I feel it's a choice.  if the parent feels it's best for the children to be home schooled, then they should be.  i really enjoyed going to school, however i was never home schooled, so i wouldn't know how much fun that would be.

I'm just happy to be living in this great country, were have a choice.  wouldn't you all agree.

God Bless America.

We home school our children (for 13 years now) and have found that it is a wonderful way to grow healthy, happy children.  Our family is very close and have a lot of the same interests because of being together most of the time.  Socially our children are more outgoing, friendly and polite than children from government schools, and they have friends that are all ages because they are not accustomed to being around children only their age.  We use a great curriculum and school all year, but take a lot of vacations when the coast and parks are empty!  It is a lot of hard work, but the rewards we will be seeing for a lifetime.  

This is my 2nd year homeschooling my son. Already I am seeing a great improvement in his learning. We use the A beka program, he loves the reading, and his vocabulary has increased drastically. His self-esteem is improving. No longer does he worry about laughs in class if he gives the wrong answer.

 At home he has more time also to learn about everyday life. He knows how to install a dishwasher, how to change the cars oil, and other household skills. He is 11 and is so proud of what he can do to help around the house. I feel I am not only now helping him to prepare for college, but also for life. Leaving home I will know I am sending him out into the world with the best possible foundation I could of possibly of given him.

I have a cousin who has been doing this home schooling stuff for many a year, and she is mostly nuts.  I feel sorry for those kids that never get a chance to interact with the rest of society, and you know that's what it's all about.  The parents don't want the kids to get a chance to find out what life is all about.  It's sort of like the Catholics, if you ask me.

Hail Mary full of Grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed are thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus. Holy Mary Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death Amen.

Homeschooling is great!  We started to homeschool when our child was supposed to go into kindergarten because she was taught to read at her pre-school by the time kindergarten started.  We did not want her to be bored and waste her time re-learning something when she could continue on to first grade.  At fourth grade, we decided it would be a good experience to go to public school for a year and she went to an "exemplary school" in the NEISD.  The principal questioned my assessment of her and wanted to keep her in the grade level at the age of her peers which proved to be a scholastic failure.  Academically, she learned absolutely nothing new she didn't already know.  Realistically, she learned the only thing you learn in school is you have to deal with the stress of a 40-yr old business executive and the intimidation to pass a test after you have practiced for a whole year.  Socially, she learned that most kids disrespect their parents, have the latest gadget because they demand it, and do little to interact with their families.  She did make some good friends but does not feel the need to join them. Incidentally, she has absolutely no problem socializing except that she has too many opportunities to do so and will have a much better ability to work with different types of people when she does enter the world.

We are glad we made her go to school and have this experience.  It made her appreciate being homeschooled and having the opportunity to explore her future now rather than waiting for the summer after graduation.  She is able to take higher level science courses in middle school, explore real live history outside of a book in addition to just reading about it, and figuring out what her gifts are.  She has the ability to go deep into a subject vs. wide trying to superficially cover what is important to the school system only.  The schools are worried about cramming everything in and preparing them for the following grade level, but not taking that further to include their adulthood and careers until addressed in high school where they have little time to explore careers.

We forget that as adults, we don't do a job in each of the 7 subject areas everyday but specialize in a job, such as nursing, engineering, teaching, etc. and that involves knowing a subject in depth.  We also don't think we can homeschool but we forget we as parents, taught them to eat, talk, and walk, so how can we say we can't teach them?  What they learn from that is to say "I can't" and then we wonder where that came from!

So, before you form an opinion about homeschooling, make sure you try it for yourself.....and your kids.

I think homeschooling is an excellent option for those who would prefer private school but simply cannot afford it. I am giving serious thought to homeschooling my daughter. In the past  three years she has only learned that as a child that "listens to her parents" she does not fit in well with other students. She has also learned her school district is not concerned for her well being or her education. Although there is a curriculum, not all teachers follow it. I have had to fill in the blanks personally myself. She starts middle school this year and I have my fingers crossed that this year will be a big improvement from the past. As parents it is our responsibility to see that our children are getting a quality education at the public schools out tax dollars pay for. However, if this is not possible at least we have the option of doing what some public schools can't seem to do well, and that is see that our children become well educated.

