fedup wrote on Mar 8, 2008 6:40 AM:let me get this straight, as legal citizens the state is trying to tell us that we need a teaching certificate to home school our children, but that an illegal alien (criminal) can still send their illegal alien children to school on our dime?
sheeeesh!

let's get real wrote on Mar 8, 2008 8:02 AM:have you seen some of the teachers in the public school system these days. It is up to the parents to decide what route of education is best for their kids. The state just wantd the kids in school for the money, nothing else. The state can't budget for the kids that we have in the public school system as it is and our kids are being hurt. Let the parents decided

fedup2 wrote on Mar 8, 2008 8:19 AM:Yes, the world is truly upside down these days, but who knows this could simply be another lie

So, what does this mean... wrote on Mar 8, 2008 9:15 AM:...for the students in PUBLIC school that are CURRENTLY being taught by people/teachers who do NOT have a full credential? How about those in classes where the teachers are teaching OUTSIDE of their credential? What about long & short term substitutes? Do you think they are "qualified to teach?" What about those students who are receiving specialized instruction by UNQUALIFIED individuals (paraprofessionals)?
Go to the CDE's (CA Dept. of Ed.) DataQuest site & look here:
State Summary - Teacher Credentials and Experience.
You can also look up this info by district & school.
Should the State get a REFUND for those students?
Give me a break! Does anyone out there truly believe that having a piece of paper makes a "qualified teachers?"

Tom wrote on Mar 8, 2008 9:23 AM:Give me a break! Our schools are failing and the courts have the nerve to tell parents they cannot home school? Our kids will do a lot better in life if they are not forced to attend public school.

What???? wrote on Mar 8, 2008 9:38 AM:They don't want the Home Schoolers to out shine the pub ed kids? Or is it the greed of a corrupt school sysytem that knows for every home schooler there is less money in their pockets? Less students, less adminstrators, less teachers, less UNIONS! Lets tell it like it is, ummm?

Skip wrote on Mar 8, 2008 11:50 AM:Don't Kid Yourselves. This issue is being driven by the Teacher's Unions to ensure there are plenty of teacher's jobs while our bankrupted system is being shut down to reduce spending. I already pay quite a bit of money to send my children to private schools, meanwhile my tax dollars are being used to educate the children of foreign countries or the children of Illegal Aliens. If the state were to give out vouchers, then you would see an exodus from the public school system, like you have never seen before. There are many reasons why California's public schools rank in the bottom 5, for the entire country. Who wants to raise taxes so that we can have more of the same?

Liberty - Freedom wrote on Mar 8, 2008 2:40 PM:Let's keep America free! It sounds like a sneaky way to start taking away freedom and becoming more like a communist country. Communist parents don't have the "right" to choose for their children, as the children belong to the country! That country decides what the child will be taught ... the parent has no "right" to interfere. It is one step in the direction of government control of the people, rather than people being free to make choices themselves. America, the home of the free! Let's keep it that way! Let freedom reign!

Lisa wrote on Mar 8, 2008 3:29 PM:No child left behind, what it really boils down to is, No child gets ahead, to excel. It is part of the plan to dumb down students. I say keep your children home schooled, we see how quick the government is at rounding up the illegals, and they're right in our faces.

Reardon wrote on Mar 8, 2008 4:01 PM:We are number 1 in teacher salary (see NEA website); number 27 in total expenses for education (see http://ftp2.census.gov/govs/school/05f33pub.pdf); and number 48 in academic testing (see http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/). We are obviously not getting our money's worth in public education. And one, among many problems is the teacher's credentialing system -- Massachusetts, which tests at or near #1 in every category, fails a high percentage of their incoming teachers while we fail none. to be exact, Massachusetts completed a 10 year study of their credentialing and it showed a failure rate of 24% if its Caucasian teachers, 53% of Hispanic, and 54% of its Black incoming teachers. California fails its incoming teachers at zero percent, (California teachers do, in a handful of cases fail the CBEST test, but they get to do "Do Overs" until they finally pass!) And the Court wants home schoolers to turn their children over to THESE "credentialed" teachers? Bill Gates is not 'credentialed" to teach computers, Bill Clinton is not credentialed to teach civics, and Stephen Hawkins is not credentialed to teach physics -- and none may "home school" under this edict. The mind boggles! This is sheer insanity!

