My non-soapbox.

Homeschooling. 
I have read a lot about it lately.  In my need to stand up for myself I feel like maybe I should clarify a couple of things.
Now correct me if I am wrong, but I feel as though there is a great misconception out there about "public-schoolers".  I feel as though many homeschoolers are under the impression that we turn our children over to someone else out of laziness, or default-that we are turning over all educational endeavors over to someone else simply because it's expected, or it's "easier".  Maybe some people do.  But the majority of people that decide to send their kids to public school do so because they believe in it, they support it and they trust the system.  They are able to trust the people that have been trained to teach their children, they trust their intentions and they trust their judgments.  That is an awful lot of trust to put into "strangers".  But you know what? Any responsible parent doesn't do this blindly.  They are just as involved in the education of their child as a homeschooler, with the exception of perhaps choosing their curriculum and the speed at which they must excel to be ahead of all of their peers.  A responsible parent gets to know their child's teacher, they are involved in the learning process, they actively take part in what their kids are learning throughout the year.  They are partners with these educators.  We have had some not-so-great teachers over the years, but you know what? That's life.  It has taught us to be even more involved.  Sometimes you have to supplement more and sometimes it is the greatest gift you can give your child;  to respect the experience and training of others, their knowledge, their passion for teaching.  And it has to be said that some of the neatest, exquisitely wonderful people I have ever known and loved have been my kids' teachers, and my own.
Just because I send my children to public schools doesn't mean that I brush off their questions about the world around them, how things work, how, when, where, why.  Every moment is a teaching moment for a parent.   That doesn't turn off when they come home from school.
I know that a lot of these homeschoolers that share so much of what they do and why they do it are most likely doing it for a noble or good reason, I hope so.  But I don't think they realize how insulting they can be sometimes to the rest of us that are choosing public school for its good merits.  I don't think that the public school system turns out idiots, or imbeciles.  Idiots and imbeciles are more likely the product of  how they receive information, not where they get it from.  I don't want to be the sole provider of every little thing for my family.  I don't think that is how we are meant to experience this life.  We are meant to learn, stretch, grow, experience and choose.  I respect those that choose to homeshool for the right reasons (naturally those "right reasons" are a matter of perspective and opinion, I acknowledge that.)  There are a lot of very capable, wise, loving parents out there.  I respect our rights to do what we feel is best for our families. 
I just wanted to make sure that we are all clear here, right? No assumptions, no misunderstandings, no judgements being passed by anyone.
This is me backing away from my non-soapbox.
Thank you.