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I went to public school my entire life. I did know quite a few home-school families and coached several home-schooled kids on my swim team. I've also read a lot of home-school blogs, but I don't know if that counts.

I have complicated feelings about homeschooling. In a perfect world (to me), every child would go to and have easy access to wonderful public schools with outstanding teachers where all their needs are met.

But I understand that there are many many many factors that cause people to homeschool (rural areas, children with disabilities or special needs, low socio-economic status public schools, religion - which to me is another issue.) So I do think parents should have the choice. I don't think I would home-school, but you never know.

I wasn't, but I know quite a few, and sadly, they are all "stereotypical" homeschoolers. But, it seems like they all had parents who homeschooled strictly to keep them closed off from the world, so that has A LOT to do with it.

Some of them seem to be coming around and are less awkward in social situations, but they're all pushing 30 and that's a long time to not know how to go on a date or make friends outside of your family. I think homeschooling can be fine if your parents are doing it to better your education in an area with bad public schools, and who make sure you're involved in outside activities, but it's just cruel to shut your kids up in your house together for days on end because you don't want them hearing cuss words or learning about sex. But that's just my opinion.

I went to public school, private school, and I was home schooled. My brother and sister were home schooled from the beginning. Home school stereotypes annoy me so much. My siblings and I are all well rounded individuals.

I am not sure if I will home school my children yet. I live in a neighborhood with a great public elementary school. It is definitely something that my DH and I will consider before we have school aged children.

I was not, but I also quit school my sophomore year. G IS homeschooled and we will homeschool all our kids. Aside from personally being outraged with the school system (public & private) & not believing in it at all (we rank horribly in comparison to other industrialized nations), we homeschool for character, environment, & one on one education.

G would probably fit the "stereotype" but he's always been a tad awkward in social situations & dealt with alot of bullying when in school because of it. He really social & is nice to everyone... doesn't fit the bill for the normal school yard cliques. He attended a very respected private school here & dealt not just with bullying but falling behind. After a horrible year we decided that homeschooling would be the best option.

I was until high school. My mom was previously a teacher & my dad was a pastor so I grew up in a very conservative home. I did grow up surrounded by "stereotypical" homeschoolers (you know, long skirts, bad hair, awkward & obsessed w/Bill Gothard) and I must say some have remained a bit "off" while others have done well. While I was sheltered growing up, I think I made up for it later on (heh) and am rather grateful for having had a fairly innocent childhood. Going to a public high school was a bit of a rude awakening since I'd never been in a school except to vote with my parents. My school was very snobbish & cliquey so making friends was difficult. Having spent four years being an outsider made me much more aware of making others feel welcome & included, since I know how it feels.

I personally won't be homeschooling my kids. I don't have the drive or the commitment to do it & not screw them up. Instead, I'll make sure they go to a good public or private school. Homeschooling can work but its extremely important to make sure they're involved outside the home & not sheltered to the point of social awkwardness, scarring them for life.

I wasn't homeschooled - my mom worked and we lived in a town with an excellent public school system.

But our neighbors now are homeschooled - and the mom is who watches our son during the day. It works out because the kids are older and they have school in the morning and the afternoon is mostly activities -- but the 3 kids (ages 12, 10 and 8) are GREAT KIDS.... they more outgoing and polite and talk more than some of my cousins/nephews do that are in public school... not sure if it's their personality or the way she homeschools but she does an excellent job with it. Their whole day is about learning as opposed to just classroom stuff - it's pretty cool to see.

Our town that we're living in has a great school system but she chooses to home school for them to get more of a christian upbringing... they're one of 15 families in the area and they get together weekly to learn together, I've met some of the other moms and kids and they're all so bright and outgoing...

They've really changed my opinion on homeschooling in general!

I wasn't, and I won't.

I wish I could though. It's not in our family plan for me to be an at-home mom, unfortunately. I think I would be a great homeschool mom/teacher (whatever the correct word is...). I would get my kids in groups with other homeschooled kids to get them the socialization the need, and would be able to focus on their education to meet whatever needs they individually had. I remember being SO bored in school, and my sister was WAY too overwhelmed with school lessons. We both could have benefited - me getting faster curriculum, my sister getting slower.

I was not, but my best friend's cousin was until college. She went to Harvard! Growing up we hung out with her after school, and I have to say her parents style of homeschooling seemed smart. They would have get togethers of 5-10 home schooled kids in the community for different classes. English, music etc., Socialization was a huge part of it, which would be important to me. That being said, they were all a bit "Weird" compared to the kids we knew from school, but are doing just fine in the real world now that we're all adults.

ETA - The price for not being weird (in my elementary school) seemed to mean, 8th grade pregnancies, shoplifting and bullying. I was "weird" and I would rather my kids be weird.

I went to public school all my life.

When I was in school, I always thought the homeschoolers were a little weird and sheltered.

Now that I'm older, I see no difference. They are just like anyone. I have a good friend that was homeschooled.

I personally couldn't homeschool my children because I don't think I would have the patience. But I'm all for it, if that's what you want to do.

Went to private school in Singapore and public school in CA.