Just for the record, I think you’re doing the right thing. As a newlywed looking ahead to having children in the next three years, I’m actually in the process of setting up my life and business so that I will be able to homeschool; this blog (and my experiences with American education) have convinced me that it’s the right way to go. But actually, the article says that 46% of those surveyed said homeschooling provided a good or excellent education; 60% believed that *charter* schools provide a good or excellent education. All that means is that a majority of those polled have drunk the charter school Kool-Aid sold by the corporate interests that promote them, since the best data show that most charter schools perform the same or WORSE than neighborhood public schools educating the same demographic (a small group of elite charters like KIPP and Harlem Children’s Zone being the exception rather than the rule). If only homeschoolers were as organized as the charter school PR folks; our society would be radically different (and most likely, better).

I met a darling, lovely artist yesterday at a homeschool nonschool gathering. She is beautiful, brilliant and at once impressed me with that “wise beyond her years” calm. She is only 31, has three children, and while I was holding her baby, she explained how she and her husband were both homeschooled. I have never met a couple directly like this before so I bombarded her with Qs. Even she was surprised that she found her life love in a man she met after college and they didn’t talk about HS until some time late into dating. I was telling her how some blogs and news venues (i.e. Huff Post, etc.), will have so many hundreds of HS bashing posts calling us counter culture, child shelterers, and even really insidious claims, like racism. I actually thought to myself, PT would really enjoy this conversation! We were both surprising each other sort of every other sentence. Just the point is that to her, this is her beautiful life she has always known and for she and her husband, they dont concern themselves with naysayers. And how fortunate that they have each other as built in support? If we all raise our children to grow into this talented caring self secure human being, right??? I can’t claim that I never have doubts or worries, I am human too…but I profoundly know we are doing the right thing for our families and our children by avoiding many of the institutional pitfalls,, college bound or no…orthodox path or “counter culture” we will all vacillate a little about what choices we are making that are going to turn out great and the ones we are going to seriously *F* up.

You do have so much support Penelope! Sometimes I feel sorry for you (and myself, and every child that had to survive childhood, rather than live it), but you are such a champion because you try and you connect and you are awake. Happy Wednesday

Another great post.