[spaypets]

While I understand the attraction of homeschooling, I actually think it's bad for society. Sure, it's really easy to be confident and assured if you're never challenged out of your comfort zone. I'm not speaking of academically, I'm speaking of socially.

Of course, I say that, having lived (and continuing to live) in a rural community where all incomes attended public school. I learned an enormous amount about families that were vastly different from mine.

It distresses me that my nieces live in a neighborhood and attend a school where everyone is just like them. They don't know anyone poor, let alone play with them on a playground or sit next to them in school.

I went to school with kids so poor they lined their leaking boots with bread bags. I am fortunate that I still see many of them so I know how far they've come in the world.

Elementary school was hell for me, actually. I was the kid who was picked on, the kid who had no friends. I would have preferred not to have gone through that, but I am a stronger person because of it.

I know, Red, that you will take every opportunity, as you do now, to expose your children to the world at large. But, I have met so many people who use homeschooling as a way to limit their children's exposure to things they don't like, understand or approve of, I wonder how they will respond when confronted with them. Or is this country destined to become a country of communities with gates, not just outside the neighborhood but in our minds. Already we associate only with people of like minds, read publications that we agree with, watch newscasts that reinforce our own opinions.

Melting pot? Heck we're not even dining in the same restaurants!