by Emma Riley Sutton

Created on: May 15, 2008   Last Updated: June 25, 2008

The decision to home school our daughter was made long before she was born. We decided to home school her because we love her and want the best for her. When searching for the best possible education, there is no place like our home. Public school is no place for children and many private schools in our area have turned into reform schools. We wanted more control over what she was taught and the pace in which it was taught. We wanted to be able to instill our values and convictions in her before society tried to indoctrinate her into an apathetic crowd follower.

Public school is no place for children; private schools are turning into reform schools. It is the governments job, or so they think, to make children responsible citizens. It is my job to do more than that. I want my child to have my religious beliefs, morals, and ethics. The best way for me to do that is to teach her the way I want her to go, giving her as much information, training, and love as possible, and then let her decide.

Parents, grandparents and other guardians send children off like lambs to the slaughter when they wave good-bye to them at the bus stops and the steps of the schools. Violence is a huge concern in schools. It seems every week there is another school shooting or a school in lock down due to some violent incident. This isn't surprising. Children need individualized attention. Over-worked and under-paid administrators, teachers, and staff is the major problem. Class size and under-funding go hand-in-hand with too much work and not enough pay. Children get lost in the crowd and there is little, if any, one-on-one attention. The schools do what they can, but the problems they face are overwhelming. No child should have to endure those types of problems. Until public schools and private schools are able to solve the problems, the will continue to be no place for children.

The dangers of peer pressure is another reason to home school. Children reflect those around them. Parents who home school have more control of who their children interact with. Instead of having to set next to the motley mix in a traditional classroom, the parents help to choose their child's peer group. The child and the parents are able

to choose the extra-curricular activities to participate in, thus eliminating many of the negative influences. No parent can protect their child from everything, but this is a good start. By choosing good friends at an early age, this helps the child to make the same good choices

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