by Sandy Winn

Created on: May 17, 2008   Last Updated: June 17, 2008

By now, we are all too aware of the hype stemming from both sides of the home schooling camp. Before focusing on the hype and finding the balance of wherein lies the truth, we really should address what many of us have in common - we want what is best for our nation's children. Regardless of your opinions for or against homeschooling, I think that point is at least something of which we can all agree. Even though we still may not see eye-to-eye on everything, maybe we can at least step together in a direction that allows us to meet halfway.

Home school advocates and opponents should be using the skills of logic, reason, and asking questions to be objective when forming their opinions. When it comes to home schooling many people form their opinions based mostly on their feelings, a couple of home schoolers versus numerous home schoolers, or others; we are human beings so this is understandable but not reasonable. We teach our children to research and base their answers on facts, yet when it comes to home schooling, many adults neglect facts and instead use broad based assumptions and generalizations to justify their reasoning for or against home schooling.

Although this article is geared more to the militant side of both camps, my hopes are that those in the middle are able to find a bit of enlightenment too. That said, here we go...

Militant Anti-Home Schooling Hype: Socialization and Teaching Qualifications

I'd like to blend the following two hypes from an angle in which I hope gives you some points to ponder that you may have not contemplated before.

- "Home schooled children will not know how to function in the real world because they will lack the necessary social skills required to make it when they reach adulthood."

- "Parents are not qualified to give their children a proper education that will prepare them for future employment. Only qualified and credentialed teachers have what it takes to prepare children for future employment."

How many home schooled adults do you know? If you know any, have you talked with them? Are they shy, outgoing, somewhere in-between? Do they have a job? Are they self-employed? Did they go to college? Are they homeless? Are they still living with mom and dad at an age when most are living on their own? Were their parents college educated?

If you have spoken with them, shy or not, and they have a job or have went to college or own a business, wouldn't you agree that not only have they been educated properly but also hold necessary

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