To Skip wrote on Mar 8, 2008 5:10 PM:You hit the nail on the head! The Teacher's Unions exist ONLY for the benefit of the union and the teachers, not the children.

Hero wrote on Mar 8, 2008 6:15 PM:Please, the home school kids have no social skills and the parents are as bright as a candle in a storm. Oh but you will take 75 bucks a month for "field trips" that we pay for. Send your immature kids to school

Reardon wrote on Mar 8, 2008 6:23 PM:School Union leader said it best: “When school children start paying union dues, that 's when I'll start representing the interests of school children.” (Shanker was President of the American Federation of Teachers from 1974 to 1997.)

Pappy wrote on Mar 8, 2008 7:31 PM:Teacher arrested for having child pornography on his computer, teacher arrested for having sex with his student, teacher arrested for having sex with her student, teacher arrested for selling drugs to students, teacher arrested... when was the last time you read about some wacko walking into a home school and shooting the place up. Now you want to tell parents how to teach their children? Tell them how to raise their children after these parents have arranged their jobs, finances and lives to be there for their kids? Go figure. I bought some items at 7-11 that came to 9.47. I handed the public school kid behind the counter a 20. I needed a couple of quarters so I handed him 3 cents so I could get 2 quarters. He was totally lost, the register had already told him how much change I was supposed to get. He couldn’t do the math, he couldn’t figure out what to do. Finally the old gray hair lady on the other register came over and gave me my change. Go figure.

Let Parents , Parent wrote on Mar 8, 2008 7:43 PM:This is also part of the European Union, you are not allowed to home school your children. Next they will say you can't send your children to private or religious schools either. How easy would it be to brain wash an indoctrinate a whole society through public school. This is the government imposing their will on the people. And our Government wants a NORTH AMERICAN UNION. This must be fought all the way to the highest courts. Let parents , PARENT!

To Hero wrote on Mar 8, 2008 7:45 PM:Home school kids score higher than public school children. You don't have a clue what your talking about. How many kids do you have! My guess.... NONE.

Yeah Pappy! wrote on Mar 8, 2008 7:47 PM:Go Pappy, You said it all. ( Not that I think all teachers are this way ) But Pappy's said it and he's right

To Pappy wrote on Mar 8, 2008 7:58 PM:So the kid was a "public school" kid huh? Could it be that he was "home educated" by a clueless person like you? Where did you go? I'm sure you work for a "public school kid". I'm not for the govt telling anyone how to raise their kids, but your stereotype shows how ignorant you are. I've seen the "home school" kids and they are social misfits that can't make it in the Universities. Those kids shooting up schools were home educated first....Go figure

Hero wrote on Mar 8, 2008 8:25 PM:Your home school kids are socially inept (look it up or have you Mom do it). Which test are you talking about the one you coach at home? My kid is in GATE and your kid will be working for them or in jail because they only know how to talk to their Mommies.

To: Let Parents , Parent wrote on Mar 8, 2008 8:31 PM:This is part of the plan, it's too bad not alot of people know abot the NAU. It will be the end of the USA, and people have no clue about it. This is just a minor step to the future in which we will have no say. We all need to stand up for our rights.

class o 79 wrote on Mar 8, 2008 8:34 PM:if teachers today are anything like what they were when I went to public school, then public school is a total waste of time and tax dollars.

power to the home schoolers

i live in escondido and driving by the school traffic in the morning looks like tijuana

more power to the homeschoolers

besides, if the kids are homeschooled, it opens up more of our tax dollars to educated the illegals (sarcasism)

Hero is right wrote on Mar 8, 2008 8:34 PM:I've seen those home school kids....What a joke.

