How can homeschooling be stopped?

Question

I've read several answers over the last several days where the answerer was anti-homeschooling and they said that homeschooling should be stopped. One even said the "idea should be cut off"
So, all you anti homeschool people, how do you propose to stop educational freedom?
And for all the pro-homeschoolers, how does this make you feel?
How do you feel when you hear (read) people say (type) that they think basic freedoms and rights need to be done away with.
Does this stir something inside you that goes deeper than homeschooling?
Do you feel this is an indicator of people's willingness to allow more governmental control in our lives?
And one last thing: how do you feel when someone is bashing homeschoolers, saying that we, as homeshool parents, are hurting our children and preventing them from receiving an education and they can't even spell basic words?
Do you see that as a reflection on the person or the system?

(and yes, I chose the header for drama!)

Thanks to everyone that answered this question. Lots and lots of good points. I would choose all answers as best, but I cannot. The one I chose speaks to the bigger issue of government control the best and also gives action: support groups that fight for freedom.
A lot of you are blessed to be around people that support homeschooling, but I have people in my life that do not.
It is not a lack of knowledge that keeps them from supporting it (can you imagine having my mouth in your family and still not knowing about HS? LOL) They don't support it because it isn't "right" it isn't the way everyone else is living.
that, to me speaks of a larger problem that someone mentioned "people not caring or wanting their freedom"
I'm dismayed that the anti-homeschool crowd didn't chime in, which leaves me with no choice but to assume they don't have a plan, they just mimick what they hear. But it someone were to step up and have a plan to eliminate it, they would follow.
We need to be prepared.

Answer 1

I get upset and concerned when I hear and read about the desire to outlaw homeschooling or heavily regulate it, because I am confident it can be done. We have a society of sheep who spend their days at work and their nights and weekends in front of the tv. They generally believe what they are told by Oprah, Rosie or the evening news. People like this want bigger and more intrusive government. They want government to do it all for them. It is happening before our eyes.
Regarding homeschooling, you see what happens when there is a homeschool family which either doesn't educate their kids or abuses them. Immediately, the mainstream media picks up on it and exposes all of the alleged abuses of homeschooling as well as the potential abuses. They have whole series of reports on these matters and people believe all homeschoolers are like that. We now have "authorities" like Robert Reich writing and speaking about how homeschooling must be regulated because children must learn a worldview other than the parent's. We have state legislators introducing legislating younger and younger school starting ages and older and older mandatory attendance.
The public will support restrictions on homeschooling because they think it's wierd anyway. Different is threatening to many people. Homeschooling is different. We must stay organized and active or we will lose this precious right. Join your state support organization and HSLDA as well and stay alert.

Answer 2

Freedom is not my arguement, but the plain deline of public schools is. I sorry I don't know what country you're in but in America public schooling is horrible. I know I went to a few, I was also homeschooled, and private school. If you can't afford a good private school or get your child a scholarship to one you should definitely homeschool. DO NOT SACRIFICE YOUR CHILDREN TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS!!! OKAY- shame on me for the extremist remark.
Actually there are a few good public schools, blue ribbon schools I believe they're called. But honestly especially if you're on the lower end of the economic stratus public schooling can really suck.
I know a lot of people went to public school when they were young, but believe me the everything has changed. There is less government support, less parental involvement, and a lot more bad kids that interfere with the childs learning environment. Smart children are held from exceling because the classes are too slow, and the children that need extra help do not always get it. Now a day the class average in a freshman college course is 65% because the students are not academically prepared. What does it mean when a college remedial course has to be split into two levels because the students can barely accomplish the most basic algebra? Bottom line a lot of public schools simply aren't up to par. Home school is a wonderful atlernative.

Answer 3

I am so glad that your title was misleading... I was seriously a bit worried that it was going to be a thread for brainstorming on how to stop homeschooling...

When I read people saying that homeschooling should be banned, it makes me feel offended and disgusted. That they could take something that has done wonderful things for so many people and imply that it should be stopped... that every child should be forced into a unflexible educational and social environment... basically that people should be made as much alike as possible... frankly it pisses me off. It has two very personal reasons for me, first of all that they're saying I shouldn't be who I am because without homeschooling I wouldn't be, and second because the thought of sending my kids (when I have them) to public school nauseates me.

I think it is definitely a sign of people being willing to let the government control our lives, and beyond that actually wanting the government to control their lives. I don't know what causes it (although I wouldn't rule out public school as a factor) but I think it's really sad when a society starts not even wanting freedoms.

Mostly I think people don't like homeschooling because they don't understand. Their childhood was controlled by public school and they can no longer imagine what a childhood without that would be like. They assume homeschoolers are stupid because that's the rumors they've heard and, to many public schoolers, homeschoolers aren't even a reality. If they don't know homeschoolers they aren't forced to view them as real people, many of whom are very intelligent and very well-educated. To them homeschoolers are just this lumped mythical object that didn't get the education they did, and to them that looks like no education at all. Really I pity people who oppose homeschooling... it would be sad to live a life where you didn't know how much better things could be.

Answer 4

I am pro homeschooling. I will try to answer your questions as honestly as i could.
As to how i feel when i see people say homeschooling should be stopped- well, i think i get perhaps a little nervous when i read these things, because I'm afraid if enough people feel this way, they may just do something to stop it one day. But i try not to let this bother me, and tell myself not to worry. Homeschooling is strong nowadays, and there are plenty of strong homeschooling advocacy groups who will do their best to never let this happen.
As far as how i feel when i see people's freedoms and rights need to be done away with- more government control etc- well yes, i would be very resentful to have the government interfere with my freedom to educate my children in the manner i see fit. But i dont think those people who think homeschooling should be stopped are necessarily against freedom. They are just very ignorant about homeschooling, and see it as being harmful to children.
The last question about how i feel when i see someone bashing homeschoolers, saying we're hurting our children... they cant even spell, etc... then i just roll my eyes. That is just so ignorant and stupid. Plenty of kids in school cant spell properly either, and some cant even read.

