I wish that your average public school teacher WAS an "expert". Unfortunately, if you look at the mean SAT scores, the grades, the colleges of graduation, or any other indicator of success in learning, public school teachers are far behind the curve. In fact, the mean SAT scores of education majors are the lowest of any college major (this may have changed - the last time I looked was a few years ago - but I doubt it).
It has been my experience that the best teachers are those who are (1) familiar with the subject; (2) highly motivated. In the elementary grades, almost any parent of reasonable intelligence is both of these. When you reach high school, some of the specialized subjects can be more difficult, but that's why there are homeschool co-ops. If I were still homeschooling my son, I would "trade" my skills in English composition and grammar, history, Latin, and German for lessons from somebody who knows what a differential equation is!
As for this fellow's arguments, they are straw men (take the socialization riff for example. I have never heard a homeschooler argue "forget it!" Scouts, church, and athletic activities provide ample opportunities for socialization.)
Mother's anger at school's spelling mistakesTeachers were left red-faced after they sent out an official school letter littered with spelling mistakes.
The botched letter was sent to parents at Minster College, and included such errors as "your child has behaved in an unacceptable manor" and "it is unexceptable behaviour".
It also stated that director of sport Neil Barrett who signed the document had a "B.Ed Hon's".
One mother, who did not want to be named, received a copy when her son was given a detention and was shocked at what she read.
She said: "I was absolutely appalled by the errors in this letter.
"These people are teaching our children and it does not set a very good example."
Headteacher Alan Klee, who recently managed to pull the school out of special measures status, said: "The computer's spellcheck system was not used so we have now changed our procedure so that my deputy will check everything."
Yeah, public schools are so great for "socialization". There's clique-forming, bullying, competition for wearing the latest fads, peer pressure for sex and drugs, and so on. Not too say it's all bad, but I don't for the most part have fond memories of my school days and the "socialization" I received there.
*So, Father, Mother, and children are not "socialising" according to this broom-pusher.
btt
The custodian is probably the best educated and literate person at that institution. They wouldn't dare let the teachers write the article. It would expose their incompetence.