Wow, yourstruly! Thanks for elaborating even more. I am not opposed to home schooling; I just did not know much about it so I wanted to learn more - and the two of you have convinced me that it is a much better option than I thought it would be.

You have to admit, though, that we live in a culture where teachers are often celebrated for having specialized knowledge about both their subject area and teaching, which they have gained through at least four years of college. That was my starting point for asking some of the questions that I asked.

I will be the first to admit, however, that although many teachers are wonderful, others do not deserve their reputation as educators. I am not pleased with the education I received when I went to a public high school in the early 1990s. Many of the teachers should not have been teaching, but there were a few teachers that I look back on as mentors. My parents, on the other hand, could not have home schooled me since they both worked. Also, my father would be the first to tell you that he only got out of high school because he was too valuable to the track team to not pass him, so he would not have been comfortable trying to teach his kids. My mother, who is a pharmacist, probably would have done a good job through elementary school, but I can remember various points with the different subjects when she said that I had surpassed her knowledge. I applaud you for being able to teach your children - and for finding them so many opportunities outside the home that also enrich their learning experiences.