You may be amused/disturbed by some of the "expert" musing on the increasing popularity of unschooling, in this article from today's NY Times.

Money quote: “As school choice expands and home-schooling in general grows, this is one of those models that I think the larger public sphere needs to be aware of because the folks who are engaging in these radical forms of school are doing so legally,” said Professor Huerta of Columbia. “If the public and policy makers don’t feel that this is a form of schooling that is producing productive citizens, then people should vote to make changes accordingly.”

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Posted by Sarah

Yes on one hand I am disturbed. I don't like this guy's attitude.

On the other hand, I have seen how some people unschool their children - only some, mind you - and it does make me think. When those children grow up without any skills, it is society who must support them in one way or another. Especially in a welfare state such as I live in. (I believe in welfare, but for those who need it, not as a catch-all.) I do think society has a responsibility to ensure all children have equal opportunities to succeed as they grow up. And parents have a responsibility towards the society they live in to raise functional children. (Although of course not everyone needs to be a college professor!)

However, that is what voting is all about. The public shouldn't have any input on methods of home education. Or even on whether home education is okay or not. They should say "we want a society where children are not abused, and are educated to the degree that they can function as adults in our society." Then they vote in a government - and a governing system - which is entrusted with protecting the kind of society we want and the people within it. THAT is the role of the public, and to go further than that is like allowing strangers to interfere with each other's lives - a scary proposal.

So I do think the government should be able to keep tabs on homeschoolers and expect certain things from them, on behalf of society. For example, where I live, homeschoolers are expected to teach their children at least as regularly and as well as a public school. For us, our schedule of 2 hours a day, 3 days a week, was approved because it equates to the real learning time of a child in school. So that requirement doesn't mean a replication of school, but does ensure the child is being well educated, whatever the method.

I know my views meet disapproval from many homeschoolers, but having seen what can happen to a child in the privacy of the family home, and the non-functional wreck of an adult it can create, I feel there needs to be some safety net out there for homeschooled kids, even if the majority are perfectly safe and well-taught.

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