But this decision should not be taken lightly. Not every parent has the time, experience or expertise to home-school his or her children properly. It is a serious, long term commitment that can have very large benefits or disastrous results. Speaking as a home-school family, here are a few reasons why. They do not have to drag their feet waiting for other kids to complete class work or lag behind because the teacher doesn't have the time for individual attention.
Children have time to pursue their own interests in greater depth.
When my sons had to miss school because of a joint bleed, the school board always sent a homebound tutor. Responding to last week's query about whether Appalachians still suffer negative stereotyping from outsiders, Bland and Wythe Countians observed that while such stereotyping continues, it might actually benefit us. I knew I could count on my good mountain neighbors to respond to this issue with characteristic brilliance and vehemence. I am proud of my heritage, right down to the last moonshiner. Anyone that makes fun of our ways just wishes they were safe enough in their own community to sleep with the doors unlocked, to help a stranger on the street, or to walk down the street and not be scared to speak to the people we meet.