Frank to Class o 79 wrote on Mar 8, 2008 8:57 PM:It is spelled "Sarcasm" not "sarcasism" I bet you were home educated....

To Hero wrote on Mar 8, 2008 8:58 PM:I can tell you went to public school. All you have to stand on is your bullying tactics. Have you visited any of North County's home school based charter schools? I think not. Please visit one of the many successful schools(ie. The Classical Academy). The children are engaging, respectful, and bright!

Reardon wrote on Mar 8, 2008 8:58 PM:Does anyone have any numbers to support anything, or is this just "throw out vagrant, unsupported opinion?"

To Hero wrote on Mar 8, 2008 9:27 PM:Hey Hero, My Dad's Bigger than your Dad. You know nothing about home school. My kid is not home school , but is in Private Christian school. They learn all the academic's quite well. They don't teach homosexuality, they teach morality. What does your public school teach? It is common knowledge that public school these days are failing miserably.

Hero wrote on Mar 8, 2008 9:30 PM:Oh bullying tactics huh? It was you that was spewing the venom. Yes as a matter of fact I have been to the North County Charter Schools. My close friend teaches at one...I have come in as a guest speaker...There are some great kids and some real social inept children with over protective Moms. Unlike you, I have graduated from Public and privates schools, with multiple advanced degrees. Keep watching the View and Ellen with your kids.

To Pappy: wrote on Mar 8, 2008 9:51 PM:Pappy, the young man behind the counter was right to be confused. If your bill was $9.47 and you gave him a $20, then your change would be $10.53. You accomplished nothing by giving him an extra 3 cents, as you were already getting those 2 quarters back in your change. The change for $20.03 would be $10.56. I understand what you THOUGHT you were doing, but YOU were the one who was confused. Anyone can make a mistake, though, whether public or private school educated. There should be room in our society for both entities.

Marita R wrote on Mar 8, 2008 10:52 PM:Public schooled or homeschooled? Why do we have to be so against each other. All we need is love, but in this case all we need is FREE Choice. After all,we live in the land of the "FREE" or has that changed by some idiots because they are so ignorant? We all have our reasons why we homeschool or why our kids go to public school- let's not condem one another,with this attitude we won't get very far. We need to fight for what America stands for, but not fight against each other needlessly. Amen! God is still in charge of this little planet called Earth.

To Hero wrote on Mar 8, 2008 11:02 PM:You seem so angry and emotional over this issue. ... What kind of a guest speaker are you? Go to any school and you will find some children that are socially inept... If I had to guess I would say that you're one of those "know it all types" that people only tolerate out of courtesy. When they really want to tell you to shut up and keep your unwanted opinion to yourself.

Also to Hero wrote on Mar 8, 2008 11:26 PM:Hero, your lack of knowledge of this subject is showing.

Only those "homeschoolers" who belong to public charters get money for field trips -- just like all the kids who attend publicly funded schools -- because they are part of the public school system. Those who school under the private school laws get none of your money. Zero. Zip. Nothing in return for the money they also pay for the public school system.

Socially inept kids and dimwitted parents are not exclusive to the homeschool community. Likewise, gifted kids and parents with multiple degrees aren't exclusive to public schools.

Do you have any facts to support your notion that homeschooled kids end up working for publicly schooled GATE kids or in jail in higher proportions than other publicly schooled kids? Stooping to this sort of nonsense doesn't help support your position, or convince anyone of your superior intelligence.

