I am in a much better position to act in their best interests than any hospital or school or other institution. The Christian folks on this list will hearken back to God as the one who set things up this way, but simple biology will do for me. I, like any animal mother, am fitted with instincts and hormones and abilities that make me an ideal teacher, guide and protector of my children. Show me a natural system where the government rears the children and I'll show you an anthill. I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm a mammal.
Mammal mothers have close, protective relationships with their offspring.
They don't send their unformed young off in droves to be educated. Instead, they take their children with them in their daily lives and teach them personally. There is only one other person with as strong an interest in my children's welfare and that's their father. When people start talking about standards, they lose sight of individuality and basic quality. Me, I'll vote for love and care.