Replies

As for legal oversite:
I just like the fact that there are standards and expectations outside of ourselves.
I don't particularly appreciate the evolution bit, but it comes later on in the schooling (in NY, during Regents- the end of high school.)
I appreciate the GED guidelines, and don't find it offensive that there are professional educators setting out clearly their expections in the field of history, biology, literature, etc.
Now the fact that public schools are out of control in many areas of the country is obvious, but the point is that even they should be set back on course, and forced to do their job properly.
On the subject of medical care:
I highly respect anyone who takes their medical care under their own responsibility albeit supervised by a Physician of some repute.
Having made numerous mistakes by listening to an (a few)underqualified doctors made us get much more involved in our family's care.
I'm disturbed by these young doctors who zealously refute centuries of medical precident with their new diplomas. One of the areas is that of vaccination. Your case is different, prior adverse reaction. I hope that the reaction was not too severe and was cured. I just didn't appreciate a new Network Chiropractic graduate telling all of her patients not to vaccinate, not to use anti-biotics, ever. (Not that the use of anti-biotics isn't vastly abused -especially in the States), but a little humility would be appropriate.
Personally, we've got a 19 yr old high school graduate with 2 1/2 years of college, an 18 yr old GED diploma'd, ditto with the next (studying for the GED now), from then on, stuck as we are in Europe, we're following the regular mandatory schooling schedule. France is VERY big on students working on their own, guidelines are given in school, but the nationalised tests are given a few weeks after school ends, the children expected to prepare on their own. Our youngest is not in school yet!
How about you?

Ditto on the kids ages - one 19, studying at college to become a public school teacher, one 17 at college studying business and engineering and a 2 year old.

There is an interesting article on World Net Daily today that my sister sent to me regarding a family who was forced into a vaccination. It might be of interest to you. I would post it if I could figure out how to!

Really, the majority of the home school crowd does a good job. There are people who need accountability and structure and there are families who should NOT be homeschooling. However, at least the damage is generally limited. Overall, even the lousy homeschoolers usually turn out kids who are good workers and can hold down jobs.

How did you end up in France? My kids were headed there this summer and I made them go to Italy instead (I was slightly peeved at the whole political situation).