What Makes People Think They Are Qualified To Teach Their Own Kids?

[FirstLight]

89. before reading all the other comments, let me answer this

I have a few 'friends' who I know that homeschool, it is a JOB and they do it for many reasons. they have a cirriculum, they have materials and they also use their imaginations... I recognize that the few examples i know of are mostly choosing this as a religious thing, but that's their angle, the kids would be indoctrinated by the church and friends of the family anyway, school or not... However, i also have to say i admire a parent who chooses to give their kids that kids of time, to teach them skills like time management and basic home economics - things i NEVER learned in HS but should have...They do have homeschooling outings with other students in the area and events, so there's also more social outlets than one would think, as well as sports, etc...

My kids were just whining to me about wanting to be homeschooled...now i have every reason NOT to homeschool...we don't have the financial means, and there's none of the religious weirdness with me...BUT this is what I told them

If I were going to homeschool, you'd be learning things like "how many seeds to plant on the row when they are spaced at 12" apart...?" and How many cups of milk do you get from a goat each day? or how do you fix the tractor? and Business bartering at the farmers market... see, if i had MY way, we'd be living on our farm and doing the whole hippie, organic, energy conscious thing... there's plenty of things to teach about REAL LIFE that will never be covered by public school...and personally, algebra can suck my ....

My kids are 9 & 10 and they are sharp, they even read DU here with me sometimes, they know what's going on on the planet, they understand the Egypt uprising and war in afganistan on a level that is beyond their years, and it isn't just parroting my liberal views, they really have emotions about saving the planet and caring for the homeless. That can't be taught in 'regular' school. In fact their teachers have told me how impressed they are with my kids "global viewpoint" ...

so ya, I may not be "qualified" to teach my kids, but if I could...I would sure be teaching them more than what they get in their school now...I guess I already am.