[genefromjersey]

What I want to know is : What flight ???

There may be a few thousand youngsters being homeschooled-(one of my grandchildren is one )-but there are millions and millions of kids in public school.

[Kosh5]

Umm - I hate to break this to you, but there are something on the order of 1.7 million homeschooled children across the U.S. I have forgotten the true comparison, but this number is something like the size of the 10 smallest states' public school system enrollments.

HS'ing has become a big thing in this country. There was a time when it was an underground and sometimes illegal movement. In the 70's and 80's, it gained a more public presence. In the 80's and 90's, it gained public recognition through forums like Focus on The Family and gained a critical mass that is propelling it today.

The bottom line is that the public schools are in shambles. Parents want their children to be taught values consistent with their values - and the public school systems are a very far cry from such values for most parents in this country. The quality (or lack thereof) of public school educations in the past 10-20 years is a documented fact. HS'ers consistently and repeatedly outperform their public school counterparts on every academic standard available (standardized tests, SAT's, etc.).

I will also deal with the socialization issue since someone will undoubtedly bring it up. The best response I have ever heard: have you ever read The Lord of the Flies?

[Pete]

There may be a few thousand youngsters being homeschooled

Actually, the number is closer to 1.25 million and growing at 20% per year for the last few years.

[SLB]

When compared to other school "districts." Home schoolers are about the 4th or 5th largest district in the US. Here in Kentucky there are probably more children being home schooled than are enrolled in all but the Jefferson County (Louisville) district. The numbers should not fool you. One must look at the success of home schooling to understand the real impact on the nation's education systems.

[FourPeas]

There may be a few thousand youngsters being homeschooled

Truthfully, we don't know the true number, but it's much, much larger than this. Many hs'ers don't need to register with The State, and therefore wisely do not. Others simply fly under the radar or fit & operate under a state's private school laws.

[Bob Mc]

"What I want to know is : What flight ???"

Also keep in mind that it is the brightest students that are leaving, and the most caring parents leaving the public school system. The degradation of public schools will continue to accelerate.

[homeschool mama]

There are currently between 1.5m and 2m documented homeschool children in the United States. That rate is growing by 15% each year.

[SUSSA]

People aren’t just fleeing government schools for home schooling. They are also fleeing to other free market schools. Church affiliated and sectarian free market schools are being flooded with applications from parents who want to get their kids out of the socialist government schools.

For more information see http://www.sepschool.org/

[logic101.net]

Far too many are still in that stinking cespool called public education. Before my daughter was even concieved my wife and I agreed on private school for her. We want her to learn, not be indoctrinated.

MARK A SITY
http://www.logic101.net/

[ConservativeDude]

Here's the interesting part of the homeschool phenomena. There are about 2 million now, give or take.

But that doesn't tell the full story. The interesting thing is the explosive growth we are about to see.

Admittedly I run with a conservative Christian crowd. But we attend a large church, over 30,000 members. And among this crowd, the older parents, 40 ish, virtually none home school. Many school at the church.

BUT Among the younger and new parents, I would say that anywhere 40 to 50% are already committed to HS.

And I'm talking about parents with kids all under three. That means that we have about 2 years to explain it to the rest of our friends. Every week I hear about another of our friends who are going to take the plunge.

Economically, many of our friends can't afford outrageous tuition for private Christian schools. But virtually none of our friends wants to go to the dangerous, dumbed down, indoctrinating schools. A few years ago, those that could afford private did it, those who didn't went public.

But, God Bless America, there is another alternative. To those who have gone before us as pioneers and developed the resources and the networks and laid down a track record of excellence, I can't thank you enough for making the vision of homeschooling available to my family.

In exchange, I can assure you: what you will see over the next decade will wildly exceed anything you ever envisioned!

The flight is taking place and the dramatic curve upwards will be apparent soon. And by the time the liberals notice, it will be too late.