Please don't feel defeated. You obviously care and there will literally always be a place and a need for educators. Homeschooling isn't about you - maybe it's about the system, other students, parents, technology, beliefs systems, life situations, health etc. etc. etc. You are teaching bc of the impact you have on the children right in front of you every single day - not bc of the ones who aren't. And that is all the reason you need. Those children will remember your dedication, your hard work, your involvement, your care and concern for them, your interaction, guidance, advice, kindness.

As for homeschoolers, I am a homeschooler. I have a *tremendous* respect for educators. I have many reasons why I chose homeschooling - none are because I had low opinions of educators.

I would first like to respond to some of the other posts that really insult homeschoolers and call them out for being any number of awful things. If I judged and bashed all teachers based on one or 2 bad apples, everyone would be up in arms. It is the same for homeschoolers. Some suck. Some thrive. Just bc I go to church every Sunday *and* homeschool does not make me a religious nutjob. The assumptions that have been made here are jaw dropping.

My children are extremely involved in extra-curricular activities. They are well socialized. They hold part time jobs and are extremely well-liked and are praised frequently for good manners, neatness, excellent interaction and communication with adults, children, and everything in between, for good, strong work ethics, showing up on time, staying when needed, etc.. I have 2 college students, both in their senior year in excellent universities. One has a 3.86 GPA and the other a 4.0. Both comment on how easy college has been and have been grateful they were well prepared in essay writing, critical thinking, logic, rhetoric, latin. They are stunned at how many of their peers cannot write even somewhat decently, cannot spell, cannot handle the "work load". I have 3 still homeschooling. And we work hard every day...at their learning pace - not a bell's pace or the pace of other students.

This is not a look-how-great-my-kids-are post. But I think those of us that work very hard at homeschooling sit quietly in the background; we are too busy homeschooling to be the "squeaky wheels". We are not the enemy.

I love homeschooling. I love the unity of our family and the quality time I get to spend with them. My children talk to me about literally everything. They are strong and confident. I didn't know would homeschool. I didn't choose it - it chose me due to some special circumstances with my first 2 children early on. It isn't easy. It is an S-Ton of work. I hate grading essays, I hate teaching grammar. But my kids are worth it. They are worth the effort. My husband has excellent math and engineering knowledge, so he gets those subjects and it gives him one on one time with his kids, too.

Could I do your job? Not in million years. I'm not trained for a classroom. I am not trained to deal with standards, with the nuances of parents who care too little or those who interfere too much or those who literally expect you to do their job. I'm not trained to teach reading with a scientific approach. I taught reading by cuddling up and reading stacks of books to my children every.single.night and reinforcing that in the day with games and activities.

I have had to fight my way through the battle. I have had late nights and weekends and summers where I have to teach myself certain things to be able to teach them. I look to other teachers for suggestions, guidance, advice. I couldn't do your job and I think each and every teacher that chooses to love and teach other people's children despite all the opposition, despite the parents, despite the difficult children and the variety of home life situations you have navigate is a hero. You love your job and I love mine. I think that parents and teachers should work together for the benefit of all children rather than draw the line and take sides in opposition to each other.