I know some nice homeschoolers, liberals, not religious fanatics. They're doing a good job with the kid. But their attitude toward the public schools can only be described as a paranoid fantasy. They assiduously collect articles describing every possible abuse that ever happens in the schools, as if that kind of stuff will be routine if their daughter set foot in the local elementary school. She'll be strip searched! Electroshocked! Witnessed-to by her teacher! Shot! Locked in the basement!

Have things changed that much? Worst things that happened to me were boredom and too many standardized tests. I think there are even more tests now.

I got picked on, but my worst pickings-on were not in school, but at extraschoolar activities that this kid does go do, so she's hardly heat-shielded from bullies.