I hope it doesn’t come to that and every successive study shows a strengthening of the public’s support of home schooling which does bode well.

Though I would wish to share your optimism, it seems the public has been ignored on a number of issues where they held a majority; immigration, same sex marriage being two where the “public’s” demands were brushed aside. Same with parents who have protested the inclusion of Islamic role playing courses in public schools in California.

…and the government at least pretends to worry about accountability.

pretend would be the operative word.

Meaning, of course, how well you adhere to their goals

And therein lies the rub. I can almost envision having to coach kids not to admit to some of the values and mores parents would instruct them in when the state evaluates whether it’s purposes have been achieved. But, I’m afraid I’m becoming rather paranoid, given the degree so many of our rights are being targeted these days.

Exactly. There’s a reason parents came before children. They know better.

Ahhhh, but they used to know better. Then there were the boomers, my lamentable generation, alas. They have contributed greatly to deconstructing adults into juvenile whiners. A generation that can still find inspiration at the sight of the Rolling Stone’s spindly and rickety bodies limping across the stage has very serious issues. They’ve bequeathed them all to the children.

I hope it doesn’t come to that and every successive study shows a strengthening of the public’s support of homeschooling which does bode well.

But the increasing centralization of the education system as a whole is causing a huge conflict. It is too easy to “opt out” of the system, and the government at least pretends to worry about accountability.

Meaning, of course, how well you adhere to their goals.

Exactly. There’s a reason parents came before children. They know better.