Thoughts on Home Schooling

I have been thinking about home schooling for awhile.  I have mixed feelings about the movement because I have met a number of home schooled people with a healthy outlook on life who know how to learn.  As a former teacher, and as a Dad, I do have doubts about the ability many parents to create a full picture of the world and an appreciation for the depth of the knowledge humans have accumulated.  I also know that the basic skills of schooling are not very difficult to master, a teacher's art is partially imparting those skills to a diverse group of kids in a classroom.

Probably the most compelling reason not to homeschool is contained in this quote from Dick Cavett in his blog at the New York Times, Opinonator.

To deny kids the adventure and socialization of going to school, thereby missing out on the activities, gossip, projects, dances, teams, friendships and social skills developed — to deny kids this is shortsighted and cruel. I think of the mournful home-school kid watching his friends board the school bus, laughing, gossiping and enjoying all that vital socialization we call schooldays.

Then again, that is why many children are home schooled is to keep them apart from their peers.