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To educate or not to educate hasn't been the question. But how to educate, where and by whom seems to be the big dilemma. I think we can all agree on one thing and that is: everyone's mind visualizes differently how to accomplish the same goal.If we all, as parents, used the same parenting skills we could mass produce robots. Since we are individuals, each unique and different, we parent and teach accordingly.

I am a firm believer that home schooling is not for everyone. Most American homes today need both parents in the work force leaving some form of schooling to be done outside of the home. As a mom who did home school I know that there are those who do not know the difference in home schooling or schooling at home. Home schooling is one on one,lots of interaction, hands on projects, and depending on the age or grade level, work shop learning. Schooling at home is very rigid as is sitting in school with a teacher doing most of the talking and giving orders, issuing grades for tasks completed, giving 15 minute breaks on schedule and expecting performance on cue. If the latter system was what was needed for perfect education why aren't there more high performers sitting in our so called wonderful public schools? The truth is public education isn't working.

After reading some of the comments given by other writers here on Helium I decided to get on my soap box and comment. My reasons for home schooling was that I have a dyslexic child, an ADHD child and two high achievers. My oldest son attended public school from day one. However, he did not go to kindergarten or first grade. At age six I enrolled my firstborn as a second grader. Why? because I knew my child and I also knew what the school would do to him had I enrolled him any differently.This child was an honor student all through school, became a college grad and is doing well. When son #2, the ADHD child, was in kindergarten he was known to disrupt class, talk, fidget and squirm. This went on for two years at which time son#3 entered the school system. I'm sure we have all heard stories of how one kid gets labeled "bad" so the siblings to follow are watched and expected to be trouble also. Well, son#3 was dyslexic and was soon labeled LD. Oh! No! We're not even going to go there because,"There is no fury like a mother's fury" First, let me tell you that reversing numbers and certain letters is not uncommon for some small children that usually grow out of it. Son #2 and #3 were tested psychologically.

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