Replies to '11/24 Great School Debate'

First of all I would like to say that this episode seems extremely biased towards public schoolers.  There was not a traditional home schooler represented.  How can you get an idea of a typical home schooler if you don't show one???? 

Unschooling can be a good thing for the right family.  But unschooling does not mean that you set no boundaries for your child.  That can't be healthy.  Not every home schooler is like that - in fact most aren't close.  And what is up with the girl who is paranoid of sending her kids to school?  She doesn't even home school so how can she represent homeschooling?  We are not all a bunch of paranoid idiots. 

I have three children all of them are special needs.  One is Bipolar and two are on the Autism Spectrum.  This is the main reason why I home school.  They can get the attention they need as well as the flexibility.  My children are extremely bright.  They are all way above where they should be if they were "typical" children which is exceptional because they have so much more to contend with on a daily basis. 

As for social skills - public schools do not foster social skills.  My children actually have to be taught social skills.  It is not something that they can pick up by watching others.  They have friends that they see on a regular basis.  They have home school groups, martial arts, as well as therapies. 

My children are not typical.  They would not succeed being educated in the typical manor.  There is no right and wrong in this debate.  There is only what is best for your family.  I have been horrified reading the responses here.  How can someone declare that another person's choices are wrong without truly understanding themselves and there position.  Yes - there are families that would probably do best not homeschooling.  There are also children that would probably benefit by being removed from public schools. 

I wish more then anything that there was understanding instead of the constant bickering that goes on.