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I think the negative stigma that used to be attached to homeschooling has mostly vanished in the last ten years.

My wife and I are planning to homeschool, and we're surrounded by teachers (along with my wife, who spent a few years teaching high school math as a bridge between corporate life and being a full-time homemaker): my mom, my sister, my in-laws, my aunts, and several friends.

Ten years ago, they would've been really discouraging to the concept. Now, they are actually encouraging - usually saying that based on the trends they see in educational quality, lack of discipline, shocking social behaviors at younger and younger ages, and out-of-control kids.

I'll never forget the first day of fourth grade for me. My teachers said, "Over the next nine months, you'll actually spend more time with me than you will with your own parents." I was incensed at first, then realized that - tragically - she was right.

Voddie Baucham is a pastor that I really respect, and reading his book "Family Driven Faith" sealed the deal for me. Either I can educate my kids, instilling my values and worldview, or I can trust the government-run schools to do it for me.

I've found the curriculum in public schools in increasingly antagonistic to a Biblical worldview. I might allow my kids to go into that spiritual battlefield if they show the maturity and wisdom in high school, but I plan to at least equip them with what I view as a solid foundation. I do value education, and I plan to set high expectations in literature, mathematics, science, social studies, etc. I'm not a fan of the "unschooling" movement. I'm currently interested in mimicking a "Classical" education model where the kids will learn primarily in three phases: grammar, logic, and rhetoric.

Our oldest is four, so we're just dipping our toes in the water for ourselves. I'm doing research and talking with a lot of folks who homeschool and have older children. . . we are narrowing down curriculum options at the moment.

Texas is definitely a pioneering state for homeschooling. The support networks are elaborate and useful, and you can essentially choose your level of involvement from bring completely independent to using a coop where you're almost creating your own virtual private school. You can tailor the speed, depth, and topics to each kid based on their interests, learning styles, strengths, and weaknesses.

My wife and I are both products of public school (Different NE Tarrant county districts). My experience actually included a lot of great, inspiring teachers who I could openly speak with about religion, faith, etc. Her experience was far more antagonistic and secular, actually to the point of having teachers and a climate / culture that was hostile to Christianity.