Is the institution in danger of becoming "a thing of the past"? I posed this question to eight parents in an office environment, and received a resounding, "Yes!"

Enter homeschooling, the institution's rival. Homeschooling is the one of the latest trends to invade the lives of millions. But, how effective is it?

Statistics have proven repeatedly that homeschooled students can out-perform their institutional peers. In 1997, 13 year-old Rebecca Sealfon won the Scripps Howard National Spelling Bee, and in 2000, 12 year-old George Thampy was the victor. Both were homeschooled. Consequently, the myth that homeschooled kids are nothing but anti-social misfits remains just that. There are several extra curricular activities (sports, arts, church groups, etc.) that provide home-educated students with the opportunity to make friends.

Preschoolers face a more difficult time than is imagined. It is the moment of reckoning, when Mom and/or Dad will decide homeschool or institution? Alas, the former is chosen. Hence, I introduce you to Jimmy Barton Jr., who will be my example.

Suddenly, Jimmy Jr. realized that lunchtime will be spent without friends, and besides his parents, his only companion on most days will be his tutor. Inevitably, we think, "Oh! The poor lad! He is doomed for failure!" Contrarily, Jimmy Jr. survived the "elementary" and "high school" homeschool years easily, for it is true that we adapt to what we are taught. Then it becomes all we know.

So, Jimmy Jr. became simply, Jimmy. At eighteen years old, he was finally a man. He even had a cool mustache to prove it. Fourteen years of homeschooling had taught him impeccable manners and enviable discipline. He'd spent several hours a week on tutorials, received loads of online assistance, and passed all his exams. Therefore, he was ready for college. Or was he?

Jimmy was now capable of making most of his own decisions, and he didn't have to rely solely on Mom and Dad to determine his collegiate destiny. He narrowed down his choices:

1. Earn a college degree via homeschooling
2. Earn a college degree via the outside world

If he selected number 1, he risked not having the Harvard seal attached to his precious degree. If he decided to occupy a classroom, from which he'd been blocked for so long, he might experience chronic apprehension and shyness.

Jimmy would have been an imposter if he hadn't chosen number 2. An online degree did not diminish his earning potential,

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