The American education system is not what it used to be. Many people fear the declining standards of the American public school system. What about the harsh social environment, controversial curricula, overpaid and corrupt teachers with their own agendas, and exposure to horrible new ideas and ways of thinking? At least that's what America's paranoid parents have suggested. Everything looks bad when you look at it in such a harsh light. Certainly, there are some (or many) flaws in the public education system, but rather than attempting to fix these problems, parents take it upon themselves to educate their own children and “fix” them. This alternative form of education known as homeschooling gives parents the flexibility to teach their children however they see fit. However, this method of schooling can be more harmful than helpful for the child. It's no secret that most parents want what's best for their children. Well, at least what is best for them according to the definition of “best” given by the parents. From childhood until the majority of adolescence, the child has no say in the decisions his parents make about him or in the way his parents raise him. So, for reasons known only to them, some parents will choose not to place their child in public schools and to educate their precious little ones themselves. In the spring of 2007, an estimated 2.9% of children were home-schooled in the United States alone. This represents more than 1.5 million students. (IES) The reasons why parents homeschool their children are also no secret. A survey carried out in 2007 showed the type of motivation parents have for educating their own offspring: 35% of parents homeschooled their children for...... middle of paper ...... think through this whole ordeal. (Magazine)Perhaps it is because of people like these that the United States will never truly become a country populated by well-educated and enlightened individuals. Then again, this may just be an over-the-top, poorly thought-out exaggeration. Educating their own children is the right of parents and there are always two sides to every argument and controversial issue. After all, this article has only covered the negative aspects of homeschooling. Ministry 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. March 5, 2011. Reyes, Robert Paul. “Home education; This is not a good idea. Useless Knowledge Magazine: Useless Facts and Useless Information. November 23, 2004. March 9. 2011.