Before You Say "I quit!"

It's funny how we always equate peer pressure with the teen years, but adults feel it too.

However, the author of the article frames it with scenarios:

This is about more than peer pressure to homeschool, or to not quit homeschooling. While all parents struggle with decisions about how to bring their children up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, there are times for the homeschooler when the trials directly affect how they view the educational choice that they've made for their family.

There may be instances when a more fitting choice comes along, but some trials are meant to strengthen us, and a little encouragement might help someone whose knees are feeble and their hands are hanging down. (Heb. 12:12-13) Sometimes we need to remember why we've made the decisions we have and endeavor to finish the course God has set before us.

The principles and encouragements to parents are essentially the same, regardless of whether or not one chooses home education or traditional school. As I said, "Sometimes we need to remember why we've made the decisions we have and endeavor to finish the course God has set before us."

What I think we need more of is parents who don't choose traditional schooling by default, simply because it is 'the norm'. It seems very few parents think about educational choices until something 'happens', KWIM? Most, in my experience, put more forethought and research into car buying than what school their child should attend. Of course, closed school districts and the lack of quality Christian schools limits our choices. But foremost in our minds should be what would be of the most benefit to our children and family, not what is cheapest or most convenient. If I had a nickel for every person who suggested we put our kids in public school because it is 'free'... and then I could get a full-time job and 'take the pressure off my husband'... as if homeschooling is my hobby and I am forcing him to support our family with one income.

So have I- but what I see are character issues in the parents that do not go away just because the child attends a traditional school. If parents are isolationists or lackadaisical about education or unorganized and flighty, their children aren't automatically going to be more well-adjusted or receive a better education in school, because the #1 indicator of success in school is parental support and involvement. Ditto unpleasant personality traits- there are anti-social, shy, loud and obnoxious, troubled... kids in schools- but we don't or shouldn't put the primary responsibility for that on the schools, but on the parents.

Home education tends to self-select for involved parents, but there are always going to be a few who get in over their heads, and then are too proud to ask for help. Or they chose homeschooling because they want to isolate themselves, weave all their own clothing from homegrown flax, eat bean sprouts, and raise llamas. I know a family who moved to Costa Rica in order to live the secluded life they desired. Talk about separation...

But the same need for involved parents exists with traditional schools, it just looks different. Moms and dads still need to read their kids' school books, talk about what is being studied, make sure they understand how Scripture relates to the knowledge and skills they are receiving, explore the wisdom and health of their relationships... and even if the child attends a Christian school, the other students aren't necessarily going to be saved kids from stable Christian homes, so the need to be observant and influential is still there. We can't ever become ambivalent or complacent about our educational choices. And that is really the point of the list in the OP.