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Elizabeth, 11, and Teddy, 8, have never gone to school.

My kids, 11 and 8, have never gone to school.

We're using a pre-packaged Catholic curriculum. My wife says she's more of a coach than a teacher, as my kids have learned to work fairly independently. They're usually done with all of their work by 12-1 PM. They're both a grade ahead of their peers, and lightyears ahead of their peers with regard to religious studies. My oldest has almost finished with memorizing the first Baltimore Catechism.

Their grammar instruction is excellent, so good in fact, that I've used it as a basis for teaching them the basics of Aristotelian philosophy.

Both of them learned to read at age four. They learned letter sounds from Sesame Street. Then, with 20 minute lessons from Sam Blumenfeld's Alpha Phonics book, learned to read independently within four weeks.

I've concluded that schooling is unnecessary for children less than 12 years of age. And considering the fact that by that age they will have learned to work independently, they should be able to tackle on their own subjects that are difficult for some parents (i.e., Algebra, etc.).

I don't plan on sending our children to school at all. And I don't even care very much about sending them to college, although I will if they're interested.