More likely to vote, more likely to understand politics, more likely to be involved in their communities. Quite frankly, you’re trying to perpetuate old stereotypes. And I’ve also known quite a few homeschoolers who are exceptionally polite, bright, and talkative. Liberals only hope homeschoolers will grow up to be silent wallflowers, but you’re going to see more and more in positions of leadership in years to come.

Quite frankly, homeschooling is far more common in history than you think. Public schools are far more disposable than you think. People became President with little formal schooling. Believe it or not, as most of these kids go to churches, they learn these things in other arenas. See here for more on home schooled social skills.

And while you try and declare that you as a parent are an expert in all things regarding raising other people’s children, I’d point out that parents disagree with your stance.

Oh, I see he writes for the SF Chronicle and is a homosexual. That explains a lot.

In other words you are not a parent. This is not the same as saying that you do not have to visit the sun to know that it is hot. If you are not a parent you really do not understand just how much time children require.

They are a tremendous blessing. It wouldn’t matter if the parents were independently wealthy and didn’t have to work, there is not enough time in the day to give a whole lot of individual attention to 17 children.

And that is the assumption that they are all healthy and that none of them are special needs.

The Majority of studies are clear that homeschoolers do far better.

Better on tests. It doesn’t cover the more important things like how they get along with others.

The Majority of studies are clear that homeschoolers do far better.

Perhaps not, but as a father and an experienced educator I can say that it is very difficult to spend quality time with children when you have that many.

Perhaps not, but homeschoolers do on average end up better education as measured by tests.

Some tests show that. Some tests show that homeschooled children have a harder time getting along with other people because of a lack of exposure.

Are you a parent?

Being educated does matter. It matters a great deal. Homeschooling is not code for better education.

No, they’re strangers. Being educated doesn’t matter. You said it matters that kids get time with their parents. Well, these kids are getting loads compared to the daycare generation.

Take it a step further. The strangers you refer to are not really strangers. They are educated professionals. Are there bad teachers out there? Sure and that bad teacher could be the child’s father or mother.

As for gay adoption, you’d be willing to have kids not have a father or mother (both of which are essential for kids’ development?

A loving mother and father is optimal and what I would prefer but that is not always available. There are a lot of children who are terribly abused in homes that have the typical nuclear family.

There are a lot of children who could be adopted but are not. Given the option of a loving gay family versus being raised in a system I’ll pick the gay couple every time.

Being gay does not mean that someone is degenerate, ill or deranged any more than being heterosexual does.

I’ve seen a lot of kids with two parents who both work and then the parents entain themselves a bit. Why aren’t you in the house of the majority of parents in America telling them to shape up? Of course, the eldest child is 19 and not being raised.

As for gay adoption, you’d be willing to have kids not have a father or mother (both of which are essential for kids’ development? After being so judgmental of

Being a parent is both the hardest and most rewarding job there is. My idealized version of a family includes a mother and father and an income that is large enough to do more than just support the family.

More specifically, it gives the parents the time and opportunity to spend quality time with their children. I don’t care how good a parent you are, there comes a point where you will be spread thin and then you really see how good a parent you are.

Children need guidance. They need structure and they need time with mom and dad. I find it hard to believe that 17 kids can get as much as they need and deserve.

I never said a word about religious or political beliefs. I never accused them of being mentally disturbed. In fact I could almost see myself having ten children.

But it still comes back to time. I have decades of experience in working with children. During that time I have noticed that many of the more troubled kids were the ones who didn’t get time with mom and dad. It is not so much socio-economic as a time factor.

And to address a different point of yours, I don’t have a problem with gay marriage or gay people adopting children. It is better to be raised by loving parents than to live in an orphanage or get sent from foster home to foster home.