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There are certainly situations where home schooling is appropriate. If we stayed here, I wouldn't home school mostly because our school system is really good. It's likely that I would try to get my potential future child into the Core Knowledge K-8 school here; the staff there spends a lot of time on extra training for the Core Knowledge curriculum and I like the way that the curriculum uses building blocks so that each grade level builds on the previous grade level in a cohesive, school-wide manner.
If we end up in a school district with a poor school system, it's likely I would home school. It's doubtful I would home school in the early years; good Montessori and Waldorf schools (whose pedagogical philosophies I agree with) are easy to find in any of the places that are on our short list of places to settle.
I myself went through the public schools, but both of my parents worked in the public school system, and did a great job of making sure I got the best education possible within that system. They were also the kind of people that emphasized learning outside of school. Every summer we would take a big trip somewhere; unlike other families taking trips to sunny beaches we often went to national parks or cities with cultural attractions so as to enhance our learning. I was also allowed to read whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted (therefore sending me to my room wasn't much of a punishment, as it was where all my books were). I want to have the same kind of attitude with my future children.
I already teach-as-I-go when I babysit and nanny; I get a lot of compliments from parents on my ability to explain complicated concepts to children in terms they can understand. I also get a lot of kudos for teaching the children important social skills, such as how to be polite.
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If I am not better, at least I am different. --Jean-Jacques Rousseau
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