2JM, you've articulated very well one of the reasons I have for wanting to homeschool my eventual children. My wife and I have other reasons as well, the biggest one being that we both believe schools today are not geared towards producing the best education possible for individual children. We believe that if a child is a little faster or slower than the "mainstream" (however the latest trend in child psychology defines "mainstream"), then they are pushed aside; discouraged if they are bright, ignored if they are slow. Any child that causes the teacher "trouble" (that is, more work) gets this reaction; and since every child will find some subject easier or harder to grasp, this is going to happen to every child.
Every honest educator will agree that one-on-one is the best way to teach a child. The instructor knows immediately which subjects are giving the child difficulty, and which therefore need reinforcement. Since the pace can be adapted to the individual child, you can be sure that your child is going to get the best education possible for him or her. As an added bonus, you become deeply involved in your child's life; the more parents are involved with their children, the less likely drinking, drug abuse, and anti-social Columbine-type behavior become. All pluses, I'd say.
Those are some of the reasons why we're planning to home-school.
Here's what I said over there:
No. We really aren't. Our son is ADHD and we are very involved in all aspects of his school work and his school life. The majority of our school board members are committed Christians (and conservative Republicans). These are elected positions. Until last year's Governor's race, I was not represented by a single Democrat, from dog catcher on up to the White House. We are the most solid (or perhaps second most solid) Republican County in Virginia.And, most importantly, our parents are involved in the public schools.
I admire and applaud homeschoolers. But that's not what is best for our son.
Let me tell you a bit about the atmosphere here. I've shared this story elsewhere on FR. Last spring, two local high school boys (one from our church) were killed on their way to pick up another friend for a Young Life Bible Study. It had an incredible impact on the high school community. That Wednesday night, our youth group canceled their regular meeting (they have about 100-150 on a regular basis) and held a prayer and communion service. Over 1,200 kids showed up. Since the funeral, our youth group has added about another 100 senior high kids. And they are solidly supported by the community.
My son is 13, but he "gets it." He's preaparing to go on choir tour in two weeks and will sing at Ground Zero and Time Square. He has a shirt that he wears regularly to school that says "I want to be like Adam *****" (the boy from our church). I told him he couldn't wear it unless he was able to explain why. He can. And does.
In another community, we'd private school or homeschool in a heartbeat. But not here.
The main thing is continued parental involvement. We have that here. It may not always be that way. But for now, it is.
I think you homeschoolers are great. I also know that my wife's temperment and my son's temperment, when left together all day with the intent of teaching/learning, would land us on the nightly news or the Springer show.
Ironically, my wife will be teaching at a homeschool academy in the fall.