Today in America, over seven million children are educated at home. In the wake of the school killings at Jonesboro, and more recently, at Columbine High School, more and more parents are making the decision to home school. Some parents educate their children at home because they feel that the quality of education that is available in the public school system is inadequate. Still other parents choose home school out of a feeling that the public school system is sorely lacking in qualified and concerned educators, who in spite of years of post secondary education, certification and accreditation, bring with them to the classroom the preconceived ideas, notions and prejudices that affect most of us in society. While a great number of parents home school their children out of concern for their safety, a desire for a better education, or the desire for their child to have teachers who genuinely care for them and their well being; the majority of children are home schooled because their parents wish to impart on them the moral values and personal beliefs by which they should govern their lives.

The education of an individual does not merely consist of reading, writing, mathematics, science and the academic subjects that the state deems "a complete education." An individual is shaped by his or her social interactions, familial environment as well as the greater community. Our children must make decisions on a daily basis that may seem trivial to us as adults, but in the formation of their social conscience, individual responsibility, and spiritual well being, can be monumental. Whom one sits with at lunchtime, plays with at recess, or even converses with for a few moments in the hallway, can immediately lock a child into a group, which in turn, locks that child into a role. Children live up to our expectations, if a child is expected to be a troublemaker, eventually, a troublemaker is what he will be. A child who is accepted into the "A" group or clique is disadvantaged as much as the child who is not. The child who is accepted will eventually carry out behaviors that will keep him or her in that group, while the child who is not part of the group will either try to become a part of the group or will suffer at the hands of its' members. Either way, how they have treated another, or have been treated has an impact on their psyche. We live in a society in which importance is based not upon one's character, but upon one's financial standing, not upon righteousness, but upon popularity. It is the "A" group or clique, but on a much larger scale.

Teachers are, without argument, the most underpaid and unappreciated people in our communities. The measly salaries that we pay those who are charged with the education and development of our children, demonstrate the skewed priorities of this society. Many Americans no longer think twice about the exorbitant salaries that we pay to professional athletes, but will grumble bitterly about a 4% raise for teachers. It is this imbalance that causes teachers to become uncaring and bitter, and justifiably so. By no means are all teachers unqualified or indifferent to the education of our children, but even the most diligent, the most caring, the most professional teacher has his limitations. In a good scenario, better than most schools actually have, a teacher will have fifteen students in his classroom. It would be nearly impossible to give each child the attention they need, and it is impossible to give all of the students equal time. How then, does a teacher decide which child to pay more attention to, and which child less? Would they base their assessment on skill level? On personality? On parental involvement? Race? Religion? Economic status?

Parents who choose to educate their children at home come under attack from many sides. We are questioned about our motives and our qualifications. We are accused of segregating our children, giving them a substandard education and depriving them of a social life. The first thing I always say to detractors is that, no one loves a child more than the parent. Therefore, no one wants better for that child than his or her parents. Home school parents are some of the most meticulous and diligent teachers to be found, for the simple fact that it is their own child's future that they hold in their hands. When you home school your child, there is no one to blame for their failures, no one to blame for their shortcomings or inadequacies. It falls squarely on your shoulders. Home schooling children is no easy task, and not one to be undertaken lightly.

The beauty of educating your child is that their development does fall squarely on your shoulders. There is great freedom in being able to choose what and when your child learns different concepts. If your child is 8 years old, but can read at a fifth grade level, he may read at a fifth grade level. He does not have to wait for the class, he is not bored doing work that he has already mastered. The teacher, the parent, knows exactly what her child knows at any given moment. In addition to the academic subjects that the child must master, and please-- make no mistake, your child will be tested, she becomes completely educated in the eyes of the people who love her the most, her parents.

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