They are right... homeschoolers are not qualified to teach their kids

We don't have a peice of paper that certifies us as teachers.
We haven't taken classes in managing a crowd.
We didn't take child psychology, or science 101... not recently anyway.

However, we can be quite resourceful when we have to.

We have read books about teaching the whole hearted child.
We understand our kids giftings and gear thier education toward them.
We know when they've had enough for the day.
We know when we can push them further.

We also have access to the "certifed" community.

I just got back from my childrens phys ed activites. Now I probably could teach these things myself... after all it's not brain surgery (just don't tell any bad tempered school coaches that... by the way, have you ever seen one in a good mood?... but I digress).

My daughter is taking track, and my son is taking fencing. Here are the qualifications of thier instructors:

track coach: Coach Keith Kelly qualified forboth the summer and winter Olympic trails after age forty. ALSO... Keith Kelly has an undergraduate degree inmechanical engineering (West Virginia Tech) and Industrial Design(Fairmount State). He holds a Masters degree in technology educationand a Specialist in Education from the University of Georgia. Healso holds a lifetime certificate in ESOL ( English as a secondlanguage)Keith has authored a children's book on technology and theenvironment and has taught at every grade level from the firstthrough college. He has over 10 years experience teaching a varietyof of technical subjects such as Architectural and graphic design,Photography, Electronics, Wooodworking, Transporation and TheHistory of Technology. Other accomplishments of Mr. Kelly includethe following:Teacher of the year finalist in a system of over 70000 employees.Established a Technology Student Association at Centra Gwinnett HighSchool.In very first year team won state championship in "problemsolving"Part of a creative body of work in the John F Kennedy Center for thePerforming Arts.

Fencing coach: About Kathy Vail : Kathy holds a Ph.d. in Sports Medicine. Kathy is Chairman, Georgia Division, United States Fencing Association. Head Coach,. Dunwoody Fencing Club, Co-founder, Georgia High School Fencing League, Ogelthorpe University Fencing Coach.

So it's true... homeschoolers are not necessarily "qualified" to teach thier kids. But this resourcefull bunch knows how to band together to attract those who are.... when and if we need to.