Why Do You Home School?

I have been awful about getting on here and posting. In attempt to change that, I pose THE loaded question for families who home-educate their children. Why do you home school?

Everyone asks, Mom and Dad, Soccer Coach, Best Friend, etc. Those with children in school or grown often feel the need at this point (sometimes before an answer is even given) to qualify their reasoning for taking advantage of the public school system. Possibly these parents are threatened by Home Schooling Parent, and want to make DANG sure she knows that they made the right decision for their family. Others seem to have reached a collective consciousness; school gives parents a necessary break. Inundated with stories of hyperactive children and homework tantrums, need for dual income or fear of isolating a child from peers, it becomes apparent that the questioner is inferring one of three things about the questionee. Either A, Home Schooling Parent's children are perfect, B, Home Schooling Parent is completely obsessed with her child, or C, Home Schooling Parent is some kind of zealot who is paranoid that the public education system will indoctrinate and inevitably ruin her child. We all know that A is false, leaving us with either B or C (either way - CRAZY!)

After two years of home schooling, and still lacking a quick response to that question, I found that I was asking it of myself. After much reflection I have found my answer to the question, "Why do you home school?" No one item below is THE definitive reason, but taken collectively they provided me with enough evidence to suggest that I am making the right decision for our family.

*I truly believe that parents can more effectively teach their own children than a 'teacher'
*To strive for academic excellency, not just a passing WASL test.
*To sensor material being taught for quality and accuracy
*To get to re-learn everything!
*To protect my kids from other kids (Have you ever read Lord of the Flies!?)
*To slow life down a bit and spend time enjoying the family, not just running between sports practices and McDonald's
*Health concerns (food allergies and ADD)