I homeschooled my daughter through elementary,  she was well involved in the community so when she did start in public school she already new alot of  the kids.
She does deal with stressed out teachers that sometimes call the students inappropiate names. However she did have a good foundation, due to the early years of homeschooling.  What stresses her is how it effects her friends.  Theyre self esteem is low. The truth is our children well eventually have to deal with stressed out executives. While we as parents are still around to help guide them through these situations, I believe the eartlier they learn to handle them the better for them. In a nut shell I believe that homeschooling is an excellent choice for earlier years, but for the betterment of our children they should experience what it is to deal with a stressed out world while mom and dad are still around and in good health.

I have a question for Belinda. Did you stop homeschooling your daughter because you got stressed out? or was it because you found it harder to teach upper grades? If you really feel she needed to deal with stressed out teachers than you are very missguided.Unfortunately for your daughter she will now have to deal with peer pressure, stressed out teachers and harder lessons all while trying to make you feel like you make the right decision to let her attend regular school. If the teachers call students inappropriate names then this should be brought to the attention of the administration. At work a boss is not allowed to abuse the employees. So this is not an accurate experience for the "real world"

I have to laugh when I see homeschoolers being called "those kids who never get a chance to interact with the rest of society".  That's about as far from reality as you can get.  My boys have at least one and sometimes two or three activities outside the house every day, interacting with people of all ages.  This is more beneficial than restricting them to a classroom of people exactly their age, with only one adult to supervise them all.  

I dont think I have EVER heard a mom who has homeschooled her children through their entire school careers say "Gee, that was bad.  Maybe we should have sent them to the public schools."

I have been homeschooling since Fall 2000.  I am now preparing to homeschool four children varying ages of 4-11.  Having done it for several years now in five different states, i feel that I have not neglected my kids development either academically nor socially.  The interaction that they have been exposed throughout the last 7 years have made my kids confident in various scenerios.  As for their academic skills, my 11-year-old, who is currently in 5th grade level, is working on 7th grade Arithmetic and his reading at a 9th grade level.  My other kids are at an advance levlel as well.  My 6th year old is able to read quiet well and has an impresive vocabulary for a child just finishing kindergarten.  
As for life outside of the "classroom," all kids have participated in various sports and have done well.  My son was invited to participate in an international soccer competition, my daughter was selected to participate in an advance soccer league.  They have been involved in Rading Clubs, theather, sports, Community Service, Ecological Services and Robotics competitions.  

I count myself priviledge to be able to school my chldren.  I am well aware that many cannot do it for economic reasons, while others because they think they cannot do it.  At the beginning of every school year I still get butterflies in my stomach.  I realize the responsibilty that I have in my hands.  It will be foolish not to feel some apprehension.  i do not wnat to to stress my kids with unnecessary burdens but I also don't want them to think that homeschooling means no school work at all.

Do I have regrets about home schooling? Yes.

I regret that I pay school taxes and then must buy my own curriculum. But, if this is the price of such a freedom, then it is small.

I regret that although I teach some subjects equal to or better than public school teachers that I do not receive any college credits for this hands-on experience. However, if the compensation I receive is limited to my child's happiness and success, then I have been overcompensated.

I regret that people who criticize the right to homeschool do not stop to examine the fact that I am exercising a freedom which both defines and celebrates the greatness of our nation.

I have been extremely disappointed in the public school system.  I feel that a lot of the teachers are burned out and cannot cope with modern students.  The educational system is so outdated it is pathetic.  Everyone does not learn in the same way and until the public school system learns that lesson there will be more and more students unable to cope with being in school and the dropout rate will increase.  Most of the time the elective subjects fill up and in most cases the students don't get a subject they are interested in.  The more rigid the school system gets the more failures it will see.  Somebody wake up and do something.  As homeowners we all pay thousands of dollars every year for this incompetency.  Only the most intelligent and stable person can succeed in the public school system as it stands now.  

In response to Rebecca.  No I didn't stop homeschooling because I was stressed out or the fear of higher grade levels.  My daughter wanted to try it and me and my husband let her.  I am now homeschooling my son. She likes interacting with her peers and she feels like she can make a difference in their lives. She is also taking High School courses. Rebecca, you assume too much if you think that we allow teachers or administrators to get a way with things like name calling. We do not.  And you are right about employers calling their employees names, it is illigal, however it doesn't stop them unfortunetly it still happens and our children will still have to face a stressed out world.  Every childs needs and wants are different as are every families.  You should learn not to get offended so easily and open your mind to other peoples opinions and way of life.