Actually, I haven't done one whit of RESEARCH on this. Therefore, it all falls under the heading of my far-reaching, agile CREATIVITY of mind. (I speculated on this...LOL.)
Nonetheless, my frau is a high school teacher. I've watched the distance courses in higher subjects, and they simply don't work.
A co-op IS an institutional school. Why institutional schools were devised in the first place.
I've been a long-time fan of high school athletics. There is no community or pick-up league that even comes close to the competitive opportunities granted kids in the state high school athletic associations.
I'm not saying that local little league isn't a good thing, but baseball is far, far and away the best of the available athletic opportunities outside of highschool athletics. Nothing else compares to it. But it grows out of baseball having been our "national" sport for years with great interest at every level.
And if a homeschooler puts their kids in high school athletics, then they're turning again to institutional education. I don't mind that. I just think we should call it what it is.
What do you mean by distance learning? I think you may have misunderstood too what I meant by homeschoolers going to community college for advanced subjects. They would actually attend a class like any other college student and with college students, not learn the subject online if that is what you are getting at?
Do you know what type of co-op I mentioned? Sure some parents band together in a MUCH MORE traditional school situation to HIRE a teacher to teach a subject, but many more actually utilize another homoschooling parent to teach a subject they are strong in, still both options give the parents complete control since they do the hiring(and firing if need be), unlike a public school situation.
They have similarities, but surely you can not begin to say that a setting made by parents in the best interest of thier kids is somehow similar to the institutional setting made by a bunch of beauracrats in thier own best interests.
thank you for conceeding though that not only have you not researched this, but that you also are biased;-) I think you would be surprised at how resourceful homeschoolers are. Some parents even learn subjects themselves to teach and a growing number of schools are opening up things like varsity sports programs and are willing to make exceptions when faced with turning away a talented player that could benefit thier team. BTW, if you think private sports are not as good as public. I'd challenge you to look at cheerleading competitions and gymnastics competitions. Many times these are dominated by local gyms and private facilities. Again, if my child shows a talent, we will deal with thatwhen the time comes. No need to put them in ps in K just in case they are a star athlete or might need to use the math lab. I have faith that our schools will change for the better by then and thier facilities will be more accessible by the time my two are in high school anyway.