system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
CMV: Homeschooling should be Illegal

I believe homeschooling should be illegal, because it places total responsibility for raising a child on the parent(s). This encourages abuse abuse and fosters unbalanced or extreme upbringings.

Having children go to school outside the home helps prevent abuse and neglect. In cases where one party is not fullfulling their responsibility, the other party is able to step in and mitigate the problem. For example, if a child is experiencing abuse at home they are hopefully able talk to a trusted friend or teacher. Some types of abuse might be apparent to teacher even if the child does not speak up. The child might not be acting normally or the they might be physically hurt. Homeschooled children do not have this safety net, especially if they lack friends who aren’t connected to their parents. Conversely, parents are able to step in when schools are performing poorly. They can give their child additional guidance after class, they can bring up issues at PTA meetings, or they might be able to transfer the child to a private or religious school.

Homeschooling encourages extreme upbringings, even if the parents aren't abusive. What the parents do well is done well. What the parents do poorly is done poorly. And what the parents don't do, isn't done. For example, homeschooled children might get a rigorous education, but are kept extremely isolated (full disclosure: my upbringing) They might get a sloppy education, but the parents encourage healthy relationships. They might be very disciplined, but they aren't taught how to be self confident (my upbringing again). Having children go to school outside the home helps balance the parents' extremes. Children with high-strung parents might get to observe easy-going friends and teachers. Children with a religious upbringing might get to spend time with people who have different religious backgrounds. In short, children who go to school outside the home get to experience a variety of values and ways of living. Homeschooled children are not guaranteed this opportunity.

Note: I can imagine that for some special needs children school outside the home might be impossible. Homeschooling should be allowed in these cases.

Edit: Thank you all for your responses. Some of you have brought up the issues with the quality and availability of public schooling. I agree now that banning homeschooling would harm those people who's only reasonable alternative is homeschooling. Some of you have argued for state oversight and monitoring of home schools. I think this seems reasonable if it is vigorous.  I'm still skeptical of homeschooling, but I now see a number of reasons not to ban it.
gpt
So you don't want homeschooling because you don't think *other children* would be taught what *you* want them to be taught.

That's exactly why people homeschool, except they don't think *their own* children should be taught what *they* want in school.

You've got the exact same opinion, but they've got quite a bit more skin in the game, no?