Answer 5

Well, I'm about to graduate high school here in about 2-3 weeks, and if it weren't for homeschooling, I wouldn't be graduating. I went to public school my entire life, but when I reached my Junior year of high school, I had a really hard time with a teacher. My mother is a strictly organized person, so she didn't want to change my class. I then chose to drop out of public school. What saved my education is a private christian academy that bases their curriculum on homeschooling. I go to school once a week to get my new weeks set of work, and to turn in the previous weeks set. I also have to be present for mid-terms and finals. This flexible schedule enables me to obtain a full-time job and go to high school simultaneously. So, my opinion is homeschooling is a great and very smart idea. Also, public schools are getting worse and worse every day. Just to name a few issues: shootings, drugs, violence, peer pressure, the list goes on. And I know some people may think that homeschooling someone will keep them sheltered, but I believe that as long as they know the difference between right and wrong, and know what is really going on out there, they will be absolutely fine, not to mention safe.

Answer 6

I would like to qualify my authority to speak on this topic by first saying that I was homeschooled from the 3rd grade through highschool. While back in the 80's and early 90's the quality of education received by homeschoolers was under question; test scores today show that homeschoolers consistently score above average on standardized tests. Only someone ignorant of the truth, or completely close minded would argue that point. As a personal example, last year I graduated with a B.S. in physics; I was the only recipient of a B.S. degree to graduate summa *** laude that year (class of ~250); and I tested in the top 10% of all physics seniors applying for graduate school. Today I am currently working on my PhD in nuclear engineering. Another complaint of the anti-homeschooling crowd is what they call a lack of socialization. While my parents homeschooled me for primarily religious reasons, I'm also glad they did for "social" reasons. During a person's formative years it is very important for a parent to make sure their child is associating with children whose parents have similar moral values. This was much easier as a homeschooler. School is a place for learning; I made my friends through activities with my church, community groups like 4-H, where I was an officer from the age of 10 through high school and competed at the county and state level, and through activities organized by local homeschool groups. Frankly I see public schools in general as public brainwashing, "learn our way or no way." That is a complaint not only against the methods, but also the public indoctrination of certain viewpoints.

Not related to this article, but after reviewing it I noticed Yahoo Answers doesn't know how to take words in context regarding the asterisks in my statement; they just bleeped my graduation honors!

Answer 7

The heading really did get my attention.
It doesn't bother me, most of the time, when people bash homeschoolers. Occassionally, I just lose it. But the only ones who bash my being homeschooled are those who don't know me (those on Yahoo! Answers).
It does amaze me that all of these people, who in any other case would say: "It's our right to do such and such," would feel that homeschooling (which the majority of them have never experienced), should be banned.
We can't really lump all of them together, so it is a relfection on the person. I know many public schoolers who think that homeschooling is a good idea. But there are many that think the we are all anti-social religious nuts.

Answer 8

I think parents should have the right to choose if they want to homeschool there kid's or send them to public school I did both public school for kinder garden and first grade then the rest I was homeschooled
we were a part of a "Homeschooled group" also that got together once a month and did Field trips and projects together like going to the Seattle science center so we still had the socializing and friends

Answer 9

I do not agree that abortions should be legal for many reasons. The mantra I hear too often by others who are against it but think it should be legal,"I would never do it, but who am I to tell a woman what to do with her body. It is the womans choice" Why can't those people apply that 'logic' here and just leave us alone. It is MY choice what to do with MY children(who btw you don't care enough about when they are in utero). They are not being abused in anyway, so leave me alone.

When someone is 'bashing' our decision to home educate, I assume they are ignorant and really do not have the right ammo for the job. As someone who finds things to learn and teach in just about everything I do, I try not to take the bait as it were and educate the person, as long as they are willing to learn. If that doesn't work, all they need to do is see my kids, the proof is in the pudding.

As for people on YA having bad grammar and spelling, I do not blame the person or the system really. I chalk it up to bad typing skills or not caring much because they are on such an informal venue. My posts are not perfect for sure. If I were to see this type of thing on a resume, I would blame the system if the person was younger and the person if they were older. Once you graduate you have the whole world to learn and explore all on your own.

Answer 10

It hurts my heart that anyone would accuse me of mistreating my children or denying them an education. I home school because I love my children more than life itself. I would throw myself in front of a moving freight train if it meant I would save the life of one of my children. I have a MA and now that I am a housewife/mother, I often joke that I wasted all that time in college and now I'm not even using my degree. Funny thing, that. I AM using it, by teaching my children. It bothers me that so many people are raised to be sheep. Before long it's those same people who will complain when the right to own a home or have a career of your own choosing is taken away. Or let's see, a nice law I heard about in the UK. You can't grow hedges taller than so high (I think it's 6 feet) because your neighbors won't be able to see what you are up to. America has more personal freedom than any other country in the world, and I would hate to see that ANY of those freedoms are taken away from me, including the right to educate my child as I see fit. I mean, you are right. Most opponents can't spell or use proper grammar. I see that as a dysfunction of the school system. Where I live, they are going to take spelling out of the curriculum. How asinine is that?