I chose to home educate my child because of the problems in public schools. For example, my mil, who is a teacher, and her school, spent two hours, the other day, with the swat team doing a hostage drill. ...and, why pay all that money to a private school to still have no say in my children's education?

Home educating is MY choice as I am MY child's parent and I should not be belittled for doing what I feel is best.

I do appreciate teachers but I know what is best for my children. I must say that to have them home with me all day and night and day and night can get a bit overwhelming at times, but what do you say for those who have a couple toddlers at home? Also having them home is the best thing for us as we are a close, strong family unit.

I cannot understand how a teacher feels raising 20 or so kids a day, but shouldn't he, as a teacher, be proud that I am taking responsibility for MY children?

As for supporting public schools, we do! In one way, we have no choice, by taxes and in the other, our family has been helping to get curriculum changed. Though, a pay raise will not make you a better teacher, a better attitude will and I know that because I don't get paid to teach my children, but seeing them grasp and idea, or for my toddler counting to 10, is rewarding. Isn't that what teaching is all about?

Melisa
Who hopes the teacher who wrote the letter finds some peace and happiness.

By the way, I taught school for a number of years and have an Ed.S. degree and have almost finished my Ph.D. in child development. Having been on both sides of the desk, I can honestly say that the teacher who wrote this response needs to seriously consider why he is in this profession in the first place.

My son is thriving in home school! He can add and subtract 2-digit numbers in his head, and the teacher wouldn't put him in the gifted math class because he "failed" her pretest on basic subtraction facts! He "couldn't answer the problems fast enough; he doesn't know his subtraction facts," was what I was told! The truth is that my son was BORED and didn't want to do something as simple as subtraction facts 0-10! Now that we're home schooling, he can work on subjects at his own level. He's doing 4th grade math (and begging for more!), basic chemistry (and begging for more!), and even writing his own book (and typing it himself)! He loves learning and eagerly looks forward to each day's activities. He's taken it upon himself to read several books a day and is progressing so much more rapidly than he was in public school, yet he still enjoys the fun and excitement of his 7-year-old world: building with Legos; playing Nintendo games; participating in Scouts, tennis and basketball; and playing outside with the neighborhood children. He has told me many, many times, "Thank you, Mom, for letting me home school!"

I won't even go into the emotional abuse my child suffered at the hands of public school teachers who made him feel stupid, belittled, and unworthy of their attention.

I know this letter has been a little "run-on", but I just had to get my thoughts down as they came! Yes, home schooling can be a little frustrating, I'm sure. I've been blessed to have just this one child at home, so it's just the two of us with few interruptions. My two older boys (ages 12 and 16) are enjoying public school and thriving in that climate.

The teacher who responded to your article/letter needs to figure out why he's in the teaching profession, and perhaps make some changes in his lifestyle to reflect what he really wants to do in life.

Ask teachers and they will tell you that lack of parental involvement is their top complaint. You would think that they would be saluting homeschooling parents who are truly parenting and taking responsibility for raising their own kids versus leaving them to the hands of the government and it's institutions. More government intervention is not and never will be a solution to teaching children or will ever be necessary in the formation families. I must say that I was insulted that teacher seems to think that homeschoolers are adding somehow to a failed system. Most hs parents I know are the most actively involved in local city councils, writing the congressmen, and sitting on education boards. We are trying to make a change for the better but we are not willing to let you experiment on our children while you figure it out. We should not be condemned for that but applauded.

I had children in the ps many years ago and like most have nothing good to report in all those years. While there are very good teachers out there, the majority of them are not. Most do not pick an education career because they have an overflowing heart for kids or watching them learn daily. Parents who homeschool for whatever of the 20+ top reasons do so for the best interest of THEIR child(ren). Teachers are doing a job, and like all of us must put their needs and that of their families above their job. Homeschooling is a lifestyle, a family way of life where children and family are put first. HS is NOT a career choice/job.

More money is not an answer to the crisis in American education. Over the last 15 years classrooms have gotten smaller, pay has risen, and yet we are seeing an even greater failure rate from our public schools. Here where I live in northern Indiana, our teachers average salary is 37K with principals averaging 70K.

For those of you who may not hs your kids but are reading this I have to give you a few facts to ponder.

A) Public schools are corporations. They are in business just like any other company. Same with private schools, they are not non-profit.

B) Teachers are employees for this company. A company that pays quite well, gives over 60 days off, and gives raises WITHOUT MERIT. Not to mention a guarantee that as an employee of such company you cannot be fired or if you are sent home you will still receive pay called TENURE no matter how you performed on your job.

C) Membership to the NEA is an absolute for teachers with the NEA being the largest POLITICAL union in the USA. (Larger then the Teamsters and UAW combined!)

