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Some people in this thread noted that religion is a common reason for homeschooling. That concerns me more than the debate over whether the academics are better. At least the religious schools have some accountability (more than homeschooling, with none or almost none).
However, when a child grows up in a closed environment controlled by religion (i.e., a religious homeschool), that child will have a hard time fitting in with society as an adult.
I'm glad that homeschooling is a small minority and I hope it stays that way.
So is this about homeschooling or is it about religion? Not all homeschoolers are religious. I'm not and neither are most of my friends who homeschool. The religious homeschoolers I know lead normal everyday lives. I'm not sure what you're so worried about.
I can't speak for cl723 but I wonder why you feel the need to bash and generalize a group of people who you obviously know very little about.
I wonder as well .... in a nation of about 1 million high school dropouts, declining SAT results and similar problems, a disproportionately large amount of concern over a small amount of kids seems to be present here.
Some people in this thread noted that religion is a common reason for homeschooling. That concerns me more than the debate over whether the academics are better. At least the religious schools have some accountability (more than homeschooling, with none or almost none).
However, when a child grows up in a closed environment controlled by religion (i.e., a religious homeschool), that child will have a hard time fitting in with society as an adult.
I'm glad that homeschooling is a small minority and I hope it stays that way.
I spend so much time helping my kids with their homework (assigned by their public school teachers), and my kids spend so much time doing homework, that sometimes I think homeschooling would make more sense!
Anyway, I agree that different situations work for different kids and families. It's good we have choices!
I spend so much time helping my kids with their homework (assigned by their public school teachers), and my kids spend so much time doing homework, that sometimes I think homeschooling would make more sense!
Anyway, I agree that different situations work for different kids and families. It's good we have choices!
The issue is standardizing those choices. We have decided, as a society, to take on the responsibility of educating our youth. We chose, long ago, not to leave this up to the parents. Therefore, someone needs to oversee homeschooling and make sure it makes the grade. There need to be checks and balances.
Make homeschooled kids take the state tests every year and treat them like you do the schools. If a school fails to make AYP for three years, they are taken over by the state. If homeschooled kids fail to make AYP they should be sent back to the public schools with intervention at the parents expense.
I don't see the logic of homeschooling but as long as you're actually doing the job, do what you want. The issue I have is no one is policing homeschooling. It's treated like separation of church and state when it has nothing to do with religion. IMO, homeschooling parents should have to pass the same tests teachers do and there should be, regular, exams to make sure their kids are learning what they should.
Consider the time you spend helping your kids your contribution to their educations and ask yourself if they'd be better off if you were the only source of their education? Personally, I know my knowledge base is too limited to be making the decision as to what my children should be learning all years. I could teach them chemistry, physics, physical science and math but I'm not qualified to teach the other subjects and I know it.
The issue is standardizing those choices. We have decided, as a society, to take on the responsibility of educating our youth. We chose, long ago, not to leave this up to the parents. Therefore, someone needs to oversee homeschooling and make sure it makes the grade. There need to be checks and balances.
Make homeschooled kids take the state tests every year and treat them like you do the schools. If a school fails to make AYP for three years, they are taken over by the state. If homeschooled kids fail to make AYP they should be sent back to the public schools with intervention at the parents expense.
What if the school they would be sent to is one of those that doesn't make AYP?
Also can you show an example of where a school has actually been taken over by a state for failure to meet AYP? Seems my one of my local middle schools and the high school should have been taken over by now.
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Not all homeschoolers are religious. I'm not and neither are most of my friends who homeschool. The religious homeschoolers I know lead normal everyday lives. I'm not sure what you're so worried about. 
