Last year we had more than sixteen hundred. Nationally, the number's approaching a million. For an education issue, the research is thin. But the reality is there. I wonder if this might be one more societal change brought to us by the internet.
Children can work at home and link to programs on every subject and even to real teachers.
Parents no longer have to teach all the subject matter themselves. Home schooling parents can make sure their children have social contacts through community groups like scouts, and many of them pool resources for group field trips and special activities. Wisely, some local schools are opening their doors to home schoolers for group activities like sports and music. At its heart, the growing home school movement and the noticeable success of its students might suggest that professional teachers are not essential and parents can actually do the job better. What they don't have is money.