[No Truce With Kings]

We have homeschooled our three sons for 10 years.

Number 1 son went to UT-Dallas on a full academic scholarship -- and kept it until he graduated (cum laude) with a degree in engineering.

Number 2 son is currently in college and working on a degree in Civil Engineering He is also an honor student.

Number 3 son is a sophomore in high school, and on track to follow the other two.

My wife and I are well-meaning amateurs. Teaching professionals do not achieve these results. (We began homeschooling because my second son -- who was getting "A's" in writing and English in 4th grade -- was functionally illiterate, despite his grades.)

Which proves yet again that teaching is a trade, not a profession. What is the difference?

With a trade an enthusiastic amateur will outperform a disengaged professional in the overwhelming percentage of cases. With a profession, a disengaged professional can outperform an enthusiastic amateur in the overwhelming percentage of cases. Medicine and engineering are professions. Since homeschooling parents routinely outperform professional teachers one has to conclude teaching is a trade.

[meandog]

We have homeschooled our three sons for 10 years. Number 1 son went to UT-Dallas on a full academic scholarship -- and kept it until he graduated (cum laude) with a degree in engineering.

Why did you stop at 10 years? The University of Texas system is a public institution and your son would have been exposed the same kind of social ills there as in high school, wouldn't he? Why don't you homeschooling parents take on collegiate studies as well; after all aren't all colleges and universities dripping with liberal tenured professors? What's the difference? I really believe there should be homeschooled doctors, scientists, lawyers, even preachers--you homeschooling moms and dads can do it all!