"Graveyard of the Fireflies" was mentioned in an earlier post, but I can't imagine a film more inappropriate for young children; it's emotionally wrenching and both main characters die horrible deaths. It's an excellent film, but for teens and up.

And who can forget her performance in the Star Wars Christmas Special? Classic!

It seems every time I check in, Joan Walsh is talking about Joan Walsh's talking on TV. Say something that matters *here* -- isn't that the whole point of my paying a subscription fee?

"The question was very simple: If you homeschool, how are you going to teach your children such subjects as advanced mathematics, chemistry and biology, which involve specialized knowledge and/or special resources?"

There's no rule stating parents have to teach all subjects themselves, advanced or otherwise. Check out: Thinkwell, Chalkdust, The Teaching Company, K12, Calvert, Art of Problem Solving, Life of Fred (designed to be self-teaching), EPGY, and eIMACS. There are many more. It's not uncommon for homeschooled teens (and preteens) to take community college courses. Parents uncomfortable with basic arithmetic (i.e. K-6 math) can purchase scripted programs such as Saxon Math or Right Start Math, or programs with extensive home instructor's guides such as Singapore Math. They can also farm math entirely out to K12 or similar program.

nhf: "It's not uncommon for homeschooled teens (and preteens) to take community college courses."

Xrandadu Hutman: So you keep them home so you can send them to school. Got it.

I homeschool my kids partially because it gives me the flexibility to best meet their educational needs. Sometimes this means self-study, sometimes co-op, sometimes parent directed or facilitated activities, sometimes on-line learning, and sometimes college or other classes. As kids get older, the number of options increases. And your problem is?

My problem is that the practical questions should be the central questions: How are your kids going to get the best possible education? If a homeschooler, such as Andrew O'Hehir, doesn't have an answer for that, then he needs to get one.

His kids are five. They don't need a comprehensive educational plan.

Regarding your answer about sending your kids to community college, nhf, it seems a little contorted to say that you are homeschooling your kids so they can get the best education, but then to turn around and say that you're going to send them to individual college courses to deal with specialized subjects.

snip

I also wonder if that's just a pat answer or if you're really going to send your high-school-age kids off to take college courses in chemistry, biology, physics, math and the like.It's a possibility

I didn't actually say I was going to send them to college courses -- I said it was an option, albeit an option I'm willing to take advantage of if necessary. I also made clear that community college is not the only option for families with parents not able to teach advanced math and sciences. FWIW, many states have programs which will pay for students younger than 18 to take college courses, and this can apply to homeschoolers. I'm most familiar with Running Start in Washington state.

In our case, math and all but perhaps AP level sciences will be done at home or in co-op.

Will you be willing and likely to go the extra mile and pay the piecemeal book/tuition costs to send your 16-year-old to classes in these subjects? Honestly?

They'd more likely choose to take classes on more esoteric topics. We more than have the basics covered.

of those children home-schooled for religious reasons, the majority are not taught math or science adequately, as measured by their performance on standardized exams or in college science courses;

Citation please. And assuming you have one, how do public school students fare (setting aside the 1/3 or more who drop out before graduating high school)? English 101, Math 101, etc. are primarily filled by public school students.