To Hero wrote on Mar 9, 2008 3:43 AM:I found it amusing to read your comments. You claim that homeschooled children are socially inept and immature. I would encourage you to read your comments again. I fail to see the maturity and social grace in your comments. You said you visited some charter schools and there are some great kids and some that are socially inept. Are you saying that there are no socially inept and immature children in the public schools? The tests that the other person referred to was the Star Testing(for future reference).You should check out the website greatschools.net. It will give you concrete data on the scores of any schools you want to compare. It will be an eye opener I am sure. All of the charter schools, some of which include homeschooling, rate higher than all of the public schools. I too have advanced degrees and I find your comments insulting . As a parent who has had children in public school and has homeschooled,I feel I am more qualified than you to know the difference between them and belive me there is no comparison!! Homeschooling is the best. When my children recently started public school,due to financial reasons, I heard nothing but positive comments from the teachers about their behavior and attitude. They said they were very polite and respectful and found it to easy to make friends.As someone as educated as yourself I find it hard to believe that you can make such generalizations about homeschooling and homeschooled children. By the way, the $75 homeschooling parents receive is not for "field trips". All homeschooling parents pay taxes just like everybody else so that your public schooled children can attend.

astonished wrote on Mar 9, 2008 8:37 AM:Wow! This is not a time to start placing blame! I am a teacher in the public schools and I am offended. I went to school and did all my requirements (the first time). There are all kinds of ways of weeding out teachers that are bad. The fact that we put new teachers through recredentialing by doing BTSA, have government employees walk through our classrooms 2 times a month, held accountable and live under the threat of losing our jobs every year because our students who do not speak English and come from poverty are not testing well on all the standards. These scores, remember, are based on everyone, including those who have just arrived from Mexico. I am not against homeschooling, we have that freedom, that is why we live in this country. I would just like to see any of you teach the state standards to students who do not speak English and have a single parent that works 3 jobs while having funds cut that serve "needy" students. Todays demographics in the classrooms look very different than the years you all remember it. When you are able and willing then you can start throwing the first stones. Stop blaming the schools for all the problems.

parent wrote on Mar 9, 2008 8:49 AM:My kids have gone to regular public school, public charter school and I have home-schooled. It is quite obvious that most of you previous bloggers do not know what you're talking about! (especially Zero)

Out with the fanatics wrote on Mar 9, 2008 9:55 AM:If public schools are failing, it's because of underfunding and over-intervention by fanatic devotees of the philosophy taught by Murray and Hernstein in their pseudo-scientific book, "The Bell Curve". That book argues that it has been proven that people of color are less intelligent than whites and that it is a waste of public funds to "throw money" at their education. Unchecked, this racist argument will devastate public education and simply put money in the pockets of those who don't want to pay taxes or who want to receive vouchers instead of supporting schooling that is for the public good.

Skip wrote on Mar 9, 2008 9:55 AM:Forget the Vouchers. My wife explained to me that if everyone got vouchers from the state, then the private schools would deteriorate into public schools, and the state would make the private schools conform to the same idiotic practices as the public schools. She mentioned a better way. An income tax deduction! Right now it is not allowed for K-12. We are truly being cheated as we pay for our children’s education, and then we pay for the public's children (citizenship status not a factor). How did my wife get so smart you ask? She is a public school teacher. I always get a laugh when I see how many public school teachers send their children to private schools.

I do not have a problem with home schooling as long as parents can teach their kids on how to read and write and do math. With a state ranking in the bottom 5 out of 50, that can't be too hard.

John wrote on Mar 9, 2008 10:26 AM:Hero is right. Oh the taxes you pay...cry me a river. These schools in Encinitas, Carlsbad and Del Mar are the same schools you brag about when you try to sell your homes

Jason wrote on Mar 9, 2008 10:30 AM:Hero has a point...My children have attended private and public schools. There is no comparison in quality of education, you get what you pay for. As for the requirements, I agree with it. I've seen some of these parent "Teachers" and they are not doing their children any favors.

