Did you know that there are nearly 3 MILLION children being home educated in the United States alone?  And that number increases by 7% to 15% every year! ⁽¹⁾   

In 1997, studies showed that "there are more home school students nationwide than there are public school students in Wyoming, Vermont, Delaware, North Dakota, Alaska, South Dakota, Rhode Island, Montana, and Hawaii - combined!" ⁽²⁾   Amazing, isn't it?  Check out the latest (1999)  Home School Statistics and Reports pages at the Home School Legal Defense Association web site. 

Home-educated children outscore public school children across the board! And as far as the old, tired argument..."What about socialization?"  Home-educated children are every bit as social as their public school counterparts, taking advantage of clubs, groups, classes, and local activities offered in their community.  After all, school wasn't originally designed to teach socialization, it was designed to teach the academics.  Before the creation of what we now know as "public school" children were socialized through the home.   Socialization can be learned outside of  "school".  To that end, the home-educated child isn't limited to only peers of their own age for 8 hours or more per day...they interact with a variety of people, of varied ages and occupations.   Talk about education at your fingertips!   For a wonderful article on this very subject, please read "No Thank You, We Don't Believe in Socialization" by Lisa Russell.

Some reasons we home school...

	We want our children to be taught our beliefs and values, not just what is "allowed" to be taught in public school.
	We feel that learning does not come in 90 minute segments, turned on and off by a "bell", and only at certain times of the day.  If, when doing Math, a child has a Science question -- which could very well be an extension of the Math -- why should that child be told, in essence, that it's not time for Science.  You have to learn Math now and you will be able to follow your interest later.  Why can't that child's question be answered and allowed to follow through to it's natural end?  After all, learning is natural in every child and guided by an inherent curiosity.  Why not use that to the child's advantage?
	We like to use games in our home schooling.  Learning should be fun and we have a great time with them!
	We feel by home schooling, there is less time wasted in each day.  So much time is spent in school quieting down the class, taking attendance, trying to accommodate the learning style and aptitude of different children, changing classes, etc.  A home school can accomplish just as much, or more, in less time.  And no one knows the needs and learning style of our children better than we do!
	We have the freedom for more field trips, outings, excursions, or whatever we can learn from!
	And last, but not least, we enjoy having our kids around!