RE: Improving Autonomy - Vegetables and revolutions inside!
In my opinion, homeschooling as a concept is not a bad idea, but the general lack of pedagogical knowledge (which is understandable, of course) inviabilizes its application. I do believe a strong homeschooling component is key to better relationships and it makes a lot of difference in learning and motivation. That's another topic I'll be researching and writing about in the future: relatedness as a key to the self-determination theory :)
Here in Portugal there is a unusual situation that uses homeschooling as a way to flee from the current educational system: the school had less than 10 kids so it had to close (in a small almost deserted village). The mayor and the parents decided to sign for homeschooling - technically legal in Portugal - and hired teachers to start an alternative educational project. And it works much better.
The main problem I see with homeschooling is the lack of socialization. Most people who lack the pedagogical knowledge do not bother to attempt to homeschool (seeing public school as a form of free daycare) but some do abuse the system and essentially put their children to work under the guise of homeschooling.
My current, half-baked plan is public preschool until age five. Homeshcool with certain things like Physical Education, Scouts and sports at public school until age 12-14 then full public school.
Here in the United States we are allowed great flexibility in how we homeschool, giving us a hybrid solution. I look forward to your future posts.
I agree 100% with your approach and view on the subject. I believe a hybrid solution works in most cases, but the government must guarantee that homeschooling is properly done: children are individuals, not property of possibly-negligent parents...