Emily Bute, a special education teacher based in Oahu, Hawaii, has sparked widespread discussion after a TikTok video explaining her decision to homeschool her future children went viral, amassing over 281,000 views. Despite not being a mother yet, Bute has made a firm commitment based on her firsthand experiences within the public school system, which she believes fails to adequately address children's needs.
A Teacher's Critique of the System
In her viral clip, Bute emphasised that her stance is not anti-teacher but anti-system. "I am in absolutely no way anti-teacher - I am a teacher, I think teachers are incredible, but I am anti-system," she clarified. She then outlined several key issues she has observed, drawing from both research and her professional life.
Overcrowded Classrooms and Learning Impact
Bute highlighted the problem of increasing class sizes, arguing that they hinder effective teaching. "We are routinely expecting one singular teacher to meet the academic, behavioral, emotional and cultural needs of 25 to 30 kids in a classroom," she explained. She referenced studies, including the Student/Teacher Achievement Ratio (STAR) project from the 1980s, which found students in smaller classes were two to five months ahead of their peers after four years. A 1996 study similarly showed higher test scores in classrooms of 12 to 15 students compared to those with 21 to 25.
Rigid Curriculums and Standardised Approaches
Another major concern for Bute is the standardised curriculum enforced in public schools. "The curriculum [may be] standardized but children are not," she stated, noting that children learn at wildly different rates in areas like reading, writing, and math. She criticised the use of rigid teaching guides that expect students to move on before fully grasping concepts, calling it a "one size fits all" approach that doesn't work for everyone.
Behavioral Issues and Environmental Stress
Bute also addressed the chaotic nature of modern classrooms, describing them as "louder, busier and way more hectic than ever before." She argued that children often act out not because they are "bad" but because their nervous systems are overwhelmed by stress, fatigue, and sensory overload, which neuroscience shows can shut down brain areas crucial for learning.
Testing Pressure and Its Effects
The immense testing pressure placed on children from a young age was another point of contention. Bute stated, "Kids are being evaluated more than they're being nurtured." She cited research indicating that over-evaluation increases anxiety and reduces intrinsic motivation, advocating instead for more nurturing and engaging methods like outdoor and hands-on learning.
Envisioning a Better Educational Future
Bute concluded her video by expressing her desire for her future children to be in an environment that values research over system mandates. "This is exactly why I will be choosing to homeschool one day and why I'm developing my own homeschool co-op," she said. She acknowledged that homeschooling isn't accessible for all parents, recommending private or Montessori schools as alternatives, and clarified her love for teaching and the relationships she builds with students.
In follow-up comments to People, Bute recognised the challenges of homeschooling, noting it requires time, resources, and confidence that not all parents have. She remains committed to her plan while staying open to school community support when needed, emphasising that her critique stems from a belief in finding a better way to educate children.