Johnny wrote on Mar 9, 2008 10:33 AM:You home school parents are a joke.

former Sunday School teacher wrote on Mar 9, 2008 12:46 PM:I taught Sunday School at various grade levels for more than twenty years. Ill health forced me out ten years ago. The last six years I taught 4th and 5th graders. I began to have home schoolers as students. I can make a couple of observations about what I saw. Again this was twelve to thirteen years ago so hopefully things are different now. Back then some of the home schoolers were well taught. They were bright and alert. They had great reading skills. Other home schoolers were any thing but good students. I remember one little 4th grade girl who could not read a single word. She told me that she and her brother were "home schooled" but her mom had to work during the day and they were supposed to do the work themselves, instead they played all day. I know I only saw a limited number of children yet they clearly fell into two categories--well educated good readers or not educated at all. I saw no home schoolers in the middle. I tried to teach the little girl to read during my one hour with her once a week but it was not enough time. There really does need to be some monitoring of what is going on with home schoolers by some outside agency. Allowing a large part of "home schoolers" to become adults with no reading skills at all is a kind of child abuse.

alice wrote on Mar 9, 2008 12:54 PM:I am a homeschooling Mom, with a husband that is a public high school teacher, so I feel that I can speak about both worlds to some degree.

My husband will attest to the fact that there are very bright kids in the public school system. They study hard, pay attention in class, and have supportive and involved parents. But they are increasingly becoming the exception, and not the rule. My husband comes home frustrated with students that show no interest in learning, are disrespectful, and lazy. The system he works in is not getting better despite the millions of dollars spent. It is degenerating to a point that he feels is beyond repair.

We chose, over 25 years ago, that we would not put our children into a failing, morally bankrupt system. I have considered it an honor, and a very high calling to educate my children at home. I have studied, researched, prepared lessons, taught music and P.E. to them, plus homemaking and landscaping skills, all with the input, support and oversight of my husband. We are not perfect and our kids know it. But they know that we love them, and have made sacrifices to do what we do. Our family is close knit, we enjoy each other's company, and work together as a team. My children are kind, respectful, talented, and a joy to be around. It has been a wonderful journey for us all.

My oldest recently graduated from a local university with honors. He was well thought of by his professors and fellow students.

So with all that said - there are some good students and bad students that are in private, public, or home schools. What is at stake here is maintaining our freedoms as parents to choose how we will have our children educated. No judge, court, or government agency has the right to take this away from us.

MVet wrote on Mar 9, 2008 1:43 PM:I went to public school during the 70's in Torrance, California. About 35% of the kids were Hispanic. The biggest difference between now and then is that I have no memories of any kids who did not speak English. We had over 4,000 kids in our high school and 99.9% of them were fluent English speaking. Home school was almost unheard of then.

To Reardon wrote on Mar 9, 2008 1:56 PM:The majority of teachers in CA belong to the NEA not the American Fed. of Teachers. So there is no need for a slippery slope statement.

Mike wrote on Mar 9, 2008 2:00 PM:The true purpose of No Child Left Behind is to get all federal funding out of education. Eventually every single school will be in an improvement program, Poway super even stated that their district will in improvement by 2014. The only way out of NCLB is to not take federal funds. Utah has done this and they are considered a high performing state now. It has nothing to do with students and that is why it had bi-partisan support.

Tobias wrote on Mar 9, 2008 3:54 PM:Folks,

thanks for the article. This is a subject the public knows little about unless they happen to be involved with it personally. My concern is, the children at risk are not being taken care of by responsible caring aware adults, they are essentially hostage to the whackos who 'teach' them.

I know of a young man who is 23 years old, homeschooled in Escondido by his parents. He sucks his thumb. He is suicidal, and has few social skills. Yet he got an 'education' at home....

Many here in the San Diego area, are being homeschooled by their religious fanatic parents, fodder for the right wing establishment types who blindly rail against a women's right to not be a parent, yet send their children off to war to kill adults and children in far away lands, 'cause the bible told them so.

This subject needs more exploration and discovery, won't you continue and dig deeper? The courts move so slowly, and are so blinded by the money grubbing lawyers, the children remain at risk.

