0:05.1	Hello, it's me, your sounds like a cult host, Amanda Montel.
0:08.2	Here to invite you to this extravagant and very exclusive live variety show that I'm putting together on
0:14.8	April 12th in Brooklyn, April 13th in Boston and April 16th in Philly. My
0:19.6	inner theater kid is exploding out, letting its Inner Freak Flag fly by putting together this
0:26.0	over-the-top live podcast Hullabaloo featuring special guests like Kira and Giff from Petty Crimes and Kelsey from Normal Gossip, as well as drag performances, musical guests,
0:38.0	exclusive merch only available at these three live shows, there will be cute drinks, meet and great opportunities, and at each show we're
0:45.2	going to be talking about the topic of parasocial relationships. In the spiciest way, the tea that we're going to be
0:52.0	spilling is so piping hot if If you live in or around Brooklyn,
0:55.2	Boston or Philly, you can find ticket links and more information as well as discount codes at the
1:00.7	links in our show notes or at Amanda
1:02.6	montel.com slash events. I am not doing more of these
1:05.8	shows. It is just these three and I would absolutely love to see you there.
1:09.7	I know all my special guests would too, so check out those links to get your tickets now.
1:15.6	The views expressed on this episode, as with all episodes of Sounds Like a Cult, are solely host opinions
1:20.4	and quoted allegations.
1:22.0	The content here should not be taken as
1:23.5	indisputable fact. This podcast is for entertainment purposes only.
1:27.0	Hi, my name is Steph and and I'm from Louisville, Kentucky.
1:32.6	I was home schooled with the infamous A-BECA program,
1:35.1	and the most guilty part of my experience
1:37.1	was not just religious indoctrination.
	...

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