I could have been more though. I could have started earlier. I could have finished earlier. I could have been taking college level genetics instead of getting stoned between history classes that I could pass in my sleep….

That may be true – I’m sure other kids have fallen through the cracks – as I said above, both public schooling and home schooling have disadvantages – for some more than others. Home schooling is definitely NOT a panacea

So what’s really going on here is a warning against the black helicopters, evil government intervention. This the point at which I exit.

No black helicopters or evil governments. I’m merely pointing out the realities of politics, something you seem to be unfamiliar with.

I think home schooling is fine, but all of my friends and myself came through the public school system just fine and are doing well in life.

I was public schooled, and eventually, turned out “just fine”.

But hindsight being 20/20? I should have been finished with that by age 16. When I think back to all the time i simply wasted — and was allowed to waste, while still earning B’s and C’s — before graduation… I should have been halfway through college by the time I finally graduated High School.

What a waste… Yeah, I turned out fine… eventually. I could have been more though. I could have started earlier. I could have finished earlier. I could have been taking college level genetics instead of getting stoned between history classes that I could pass in my sleep….

When It came time to ask ourselves whether or not our son would join a public school for kindergarten, well, we only needed to ask ourselves: would a child who reads at a 2nd grade level really benefit from a public school kindergarten, which at best will be teaching Dick and Jane?

Sorry, but the answer was obvious. So long as we can afford to homeschool, and so long as our kids are academically FAR ahead of their public schooled peers, I see no reason that we should hold them back.

I have to agree with you – no training or certification can definitely be a bad thing. I think home schooling is fine, but all of my friends and myself came through the public school system just fine and are doing well in life. Home schooling also has some disadvantages, as does public schooling – but I think as long as home schoolers continue to prove that their students are passing all required exams and are competent in the required areas, things will be ok

We’ll have to see what happens…

That’s up to the school system to give you an explanation on; complex governmental regulations, etc. etc. What’s becoming clear is that many schools are failing in terms of student education nationwide in spite of a teacher’s “certification”.

I just expressed some honest trepidation at the idea of no training or certification at all, and the response was rather abrupt.

Actually, what you initially argue for was that parents should meet the requirements for teacher certification, not simply some training on how to home-school.

How could it be a bad thing to be better prepared?

There is nothing wrong with being better prepared. However, that isn’t what you have been talking about. You have been advocating is increased government regulation of home-schooling (via a certification process), and that brings a lot of political issues that have nothing to do with educating children. I have read many reports of local school boards being very hostile to the notion of home-schooling and attempting to prevent parents from home-schooling. Not out of concern for the educational needs of the children, but because of political concerns, ex: teachers unions feeling threatened by the competition, school boards worried about loss of federal funds due to lower enrollments etc.

Now, I’m not saying all school districts have been like this and I have read of some districts being very helpful to home-schoolers.

As for myself, I think the most important thing I learned in school was how to learn.

Therefore, according to my theory, any kid who achieves a 7th grade education (by whatever means) who has regular access to a public library ought to be able to complete his/her own education — through high-school and at least a significant portion of college level material — completely on their own. No “teacher” required.