San Diego is a garrison town, partially populated by small minded war mongerers who believe they must hasten the end times. You know, the ones who elected the war criminals Bush and Cheney. The same people who think Ron Paul is nuts; yet he is a prophet, go to whitehouse.gov and read this months articles he presented in congress. None of which were printed in any newspapers or on TV.

America is in peril unless we learn to wage peace. Fast.

becky wrote on Mar 9, 2008 7:00 PM:It concerns me to read the posts in which someone mentions "knowing a homeschooler" who did not turn out to be a "model" citizen. Please tell me if every single public-school child that you know turned out to be a model citizen as well. Just as you cannot judge the entire public school system by one child, neither can you judge the entire homeschool community by one child. At least when my children begin school in the morning I know that they will have a teacher who will not molest them, peers who will not shoot them and no predator following them on the way to and from school each day. My children are here at home with a loving mother who is doing her best to see that her children get both a thorough education as well as a thorough dose of love each day! xt1

tobias center wrote on Mar 9, 2008 8:39 PM:Becky get a clue. I said a lot more than one thing about one so called student. Do you know what congress is? How about a congressman named Ron Paul? Have you read anything or know anything besides what your bible tells you? No, you are the reason we are in Iraq and why we are going to invade Iran and Syria.... read whitehouse.gov and see what Ron Paul said this month before congress on this.... you fake christians have no clue about anything. Why do we back israel and ignore the palestinian's murdered every day? Pat Roberts told you god is on our side, on the 700 club, thats why you think its ok. your homeschooled kids are not qualified to do anything more than blindly do what george bush and cheney tell them, 'cause they can't think for themselves, they've been homeschooled and had the bible shoved down their throats. Wage peace? Not you, you have no idea what is really going on outside your ... little world.

Murrieta Mom wrote on Mar 9, 2008 8:42 PM:There are parents who homeschool and do it well - and then there are the rest. My neighbor's kid is homeschooled - not allowed to play with any of the kids in the neighborhood - looks like a pound puppy staring out the gate of his yard. Is only allowed contact with "approved" kids, which are few and far between. Another person I know homeschooled her 5 kids - one started public school this year and has to have a tutor 5 days a week to catch up. The other should be kinder level and is nowhere near. Homeschooling CAN work, but it does not always work. There have to be standards but the people who homeschool - many of them are fanatical and refuse to be accountable. It would be interesting to fast forward and see who they blame *if* their kids can't make it in life... can we really take that chance? Personally, I would not. Better to go with public school and supplement with what is lacking in my opinion..

Dear John wrote on Mar 9, 2008 8:46 PM:Personally, I do not object to the fact that I pay taxes for public schools even though my family chooses not to use them. I'm happy to do so. Public schools are important. However, it does get a bit irritating when people, such as Hero, complain about charter families getting a small amount of money to use for their kids schooling. Why schouldn't they? They are part of the public school system, too. Who does he think pays for his kids field trips, and books, and other school materials? We all do!

to becky wrote on Mar 9, 2008 8:53 PM:I am also a mom who has put all I have into home-schooling my kids. Don't let these blogs get you down. Most of these people obviously do not know what they're talking about and I'd say quite a few of them are mentally unstable.

Roberto1 wrote on Mar 9, 2008 9:15 PM:Instead of questioning home schooling competancy, we should be questioning public education....My only regret with my own children is we only home schooled the youngest.

Drop Public and Use Government wrote on Mar 9, 2008 9:37 PM:They're all GOVERNMENT schools, not public schools! GOVERNMENT as in Department of Education, Department of Motor Vehicles, Department of...you name it. And what GOVERNMENT entity excels? It's not the GOVERNMENT school entity.

La Costa resident wrote on Mar 9, 2008 10:16 PM:People, people, stop it! This isnt about home school vs public school. Fact of the matter is there are children that fall into all catagories in both situations. The issue here is another right is being taken away from the people. Parents have the right to educate their children as they see fit. We need to wake up and stop letting the governmemt control our lives. Home schooling works for some and not for others. Like wise with public school. Stop taking shots at each other and lets not let another freedom be taken away.

