Jennifer Welch, a podcaster and host of I’ve Had It alongside Angie Sullivan, recently stirred controversy with her comments on homeschooling. Welch described it as a ‘Crazy Christian problem’ and labeled it ‘Trickle down stupidity’ and ‘MAGA on steroids.’ These remarks sparked immediate backlash.
The Department of Education responded, asserting, ‘The proven value of homeschooling should never be dismissed as “trickle-down stupidity.”‘ They added, ‘The only thing that is stupid is your ignorance.’
Welch’s podcast features discussions on various topics that frustrate the hosts. The homeschooling debate arose from a listener’s comment expressing frustration over seeing unqualified individuals attempt to homeschool their children.
“This is MAHA, this is trad wife, this is unvaxxed and unjacked and all that s***,” Welch stated. “America has a crazy Christian problem. We have a fundamental crazy Christian problem.”
She also criticized mega churches and alleged them to be indoctrination centers, claiming parents turn to homeschooling when they seek alternatives.
Welch has faced previous criticism for her outspoken remarks, notably against Erika Kirk, labeling her a ‘grifter.’ Her podcast often expresses strong left-wing political views.
The Department of Education noted the success of homeschoolers like the winner of the Presidential 1776 Award. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis expressed his disagreement with Welch’s views, commenting, ‘Not true.’ He mentioned that homeschool students he knew tended to be well-behaved.
Daily Wire opinion editor Benjamin Domenech shared his homeschooling experience on social media, saying, ‘In fairness my siblings and I were all homeschooled and all we did was get full rides to college, write speeches for presidents, become senior admin officials and decorated war heroes while on the other hand Jennifer Welch has a podcast.’
Homeschooling has been increasingly popular since the COVID-19 pandemic. A Johns Hopkins Institute for Education Policy analysis of U.S. Census data revealed that 5.92 percent of children were homeschooled during the 2023-24 school year, up from 5.82 percent the previous year and almost double the 2.8 percent recorded in 2019.
Studies on Homeschooling Effectiveness
Peer-reviewed research indicates homeschoolers often perform as well as or better than their traditionally educated counterparts on standardized tests and college outcomes.
A University of Minnesota study investigated the performance of 732 homeschooled students across 140 colleges. They matched these students with traditionally educated peers on several metrics, including SAT scores and high school GPAs. Results showed homeschoolers entered college with higher SAT scores and GPAs.
Research by Brian Ray and the National Home Education Research Institute (NHERI) revealed homeschool students typically score 15 to 30 percentile points higher on standardized tests compared to public-school students. However, experts debate whether this advantage comes from homeschooling or factors like family involvement, income, and education.
Critics point out that many homeschooling studies rely on voluntary participation, which may mean that families submitting scores are more academically engaged than the general homeschool population.
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