other kids and grown ups and to learn that people are different.

We live in a semi-rural area. The grade school is about 2 miles away, the high school over 10 (and they pass one field with cows and lots of open spaces on the way). We live on a street with about 12 houses and next to a small apartment complex. We do have our own library and a very nice public library. Even before the internet i could have taught them plenty of stuff. But being out in the world would not have been something I could have done at home.

Learning reading, writing, arthimetic and so on is only part of it. By going to public school, you learn how to get along with the nice people, how to avoid the crappy ones, how to tell the difference. You learn about social hierarchy, and you learn that life isn't always fair. You learn to stick up for yourself. You get to experience a school supported fancy party (prom) and all of the other social galas, that if you don't go, you might never get to experience otherwise. You find friends. You find yourself, or at least get an idea of what you are made of.

My kids are in their 40's. I thought about home-schooling, because I realized that they were learning more about how to navigate their hometown society than their school subjects. But they wanted to go to school, because otherwise, they wouldn't ever see anyone. They are both ok, good careers, good outlook. And surprisingly, attached to their hometown. Seems that time equalizes your standing. My friend goes to our high school reunions. I moved away, so I don't go. She said that all of the school rivalries are forgotten and people are just glad to see each other.

In order for online education to work for anyone, there has to be personal and family commitment. I worked from home for 9 years. It was a real job and I made good money. But I had to be responsible and make sure I reported on time and worked my shift. Nobody was standing over me. Home school is the same kind of commitment. And you can't expect kids and teens to manage it on their own. If your family commits to it, you have 100% responsibility and nagging rights to keep your kids in front of the computer until their school work is done. Then you get to help with all the supplemental work. You don't have Miss Smith or Mr. Jones taking 6 or 7 hours of the care off you. And you get to school your kids as well as work your job, maintain your home and stay fit. God bless real teachers

My aunt and uncle were terrified of "what might happen" to their daring snowflakes so they put them into the shiny new, uncertified private school their church started the year our county integrated the public schools. All my cousins grew up to be right wing assholes.

My parents really didn't have the money to send their three children left at home to private schools. I overhead one argument between my parents - my Dad wanted to borrow money from his mother to pay for private schools. Mom was of the opinion we were going to live in an even more integrated world and that we should learn to get along with everyone.

Of my three siblings and me the only one who grew up to be prejudiced was the sister who graduated from high school before integration.

getting their hands on the tax money that's supposed to be for education, or the ability to set up more segregated schools! Education sure is not at the top of the list!

That is intentional.

They are deliberately destroying public education.

".... because the results are poor."

Rich kids go to good, private schools. The rest? She could care less.

All these people care about is money. And all you have to do to evaluate the influence that DeVos has had on publis education is to look at Michigan. After DeVos pushed for-profit charter schools on the state, kids’ performance on standardized tests like NAEP went from middle of the pack to near the bottom. Today, education in Michigan still has not recovered. She’s part of the Christian Dominionists, and all they want is public education that keeps the masses from competing for good jobs and teaches them their warped brand of Christianity.

I can tell you that ALL schools are about money now. School is a business no matter whether or not it is private, public, or charter. My and my fellow teachers' experiences should be made public but no one would listen or believe us. You have no idea what is really going on and is getting increasingly worse.