Why I would want to homeschool

So, I have really been working with the girls, anywhere between 2 and 4 hours each day on their "lessons". I have been enjoying it tremendously, and it saddens me to think about the possibility of sending Natalie to 4-K next year (4 year old kindergarten here in Wisconsin...4 days a week for 3 hours a day...basically a free preschool). It isn't just about the seperation anxiety I will have with her being gone (truthfully, I am sure she will get along just fine without me- and I know I would still have my hands full here at home with Kennedy and TJ). It really boils down to the fact that I just don't agree with schooling outside the home at 4 years of age. As Glenn Beck would say- "Here's how I got there".

-Even in the best school district (which we happen to live in a fantastic one) I know it isn't possible for a teacher to teach 15 (and that is a GREAT ratio) 4 year olds at their maximum potential. It took me three 1/2 hour sessions to teach Natalie how to spell her name. How long would it take ONE teacher to teach 15 kids how to spell their names?

-I don't think 4 years old is old enough to have a child NOT under the influence of a parent. Frankly speaking, I don't agree with 75% of the parenting methods out there, so why would I want to send my child to be with the kids who are the product of those methods?

-I think it takes about 2 hours of structured learning a day to learn what a child learns in a typical school day. AND you are able to teach to the child's ability. Something that cannot possibly be done in a traditional classroom setting. So many hours of Alex's day are spent with him waiting for other student's to get done with their work...he literally doesn't have anything else to do. Finally his teacher realized this and has given him a more advanced work packet to do when he finishes before the other students.

-I believe in "child led" learning. For instance, the other day I told Natalie "Let's work on your letters" and she said "No, I don't want to work on them right now". I said "Okay". We did singing and art, and then, about an hour and a half later she said "I want to work on my letters now". Once again, that isn't an option in the traditional classroom setting. Now, with Montessori it is (they believe in child led learning)....but, at any rate, I think a child learns better when they are ready to learn, not when it is convenient for the teacher.

-I think that a child is much more prepared to be in the "real world" somewhere in between the ages of 10-14 (depending on the child). At 4 years old children are much too impressionable to be without constant supervision of an adult who will be influencing the childs morals and values.

These are just a couple reasons...I have many more, but for me, homeschooling just makes sense. I know that every household isn't capable of homeschooling, and that is okay, but for those who are fortunate enough to have homeschooling as an option, I think it is a very viable choice for the family. Just my 2 cents...