Please think of what other company in America has such great benefits? My husband does not get automatic raises - he must EARN his raise by merit and hard work. He only gets 26 days paid off (holidays and vacation) and he will not get paid if he does a bad job and is let go. Do you or your spouses get such benefits from their job? Sorry but I do not have a bleeding heart here for teachers who have chosen this as their profession and are now complaining about it. I suggest a career change if you are that unhappy for the sake of the students in your classroom.

Fyi - Mother of soon to be 8 here who has hs for 8 years now. I also graduated my oldest daughter over a year ago and she is doing quite well. (something for your statistics)
In Him,
Usteach
HOME CRUSADERS
Proverbs 9:9 "Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning."

Last November I removed my son from junior high. I am a single mother of 4, I am a registered nurse. In order to manage my parental responsibilities with my employment ones, I work 12 hour night shifts, Thurs, Fri and Sat. I wrote a nice letter to my sons school office and let them know that unfortunately my son would have to be 20 mins late every Friday morning due to my work schedule. 20 minutes late for homeroom...a time period not involved with any academic undertakings. I was first, harassed and abused by telephone by the assistant principle....I then received a letter in the mail from the same assistant principle that if this situation were not changed with my son's being tardy Fridays by 20 minutes, she would turn me into Child Protective Services for neglect and abuse.

My son was never a troublemaker in school, had no behavior issues that warranted such heinous threats to our family, had never been reported to me as a problem in any way. My son is a good kid, he's trustworthy, he's responsible, he's intelligent, he's kind. I learned that there were MANY kids at his school who skipped classes, didn't show up for school, had criminal charges against them, did drugs and drank alcohol while supposedly attending school, etc. etc. etc.. Yet our family was threatened because of a situation that was unalterable.

I made my complaint against the "educators" involved, to no avail. The school system did not care. I removed my son from that intolerant, uncompromising and bitterly hateful environment and exercised not just my constitutional right, but my parental responsibility to educate him myself, in a loving, comfortable, nurturing, and FLEXIBLE environment. It has not been easy. The state standards I received are so vague they are almost useless as a resource. No structured user-friendly guide line exists in my state to undertake this with confidence. HOWEVER, it has been websites such as this one that made my job as teacher enjoyable. I now relish the time I spend online searching and researching and downloading structured information before I wake him for our day of learning. He has excelled at this and after only 4 months almost finished the pitifully lacking state required courses for 8th grade, he works hard, he produces well thought out and better written essays and reports to me than I ever saw him produce in public school. He achieves a grade level in algebra now that he never did in public school. He reads, he understands and he doesn't stop until his curiosity is completely satisfied with whatever project we're undertaking.

I did not choose homeschooling for my son...I was forced into this to rescue him...BUT I thank God every day that I made the right decision.

We all have our own reasons for teaching our children at home it isn't just for the reasons you stated which were over crowded classroom's and stressed out teachers I will agree these are two good reasons but
the list is so long of the many different reasons I couldn't list them all. How does homeschooling our children exacerbate the problem? who's problem not mine but maybe yours. If the majority of public
school teachers were doing there job there wouldn't be as many homeschooling families as there are.
It isn't our job, nor can we rally for all children. We can take care of our own, and that is exactly what homeschooling families are doing taking care of there own. 

As far as public school teachers being underpaid and stressed out I have no sympathy for you, you chose your profession knowing teachers have been underpaid and stressed out for years.
So deal with it!!

She couldn't do it. My sister in law knew that she would no longer be there the following year so she secretly started telling the children about prayer and that God loves them. Hopefully this helped.
Now she is teaching at a private Church school FOR A LOT LESS MONEY AND NO BENEFITS. I think I agree now that schools really should allow the children to have a prayer. I bet most people don't know this, but in some areas of this country, public schools were created and maintained originally so that the masses could read the Bible.

The problem the way the educational system is running. Is to much work, in the time given is to fast for many children. Almost every week a different theme or project. Not all the kids learn as fast as others. It was to fast for my kids with LD and auditory problems.
The teachers were great they even visited my kids at home trying to help them. But I had to stand up for my kids, do the best for them, now they are reading and math is not a monster.

And as hiding my light under a bushel, No I help my community and the mothers with information on education and the kids that every week knock at my door for free tutoring. Is in my blood as a Director for 10 years in a community center for children. We just need more parents standing up for their children at school or at home. The mothers who fight for their kids are putting light in their communities . Thank God for them.
Debbiebee 77

I will also add that it is not my responsibility to care for other peoples children. I am only responsible for my own. That persons attitude of responsibility is reason number 1 why our country is in such trouble. Parents all need to take care of their own children. As I have heard others say it does not take a village to raise a child it takes a parent! It is his/her job to take care of the kids in her classroom and make improvements based on feedback. They ignore me, I pull MY child plain and simple. Why should my child suffer while I vainly attempt to change an entire system for the supposed greater good. Personally I would not even bother responding to someone so ignorant but I know you probably must. Just tell them what is in your heart and the truth.