[SuziQ]

that in classes where students of all abilities are thrown together, the less able students simply rely on the smarter students to do all the work, and the more precocious students become bored and alienated. It also struck Burkett that today's rhetoric about using new curriculum requirements and testing programs to raise standards are beside the point when adults, both inside and outside of schools, prioritize the protection of teenagers' self-esteem over challenging them to achieve.

Which is precisely the reason we've decided to homeshcool all the way through high school, unless our kids decide to go their Jr. and Sr. years to the local Math and Science Magnet school at which the kids are serious about learning. I always laugh when people opine about the fact that being homeschooled, our kids miss out on the 'socialization' of high school. Frankly that's one reason WHY WE DO homeschool, so they won't have to spend so much mental energy fooling with that crap! They could probably BOTH finish high school in 3 years if they wanted, that's how much time is wasted in regular school. I gave my daughter the option of going back to school next year for the 9th grade and she said precisely that; that it was a lot of wasted time sitting in a classroom!

[RBroadfoot]

The whole "socialization" argument against homeschooling is utterly specious. The only socialization skills that my children are missing, at ages 9 and 11, are daily experiences like:

- saying "no" to dope dealers

- tolerating the vulgar behavior of children "raised" by Jerry Springer parents

- tolerating the vulgar behavior of children "raised" by upper-middle-class parents who see nothing wrong with their children watching graphic television and R-rated movies, and spending all their remaining spare time playing "Mortal Kombat"

- learning to avoid bullies, both students and teachers

- fitting in the clique-culture that develops among children when they rigidly segregated by age (Note that this socialization skill has little value among adults, since we must eventually learn to deal with adults of all ages.)

- learning to regurgitate a secular, agnostic world-view on all aspects of life and culture even they know it is is inaccurate

- learning to suspend their capability for critical thinking among authority figures.

- etc.

Certainly, my kids have similar experiences in their lives, but they don't have to confront them daily.

They do however have ample opportunity for quality socialization -- playing organized sports, musical performances, weekly homeschool coop, church, daily play with other kids in the neighborhood, quality time (both work and play) with parents and extended family, etc.

In my opinion, anybody who thinks a kid need to go to a public school for socialization needs to get a life -- 'cause they certainly have had one up till now!