[greyhavener]

On homeschooling. I know four families who are dear friends who homeschool or have in the past.
1) In one case it has worked out quite well. The children are college students who are well educated, well spoken, and well adjusted.
2) In another case the children know alot about what the parent thought was important and nothing about what he didn't, are very opinionated (almost exclusively the opinions of the parent who homeschooled them) and are socially inept. They are very distrustful and judgemental and very very smart. I worry about how they will relate to others when they are on their own.
3)In another case the parents, who know the family described previously, decided to stop home schooling at jr. high and put their children into a private school in order to help them develop social skills. These kids were behind the school academically in some areas and ahead in other. The parents are working to see that their kids don't become products of the society but understand it and can function in it and relate to others.
4)Still another family started out sending their kids through public school until fifth grade, then began homeschooling. Finding they needed more structure, they've joined a homeschool group that meets three times a week working under a Socratic model.

I think homeschooling's success is dependent upon the motives and background of the parent.