OK, RedTop, schools in.
There are homeschoolers whose main goal is to keep their kids away from the awful mean old world. There are also homeschoolers who are doing the education thing themselves because the regular schools are just so screwed up.
We've homeschooled our two kids (14 and 17) since kindergarten, and they've done well by any standard. Academically, they've outperformed their agemates considerably, scoring in the 90th to 99th percentile on national standardized tests every single year. My oldest skipped a grade, continued to top the 99th percentile, and started college at age SIXTEEN. (She's pulled straight A's her first term, and cant stand the dumbed down stuff they're teaching the college freshmen.) My younger kid has had the freedom to develop at his own pace, not getting lost in the crowd and not being swarmed for being different. They've both developed into strong people who know what they think but can still relate to those who differ.
They are better socialized than their peers. My daughter has volunteered over 400 hours, with elderly and with preschoolers. She had a delightful ongoing friendship with a 94 year old lady, and loved to spend time with her up to the lady's last days. My daughter also tutors kids in reading. She does this stuff because she likes helping people and being with them, and we've not pushed her into any of this. She's preparing for a career as a professor of medieval european history. She plays classical piano, electric rock guitar, and has a green belt in Shoto-kan Karate. She's been awarded a scholarship to the college of her choice, and she recieved a Congressional Silver Medal for her achievements.
My son volunteers too, and plans to start refereeing soccer. He also has a Karate green belt, and lifts weights with a past olympian in our area. He's academically strong, he's thinking about a career in medicine, and he gets along great with others. He doesnt let people bully the weak when he's around, and because he hasnt been shoved into the peer pressure wars he frankly doesnt care if the bully is the most popular kid around.
Oh, and his first month on AH he had a 12% hit rate and a KPD over 1. He also routinely landed multiple kills and even had a 14 kill sortie (no rearm!) in a mossy. I still havent forgiven him.
Obviously, I'm proud of both of them. Neither has their head emerging from their anal orifice.
So there.
