Home School Vs. Public School

My blogging pal Nikki Richards http:/nikkirichards.blogspot.com has written a post about her views on those parents that choose home schooling their children rather than keep them in public schools http://nikkirichards.blogspot.com/2008/08/homeschooling-control-issue.html.
Now, her point is that for many a parent they choose home schooling over letting their children attend public schools is because many are control freaks.
On the surface, I do not disagree. Many parents who choose to home school their children do have control issues.
However, many who keep their children in public schools also have control issues.
Ever notice the brainiac parents? Those are the parents that have children in the AP-Advance Placement-classes. They are very, very controlling.
Then there are the sports parents. They are in a league all of their own. They will go to any length to make sure that their prize athlete children are in schools that they should not be in if they have a better sports program.
You get the point.
What I am commenting on is the overall reason why so many American parents have had it with public schools, private schools and the meat grinders that they have become.
To many home schoolers, and myself, the public schools are a monument of mediocrity. If a child is special needs, there are many programs for that child. If a child is gifted, there is the AP program or other euphemisms life MGM-Mentally Gifted Minors. The vast majority are lost in the shuffle and thus their potential is stunted by a system that is basically stacked against them.
My stepson was in the AP program when he was in high school. He was challenged and made the most of the experience. But, there were attempts to have those in the AP program work with those children in either the special needs program or the vast majority that are lost in the shuffle. Rather than the teachers and administrators taking responsibility and initiative, they passed the buck to the advanced students to do their job. Hence, there were frustrating moments.
So, why do those choose to take their children out of public schools, or never let them in at all and spend the time and effort to educate them on their own?
Like those that do not take their children out of the public schools, these are parents that care so much for their children they are willing to challenge themselves and their children.
Has anyone noticed that in recent years, it is home schooled children that have won the National Spelling Bee? I submit that the primary reason is that these parents do what a public school teacher can not. Take a lot of time to help their children and teach them in this and all areas.
Many of those that choose this option know that they can not do it alone.
In fact, what many do is sort of create a virtual school among home schoolers. Thus, many different people can teach the child, like public schools do. But a lot of it is the time that these parents can take to get these children proficient in any given subject. For instance, I am not great in math, but if I had a child I home schooled, I would have that child be with a home school parent that was proficient in math and could do a better job than I could. That is what successful home schoolers do. Thus, these are children and parents that will get together and there will be the interaction that many fear does not happen in home school homes. And, in some that would be correct.
And yes, there is the obvious that many feel the public schools undermine the values that they are trying to teach their children. And, it is not just conservative Christians that feel this way. There are quite a few left-of-center parents that feel the same way. What a home school parent can do that a public school teacher can not is teach the values that they believe are correct for their children.
But, many have to know that they are not necessarily equipped to be the best teacher for their child. That is why many choose to get together with other home school parents so that there is a balanced education for their child.
Now, in Nikki's post, she admits that where she lives, she is happy with the school and very supportive. The sad fact is that this is the rarity, not the norm. Thus, the public school is a meat factory. And many children never reach their full potential. No matter how supportive that they are of the schools in their neighborhood.
What the home school network does is give direct competition to public schools. And instead of trying to improve the public school product, they go after the home schoolers. Not realizing that this does nothing to improve the education of the children, which is what they claim they are all about, they are enablers in mediocrity.
Ditto for private schools. And the public schools fight rather than take self-reflection and realize that there are many, many areas of improvement.
Home school parents have their children's best interest in mind when they make such a step to do home schooling. I for one commend them. I do not think that it is all about control any more or less than those that have their children in public schools.
For the record, I am a product of public education, K-12 and college. I want to improve the public schools, not gut them. Home schooling and private schools are good for public schools. And it is not just about control, but making sure that all of our children get the best possible education.