Regular readers of my websites will know that I don’t consider myself to be any sort of fan of “homeschool guru” Michael Pearl. Nonetheless, I will give credit where credit is deserved, and in this case, Michael Pearl deserves credit for his series on the “Cloistered Homeschool Syndrome” and its “Patriarchal Dysfunctional Families.” In this two-part series, Pearl takes on the patriarchal movement — one of the fundamental elements of many homeschooling groups. When I first heard about this series I was surprised… it seemed to me that he was cutting off his core base. But after reading it, I hope that anyone who has any ties to this movement does read it and take it to heart (and not write him off as having “gone crazy” in a couple articles).

I’m even posting the links here:
Part 1 – exposé of the movement
Part 2 – letters from those hurt by the movement and its ideals and lifestyle
This isn’t an endorsement of all of Pearl’s teachings — his Bible teaching, for example, deviates significantly from orthodox Christianity and the Reformed standards. But in this area, addressing the “cloistered homeschool” and “patriarchal” groups from the perspective of an insider, he hits the nail on the head.
I hope that many second-generation (i.e. “children”)* in the movement will realize that they are free to break away. I also hope that the parents in the movement will let go before their families fall apart out of necessity — that they’ll see the truth before it’s too late.
*”Children” is used in the filial sense in this case, referring to offspring and not the state of being a minor. It is also used tongue-in-cheek; within the patriarchal movement any unmarried offspring, no matter the age, is typically regarded as a “child.” Thus, you can have an 18-year-old married adult and a 39-year-old single living-at-home child.