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Yes, with the public schools going down the toilet, and the private schools priced beyond reach, a lot of conscientious parents will say, "But we can't homeschool. We can't afford it."

And yet homeschool researchers (like Dr. Brian Ray) report that according to U.S. Labor Dept. statistics, homeschooling families are found at every level of family income.

At every level of family income.

Think of what that implies.

That at least implies that the difference between public-schooling and home-schooling families is likely not in what their income is, but in what their values are.

Some of them will be people who asked, "Will we give our kids laptops, iPods, smartphones, designer-label clothes? --- or give them a real education at home?" And they decided to homeschool.

My husband and I only had one homegrown child, and one adopted. It was all we could have in our circumstances, and getting by on one modest income (my husband's) was sometimes very tight.

But we did work out, with a spreadsheet, that were were actually saving a truly eye-popping amount of money by my NOT working outside the home. We were saving BIG on transortation expenses, clothing and the kind of grooming plusses that expected for a working woman. We were saving by eating ALL our meals at home, McDonalds only on special occasions. Plus we avoided that double-income tax category!

In fact, to a surprising extent, the expenses of having both of us working, had almost eaten up the whole second income.

So I went back to homemaking/homeschooling full time. We enjoyed it: more time, less rushing. More flexibility, less stress. More home-life, less regrets. It didn't center on our income. It centered on our values.

Can’t afford to what? About half of the schools I see advertised use the word “Free” for the tuition.

Now, if you mean both parents have to work and thus public schools = free daycare, then yes, it can be a problem.

For those folks, I have no pat answer - but, if you want to get your child out of the current cesspool that much of public education seems to have become, it will require some sacrifices from both the parents and likely for the children as well.

I was fortunate that my folks sacrificed *a lot* so that I and my siblings could receive a solid education, for that I have been most grateful my entire adult life.

OUR biggest expense was paper and ink.

EVERYTHING came from Debbie's "group" .... a bunch of born again ladies from all over America that freely shared via e-mail (in those days) ANYTHING that was requested regarding educating whatever year Debbie was teaching (She home schooled four kids until cancer sent her home to Jesus in 2004)

Not only can you afford it, but you really ARE smart enough to teach your own kids.