(removed - answer was posted to wrong question) . Now here's my real answer to this question: Homeschooled kids that I know have turned out great. Their parents knew what they were doing and did it with absolute devotion. Since proper socialization was recognized as so important, the kids didn't miss anything in that arena, either. The kids attended enough lessons and events outside the home to integrate them well with public and private school peers. The benefit was that the circle of friends was controlled and kids who were potentially bad influences were weeded out from association. State requirements for learning materials were met, and testing showed these children to perform much better than average. One girl was exceptional, even, in her knowledge and skills, and was a very special young person to be around, as well.

Im not sure really why parents homeschool their children, but I am sure there are a multitude of reasons. But children must be socialized and interact with other people in order to grow and learn as much as studying. I think if I had problems with a school I would try to solve the problem rather than removing my child from it altogether.

I think if you have the means to homeschool your children, go for it. Socializing can be taught many ways. Just because a child is taught at home doesn't mean they never see other people. That is just a cop out for those who disagree with the whole concept. I think if you bring them up the right way children will do the right thing.

The public education system works at the lowest common denominator. Your child learns at the level of the slowest student in the class. The public education systems primary purpose is teaching conformity. The actual knowledge transfered in a day? minimal. What do school kids worry about? fitting in with other students, clothes, being 'normal'. It's a waste of time. Why should a kid sit in class 8 hours a day when you can teach them all that in 2 or 3? Then actually SPEND time with them. Go to the park. Read - independently. Let them pursue the interests they want. I could go on for a long time on this topic....instead I'll go tangential -- I can't stand these right wing 'Christians' who say they are fighting for family values by pretending to 'stick up for marriage' or 'attack gays'. Family values should be about giving people time to spend with their families. Providing families some safety - guaranteeing health care and time together. Instead of maximizing how much money the rich profit - take all the productivity of technology and let workers go to a 32 hour week (like France's 35/week) or promise every working American a decent amount of vacation time (most Europeans get 5 weeks to start)....instead it's just more greed, more materialism, while everyone works more for less. So sad. What a waste. My wife and I are blessed with good careers, business, and good saving habits. We have a great deal of flexibility and each of us can be home every day, if necessary. Few are as flexible as we have it though, and I feel for people working too much just to make it...even if materialism got them where they are. In a system so wealthy, it's sad that so many couples are both forced to work - sending their kids to the inept schooling system.

My wife and I home school both our children. We have been quite pleased with the results so far! My daughter is in the 2nd grade and my son is in kindergarten. My kids are academically advanced for their age and are happy, healthy, and socially at ease with people of all ages and backgrounds. If you have question about home schooling then here is a great website written by a veteran home school mom: http://guiltfreehomeschooling.org/blog/ As far as disadvantages go, of few of them are: my kids don't dress like hoodlums/hookers, they don't disrespect their parents and other adults, they don't freeze when faced with the prosepect of interacting with someone who isn't in their same age group, the list goes on and on but I'm sure you get the idea.

I think and feel that children who are homeschool don't know how to be around other kids. They don't learn how to share and be a part of a team or group of friends. They never get to be on the schools sportteam. The only good thing about homeschooling is they get one-on-one attention so they learn faster.