What is the problem with homeschooling?

(This article was written by Jenny.)

Today I was in a class that was discussing President Bush’s “no child left behind” act which requires that children pass a test at 4th grade in order for the school to retain their funding and also Governor Vilsack’s proposed bill that requires every child to pass a test at 3rd grade in order to go on to 4th grade. The professor asked the class what changes need to be made to our education system in order for children to be able to learn what they need to know by grades 3 and 4 to pass these tests. She mentioned how children enter kindergarten with varied levels of skills, some know the alphabet, some can read a little, some can write full sentences already, and some are the children of immigrants and barely know any English at all.

Many students in my class offered suggestions for changes that included segregating boys and girls; offering special classes for those who are at, below, or above average learning levels; teaching all children all the languages of those in the class; etc. Being the bold supporter of homeschooling that I am, I raised my hand with the suggestion of homeschooling because:
1) children get individual attention suited to their exact needs
2) children can learn at their own pace
3) homeschoolers are not bound by standardized tests.

My professor immediately jumped on this one and asked the class “what is the problem with homeschooling?” Now, personally, I was unaware that there is a problem with homeschooling. I was homeschooled for seven years and had the public school education of elementary school to compare homeschooling to, and yet I found homeschooling to be incredibly superior. The students in the class all had an answer to why homeschooling was a problem. Of course I heard “socialization,” but to my surprise my professor thought the biggest problem was the lack of certification by homeschooled teachers. Now I do not know about you, but I would rather know that my child can read and is being taught by an uncertified teacher (myself), than have the “comfort” that although my child cannot read, her teacher is certified. I guess my professor has other ideas.