Not only that... ever actually met one of these poor high-school homeschool kids who's pining for public school? Me either. Although I've only know about 150 high-school homeschoolers in my life and only was one for about three years (early graduation rocks)...
I homeschooled for 12-13 years (if you count the preschool year before kindergarten.) I was also involved in several groups, and helped run one for awhile, so I did meet a lot of different homeschoolers. In the interests of fair disclosure, all my children are in public school now, where they are doing well.
I have known at least seven teenagers who wanted to go to school; some wanted to go to private school and a few wanted to go to public. Most of those were able to convince their parents to send them to school.
One girl had to get a job at 16 and pay for her own tuition, because her parents objected to her going to school. Two other girls were kept home by their parents. To my knowledge neither of those girls has gone to college, moved out, or gotten a job (and they are now beyond high school graduation age.)
The person who started this thread may be a troll. So it goes. But my experience with homeschooling has led me to meet *all* kinds of families - those whose children were prodigies and excelled phenomenally at very early ages; those who were just average, and those who were really dysfunctional, and involved in some major power struggles with their kids. Just like other families, in other words.
I read the HH thread some, and I want to say you are a shining example of a homeschool kid:)
My two were homeschooled and are leading very successful lives. Both married now.
For the kids whose parents homeschool "correctly" as your's obviously did:), I know of no kids who want to go back to public or private schools. The thing parents need to realize, there is more too homeschooling then just school work.
Kids do need to learn socialization but it shouldn't just be with others their own age. Once the school work is done, parents need to provide something other then TV. Dare I say it, they need to fill alot of their extra time working. Not just on entertainment activities.
Becky