Agreed, Carol. My experience was the same. But our children were exceptional. The majority of children survive or thrive in the system and in fact would not do as well in a home school environment. The social aspects of school are critical for them - sports, glee club, sleepovers, dances, etc. That too is part of education - learning to survive and function in the world.

For most it is in no way abusive.

It is a shame that the valid opinions of a teacher who knows more about the system and how it functions than any of us should be dismissed as protecting his turf. There are valid arguments both for formalized classroom education and for home schooling. It is not a "them or us" business. Why not share and accept opinions and ideas as having some validity?

Dismissing a man who has devoted his life to teaching our children as a participant in systematic child abuse is way out of line.