I think somehow the whole concept of educational freedom needs to be brought before the Supreme Court in a lawsuit.
Private schools and homeschools struggle because of *finances*. I see shiny new school building after shiny new school building being built here in Northern VA, and my choices are these: (1) spend thousands a year on a private school, making us paupers (2) homeschool, which is fine, but I’ll also spend hundreds on curriculum and other materials, as well as being unable to work at all, even part-time.
The (1) option also involves seeing my kids’ teachers struggle with very low pay. I don’t know many Christian schools that pay a livable wage. Most of the administrators and teachers are there because they have kids in the school and thus are able to afford it for their own children.
The private secular school here doesn’t cost thousands, but tens of thousands.
I do enjoy the freedom and flexibility of school at home, but I do think if Joe and Mary down the street get subsidies for their education, that my family should as well. Homeschoolers and private schools, of course, by accepting government money fear that it will come with rules about spending it.
A lot of homeschoolers in our area are going the route of weekly tutoring meetings with large groups (it’s called “Classical Conversations” with a kick-butt curriculum) or a University model where the kids attend three days a week. It’s a much less expensive model for the kids and gives moms and dads some relief and input from other moms and dads. But guess who supplies the buildings? Churches !! The groups have to go *begging* for space. Space isn’t cheap.
I really think it’s time to overhaul the nation’s school systems. It’s going to take some organization.
I don't think getting the government even more involved is the answer. I'm glad you are home-schooling. One thing I have noticed since I started going back to college a few years ago (to pursue a second degree), is that the home-schooled kids are in general not only much sharper than their peers from even private schools, but that they are also much more well-mannered!
Hang in there!