homeschooling= child abuse?

I don't know why I let it bother me.

I guess it started with all the comments that the reporter who interviewed us got on his blog. But it ended with this: Homeschooling a “Form of Child Abuse” says B.C. Liberal Candidate

Is this not a free country... err continent?

Are we not allowed to raise our children as we see fit?

Are we not allowed the right to free speech, original ideas, and democracy?

Then if so, why are there people so dead set against homeschooling that they want it irradicated?

Comments like: by“condemning their children to an impoverished, friendless, and segregated learning environment.” Home schooling parents, he said, “participate in what can be perceived as a form of child abuse.”

And: homeschoolers are perfect clones of their parents, which naturally makes them perfect also.

and: have heard so many horrid stories about home schooled children that they seem to pour out of a never empty vessel. I will only mention one terrible outcome of home schooling. That is: Lack of SOCIAL SKILLS. If this is not enough to make logical thinking parents go find a school for their children nothing will. I suspect they really think that their offspring have superior minds to those that would surround them in Public or Private schools, but that is for the parent to think about, and come to grips why they really home school their children. 2 plus 2 equals 5. Duh!

I have even had RELATIVES say to my face: "one day that homeschooling mess will be outlawed".

Why the Negativity? I think it is because we, as homeschoolers have broken or circumvented rules that others had no idea they could break and that makes them bitter. Maybe it is because we, as homeschoolers have rebelled against something that they feel is the best and only way. maybe it's because, they think that we think (that's a problem right there) that we are better than them?

The plain truth is that public education either did not work for us in theory, in our hearts, and in our lives so we simply adjusted and took a different approach.

Do you get mad at the mother who decides not to go to work and instead stay home with her kids?

Do you get mad at the millionaire who tweaks a product and makes it better.

Do you criticize the person who gets the correct answer on a math problem, but solves the problem in a different way?

... stupid question... I realize some people do.

Why? my guess is a little word that starts with a J and ends with ealousy

If you want a to try a different approach with your kid, a new way to solve the age old problem of "institutionalized education", or just to add to what the schools are doing. Take some time and really learn about homeschooling. Try reading some books on homeschooling, and while you are at it, check out my favorite homeschooling curriculum, www.time4learning.com