I've been homeschooling for the past five years. (I do happen to have a college education, and my MIL is a teacher. ) I know a lot of homeschooled kids and they are all very advanced academically. Most graduate with their high school and two-year college degrees, as kids are allowed to start junior college when they are 16 here. The daughter of a friend of mine started at Gonzaga University as a junior this year- she's 18. (She's in their accounting program, and doing great).
As far as teaching subjects, what subjects I know I teach, and any others I can learn about beforehand or hire a tutor. (You'd all be surprised how many teachers stay up late to cram for subjects they have to teach the next day, btw.) My MIL is a teacher, but she taught 2nd grade and the Girl passed her up long ago, so I do nearly all her teaching and I decide on the curriculum. Our state's Office of the Superintendent (OSPI) very clearly lays out the learning requirements per grade level, and homeschooling resources are the same- and sometimes better- than the public school's.
This ruling in California will force the lawmakers to corrective action, of that I have no doubt. The homeschooling movement is too strong now, and public schools couldn't handle the influx of kids (particularly special needs kids) if they were to disallow it.
|