Home-schooling: Your opinion?

[mrstickball]

SvennoJ said:

Are public schools in the States all overburdened with strict guidelines?

Generally, yes. Our schools are filled with many administrators and too few teachers.

I went to school in The Netherlands. There are very few private schools, almost all schools are publicly funded. Each school has it's own identity, there is a lot of freedom for schools and teachers how to teach each subject.
I went from a general kindergarten school, to a Montessori elementary school, to a Catholic high school. There I had everything from a far right wing history teacher to a socialist left wing religion teacher. (Opening and closing the year in church and 1 hour of religion/philosophy class a week was as far as religion went in the school)

Our schools have been increasingly centralized since the founding of the Department of Education (DoE) which has tried to corral all 50 states' education departments into their own guidelines, under such auspices as 'No Child Left Behind'. Many teachers are there for the job security, teachers have almost virtual job security and make a lot of money by comparison to other fields. Where I live, the most tenured teachers make $100,000 - $120,000 USD + benefits.

There are 3 different types of eduction in high school tailored to your abilities based on an affinity test at the end of elementary school. There is a standardized test to graduate from high school, but that only makes up half your final grade. The other half is filled in by the school.

Doesn't exist in the American public education system. Unless you're gifted and can go to college early, or place in a very advanced class.

With that background I don't see the need for home schooling. It's not difficult to find a school with the education and philosophy you want for your children. Growing up together, working on projects together, competing in sports, excursions, school plays, school dances, class outings all are part of your social education.

Again, not the case in the US. Furthermore, you are not allowed to send your children to the school of your choice. We have districting which enforces that your child must attend a given local school, regardless of alternatives in the area. For example, in my county, we have 4 high schools that control all 4 corners of the county. If you live in the district of one, but another one preforms better, the only way to switch is to either move, or pay significant fines for tuition.

Plus cycling to and from school keeps you fit. US/Canada should get rid of the school bus system and invest in bicycle paths.

There's your solution to child obesity

I don't think you'd find such argument from me on that. When I was youth pastoring at a church, we had a Swiss exchage student come to one of our schools. She came to our church every week, and I discussed our education system at length with her. She thought the school she attended was nothing short of laughable. She said there was no discipline, no teachers that really wanted to teach. She whizzed through every class given to her because of how 'easy' they were by comparison. The school she went to was one of the upper-crust public schools in the area.