The American education system isn't what it used to be. Many people fear declining standards in the U.S. public school system. With the harsh social environment, controversial curriculum, corrupt and overpaid teachers with their own agendas and exposure to terrifying new ideas and ways of thinking; Or at least that's what paranoid parents in the United States have led themselves to believe. Everything looks bad when you look at it in such a harsh light. Sure, there are some (or several) flaws in the public education system, but instead of trying to help solve these problems, parents take it upon themselves to educate their children and “fix” them. This alternative form of education known as Home School offers parents the opportunity to teach their children as they see fit. However, this method of education can prove to be more harmful than helpful for the child. It's no secret that most parents want the best for their children. Well, at least what is best for them according to their parents' definition of "best". From infancy through most of adolescence, the child has no say in the decisions his parents make for him or how they raise him. So, for reasons known only to them, some parents will choose not to send their children to public schools and educate their precious bundles of joy themselves. In the spring of 2007, an estimated 2.9 percent of children in the United States alone were homeschooled. This is over 1.5 million students. (IES) Parents' reasoning for homeschooling their children is no secret, either. A survey conducted in 2007 showed the kind of motivation parents have in educating their children: 35% of parents have homeschooled their children for… half of paper… think about the whole ordeal . (Magazine) Perhaps it is because of people like these that the United States will never truly become a country populated by educated and enlightened individuals. On the other hand, it may just be an overblown and poorly thought-out exaggeration. Educating your children is a parent's right and there are always two sides to every controversial topic and issue. After all, this article has only covered the negative aspects of homeschooling. Works Cited US Department of Education. “1.5 Million Homeschooled Students in the United States in 2007.” IES National Center for Education Statistics. Institute of Education Sciences, December 2008. Web. 05 March 2011. Reyes, Robert Paul. “Home school; It's not a good idea." Useless Knowledge Magazine: Useless Facts and Useless Information. 23 November 2004. 09 March. 2011.