[mountaineer]

The supposed social skills learned by attending public schools are considerably overrated, including cliques, bullying, snobbery, fighting and other forms of abuse. I'm thankful my home-schooled nieces won't have to experience that.

[ladylib]

What socialization? Kids in public schools today don't even have time for recess anymore. They have to devote their time to studying for their "high stakes" tests -- you know, the tests that will ensure that fat cat school superintendents and teachers will keep their jobs, not to mention property values not plunging. Some schools even make kids stay after during the week or come to school on Saturdays to be coached on these tests. Then of course there are several hours of homework each night.

That's a big burden to put on kids. One wonders if homeschooling will increase because parents are not happy with unhappy, stressed out children. My guess is that it will.

[staytrue]

The supposed social skills learned by attending public schools are considerably overrated, including cliques, bullying, snobbery, fighting and other forms of abuse. I'm thankful my home-schooled nieces won't have to experience that.

Most people live in or near cities. I live near Washington. Forming cliques, consolidating your office power base, manipulation, winding your way around people's egos, stroking the correct egos, these are all useful.

Do freepers on this thread not work with other people ?

It seems no one knows what I'm talking about. It is best to avoid office politics, but it is a game where you do need to know that it goes on, there are rules to the game, you are better off knowing about the game, and you need to play the game at least a little bit.