Peter D. wrote on Mar 9, 2008 10:56 PM:I'm a homeschooling parent, and there only two options that homeschoolers will follow: Continue illegally, or leave California. This will only drive homeschooling underground.

If school districts think that this is a quick fix to boost up their ADA, They are sorely mistaken. For the underground homeschoolers, they will have to hunt us down, one by one. (Plenty of time and money spent fighting their way through the defense of HSLDA) For the rest that leave California, there's a double whammy - The schools don't get their ADA, and California loses another taxpayer. I will personally enjoy depriving this facist state of it's taxes.

Homeschoolers are by definition, mavericks and we are going to make sure that enforcing this oppression is going to cost California dearly.

Teaching Mom wrote on Mar 10, 2008 2:26 AM:Homeschooling parents need neither to leave California nor go underground. The law has not changed. The issue is choice - the right of families to choose the best method of education for their family. In almost 20 years of homeschooling I've heard all the criticisms. I've also seen one of my children win a full-ride, four-year scholarship and another transfer to public school as a junior and pass the exit exam the next month. Personally, I can recall any number of socially backward, academically challenged, or emotionally suspect kids from my public school days. I have no doubt some of them managed to find their way in the adult world. Generalizations do not make good policy, nor good debate tactics.

Homeschooling Dad wrote on Mar 10, 2008 9:52 AM:I am a graduate of state schools, so please attribute any mistakes to my lack of education! :) I wanted to address the most common mistaken assumption about home educated kids... that they are not social or socialized. My experience is that social skills among homeschoolers run about the same range as traditionally schooled children... some are outgoing, some are shy, some are "cool", some are "nerds" etc. Personally, if my own three kids were any more social, we'd need an eighth day or 25th hour to squeeze it all in.

The facts are that some parents, like me, are unimpressed by what the "system" has to offer. Couple that with the social degeneracy that seems to be rampant in many schools, and I have to say, no thanks!

BTW, in my state (VA) we test homeschoolers using a national standardized test (IOWA or Stanford)... Homeschoolers average in 2006 was the 80th percentile... hard to argue with those results.

Roberto1 wrote on Mar 11, 2008 6:26 AM:With public education being at the bottom of the education totem pole, we should be questioning public education, not home schooling. The school district already have programs for home schoolers...wheres the beef?

PROUD TO BE A HOMESCHOOL MOM wrote on Mar 18, 2008 5:03 PM:MY DAUGHTER STARTED HOMESCHOOL THIS YEAR FOR K,AND IS ALREADY READING AT FIRST GRADE LEVEL,AFTER ATTENDING TO OUR SCHOOLING FOR THE DAY,WE BIKE RIDE ON THE BEACH,GO TO AMUSEMENT PARKS,READ AT THE LIBRARY,AND MANY OTHER OUTINGS AS WELL AS SEVERAL PLAYDATES PER WEEK,ALL OF THIS WHILE PUBLIC SCHOOL CHILDREN ARE SITTING IN A CLASSROOM FOR HOURS A DAY AND THEN SENT HOME WITH MORE WORK FOR THE PARENTS TO SUPPLEMENT,ALL BECAUSE THE TEACHER DID NOT HAVE TIME TO COVER IN CLASS.MY DAUGHTER HAS NEVER BEEN MORE SOCIAL IN HER LIFE,NOT TO MENTION THE FIELDTRIPS.HOMESCHOOL HAS BEEN THE MOST POSITIVE EXPERIENCE FOR BOTH OF US,AND SO REWARDING WHEN YOUR 5 YEAR OLD READS A BOOK TO YOU FOR THE FIRST TIME,AND THAT SUCCESS WAS ALL BECAUSE OF YOUR TIME AND PATIENCE AND BELIEVING IN YOUR CHILD.THE TEACHERS UNION ONLY CONCERN IS PROVIDING JOBS FOR TEACHERS AT THE EXPENSE OF OUR CHILDREN.