It might not be their fanatic views. From my experience, the British (or, more specifically, the Gaelic) education system is just a massive podium where teachers preach their views. These aren't always fanatic views; but, regardless, they are inappropriate. I wouldn't use it as an excuse to leave school, but received an essay entitled 'explain why socialism in the UK will be beneficial to the economy' is not suitable. Neither is having your 'racist potenial' assessed, by your reaction to spicy foods! That's just one example, and it's perhaps not as extreme as the Christian fanatical groups that populate vast tracts of the US education system. But teachers do try to enforce their views on other people, and if they realise this then they can change the perceptions that people have more than their parents can, especially when schools take many of the responsibilities of parents.
My english teacher (oh how I loathe...) is a conspiracy theorist. She keeps telling us how the government was responsible for 9/11 and whatnot. I totally agree on the whole massive teacher preacher podium, but that also has something to do with the fact that my entire school is run by one church. Even though we're a public school.
Normal upbringing? What is a normal upbringing? You seem to be making some odd leaps here. For example, in that second paragraph you imply that the homeschooled children are homeschooled because their parents are nutjobs. And "Mommy/Daddy's fanatic views"? Really? Please, explain that one. Yes, I'll admit. Some kids are raised by fanatical, wingnut families. You know where I've met the vast majority of these? Public school system. The one guy I have true experience with who was homeschooled (though I know several others, this fella is a good friend of mine) was NOT raised by fanatics. They taught him everything they deemed necessary and you know what? He earned better grades and socialized productively from the get go. He just likes odd music. I don't mean to pick on you, but you're generalizing a significant portion of the population here.
Homeschooling is not really that big an option down here. Either there's no chance the Board allows children to be home schooled, or the parents have no idea what homeschooling is. As such, it's not a program follwed by many unless they're doing a distance learning thing as such.
Homeschooling isn't an option here either. I wouldn't change my school experiences for the world, but, having said that I haven't seen the other side. It is also a cultural thing because if you keep your kid at home, people here will assume there is something wrong with him (or you...). On the other hand private home lessons are how we mostly learn foreign languages, and that works very well. The tutors are trained and skilled though, it's not the parents that do the teaching. I'd never thought of homeschooling before... I suppose it's a matter of what's best for each child, according to preferences, school standards, personality etc. Maybe it's just different for everyone. It would certainly be wrong for me...
