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She takes ownership of her choices and her life. People like me educate their children as much in the philosophy of learning, a look into possible futures and what it takes to achieve them, consequences of choices, and an appreciation of "the good/moral life" as we do in providing academics.

I think you wrote this really well. These were my intentions as well while raising my two sons. Except I wanted my kids to be able to "fit in and survive" the American national public school system.

But that said, I didn't just throw them out there. I knew the schools had many problems. So I participated in the PTA and was able to get positive changes made throughout their education. Then in high school I was encouraged to take a more hands-off approach but of course I was in the background guiding them. One of my sons was in the "gifted" education program in which I was able to help shape the curriculum. I tutored math in my son's grade school so I could be right there with him.

I'm proud to say both my kids are respectful, happy and well-adjusted, have part-time jobs while going to college, and generally all around good citizens. My oldest son just graduated from a major university in computer science, a subject he loved all his life.

So my educational philosophy is the same as yours, however, I know I could never have provided the opportunities for my kids like you did. I chose to work within the system and try to improve it as much as I could. A major bi-product of this type of educational philosophy is raising kids that are self-reliant, peer-proof and can make good choices on their own. Maybe that is the only important result anyway no matter how they get there. LOL!

I think that most people homeschool from the best of intentions. A desire to give their children the best possible start. But I am wary of it for two reasons, one is the socialisation aspect, which I know that cinives doesn't agree with. Not just for lessons but for play before and between lessons, which up to age 10 or so I think is just as important as what goes on in the classroom.

But an even more important argument, from my point of view, is that homeschooling removes the children of the cleverest, most hardworking, and most highly motivated parents (lets face it, cinives, people who like you fit that description are going to be the homeschoolers) from general public education. What if all those homeschooling parents instead put the same amount of effort into helping their local schools educate everyone better? Wouldn't that be more effective for society as a whole than lots of tiny parent-child tutor-groups? This is what my family does. My wife doesn't work, and she spends lots of time (unpaid) helping out at my daughter's grade school. She acts as a classroom assistant sometimes helping the slower ones, and sometimes pushing the cleverer ones to excel themselves. Her motivation and work pattern is different to the professional teachers, and it really helps the kids. Once every few weeks I take an afternoon off work to go and read to the kids (gradeschoolers may not often hear a male adult reading aloud). Or I'll help them with computer exercises. All this is in addition to the general fundraising and PTA help that all responsible parents should participate in. Just my 2c. Parents will get the school system that they deserve. Not every parent is financially or socially capable/suitable of helping/homeschooling. Isn't conservatism about the people who can do so taking their lives into their own hands, but doing so in an enlightenedly self-interested way that helps everyone?