Okay, to get this out in the open, I really liked this.  You're writing was very good. :)

But.... you aren't necessarily right.  I have NO idea what would happen if you took a "schooler" and homeschooled them.  But, as a long-time homeschooler, I can truthfully say, that there are occasions when homeschooling is better.  Yes, some parents are NOT qualified - I have some friends who are what we call "no-schoolers" - grocery shopping is math, etc.  But there are curriculums that are available to give the parents the facts and materials they need.  

As for the social aspect, it all depends on how you do it.  I have yet another set of friends that are the stereotypical "creepy unsocialized homeschoolers".  Truthfully, I tend to stay away from homeschool groups etc, because, as a whole, homeschoolers sort of scare me. :P  But, there is a flip-side to it.  It's just like the Luanne comic, where she is talking about wanting to be homeschooled, and her parents were talking about missing the social side, and the next picture was her being shunned by creepy guys and people smoking at the lockers and she is like "yeahh....".  lol I guess my point is, if you do activities (I am in Pony Club, Model UN, Fencing, Youth Group and a book-writing club) you can make friends without the negative social aspect, and it really boosts your self esteem.  In fact, I went on a cruise with my "schooler" cousin, and neither of us knew anybody, and I made more friends and had more fun because, when you can be selective and stick to people you like, you get really confident and sure of who you are.  

Once again, great writing, and I'm not saying I disagree with you (the homeschool convention I went to was terrifying I assure you), I'm just saying it's not always true, so if you meet a homeschooler, don't run away screaming (at least not right away! XD).

J7X

Oh, I know this was an opinion piece, and I'm not upset at all. Really. I've been homeschooled all the way through, and people have pegged our 'community' with these stereotypes all my life. I've never actually seen them so neatly grouped together before, though. When I ever I'm in public and have committed a social faux pas or am ignorant about something, I often just tell people, "Hey, what can you expect. I'm homeschooled." And I shrug my shoulders. Without fail it always makes everyone crack up, because then they suddenly realize how ridiculous that excuse is. ;)

I'm not trying to be angry or upset or anything like that. And I know that you put a lot of time into that paper; you articulate your thoughts very well.  It's just that, from my perspective, you haven't heard the whole story. Any Home-schooler would laugh after reading about their parents being unqualified, missing out on friends, not meeting school standards, etc.. I've always wondered when going to school everyday for 8 hours became not just normal, but skipping it meant people view you as a social outcast. (I know you probably don't, bu a LOT of people do. Trust me, I know. :P)

Well, I didn't mean to attack you, and I'm very relieved that you were so calm in your response. I just a little excited, was all. haha

Oh man, this really gave me a good laugh. I cannot believe... *sigh*

Have you ever been home-schooled? At all? Do you have any reliable experiences? How many home-schoolers do you know? It sounds like your circle of friends are somewhat limited to what your school had to offer. 

Homeschooling is not 'missing out' on 'vital' parts of life, like friends and such, it's about living real life, in the real world. While everyone was i school eight hours a day, I was cleaning the house, my schoolwork already finished. I was grocery shopping, going to the library, making new friends at the park, learning how to cook, sew, crochet, spin wool, make forts, catch 'baby frogs,' can preserves, hang out with my best friends (my siblings)---the list goes on and on. 

And I'm glad you brought of the issue of qualification. This is a favorite topic of mine! 

Did you know that Home-schoolers test at an average of 80% on the State standardized test, when the average for public school students is around 50%. And that's factoring in that Home-schoolers don't test well due to the fact that we just aren't used to taking tests all the time--we're out of practice, essentially. I tested in the 99nth percentile. When you spoke of standards, whose standards were you referring to? Really? How do you know the standards set are the right ones? Or that they are high enough? I know plenty of home-schoolers who transferred to their local public school, and they found the curriculum a little too slow and easy for their tastes. Maybe students can be more independent about learning than teachers and school board members realize, and 'uneducated' parents perhaps are better prepared to teach their child than you imagine. Did you know that colleges prefer home-schoolers, simply because we've already shown initiative and an ability to work on something for our own satisfaction, not because a test or grade? 

Is spending eight hours a day with people the same age as you, doing the same thing every single day socializing? When, if ever, are you going to be presented with a scenario like that in real life? I made friends naturally, with people of all ages. 

I went to a college-type school this past winter, and someone asked me where I went to school.

"I'm homeschooled,"

"Oh, that doesn't surprise me; you're very much your own person.'

That's almost word for word what she said to me.  

I've really got to stop--I'm going to start foaming at the mouth or something. :P lol I could go on forever and ever about this! 

Abraham Lincoln, you know, the guy who kinda helped abolish slavery and was one of the greatest men to lead our country in our nation's history, and who has is own monument erected in his memory in WA, DC? That guy was home-schooled. And that was during a time when the school's curriculum was easily 3 times harder than it is now. Just saying. ;)

Sorry for any typos, this little comment box makes it difficult to look over one's work.

Hey! You should start researching this subject and collect more information on it. It could quite possibly influence you to take a different route when you have your own kids. Who knows.   

Cool, thanks :]

As for statistics- it is possable to do homescholing the wrong way. I've seen kids get kicked out of school and their parents think they can do homeschool, and the kid has a really hard time and then doesn't stay on grade level. Some even degenerate :/ There's a right way to do it- to actually accomplish the famlies goals. It's just said that some don't get all they could out of it.... 

Most homeschooled teens can teach themselves, and follow their own schedule to meet a deadline. Just bcasue they aren't schooled in the "traditional" way doesn't mean they are deprived at all. Unless they failed to plan properly.

sigh. I don't know why everyone assumes we're socially inept just because we're home 4 hour a day doing school work. I don't have a ton of friends but it's for an entirely dfferent reason......

This is an interesting point of view. Up until 8th grade (2008) I was homeschooled my entire life. I am now in my freshman year of high school. My parents unschooled my whole family; we didn't have a regular curriculum, no daily work. Although homeschooling/unschooling is not for all, there is a ton of freedom, an abundance, involved. Some people cannot/will not handle it. I couldn't be happier in school now, though. I needed more of a challenge for myself, academically. I'm in all College Prep/Honors classes, and am enjoying them.

Homeschooling isn't all about the parents. In order to homeschool, both the parents and children must want to learn. The children need to be able to learn both from their parents and by themselves, that is "homeschooling". The parents must learn to teach their children and to have faith that their children will learn.

If anyone has any questions about homeschooling I'd be willing to answer them.