There has been a lot of talk about the resolution being promoted by some Southern Baptists for a mass exodus of Southern Baptist children from public schools. Unfortunately, many of the newspaper articles about this resolution so far have implied that both Southern Baptists and homeschoolers are extremists who hate public schools. Admittedly, while every group may have its extremists, it is not true that all homeschoolers or all Southern Baptists are rabid, anti-public school extremists. The real goal of most parents and most homeschoolers is the same as that of public schools - to educate their children to be good, contributing members of society.

Research indicates that homeschoolers achieve that desired goal. In addition to their oft-cited, excellent academic achievement, homeschooled adults have been shown to be well-socialized, successful people with a good sense of civic duty. They are also a diverse society with support groups for homeschoolers of every race, religion, and creed. The same diversity is also true for the millions of Southern Baptists in this country. Neither the one to two million homeschooled children in the United States nor Southern Baptists have homogeneous populations! It should also be noted that some homeschooling families use a variety of educational options, including public schools, to meet their children's needs.

Families have not just a right but an obligation to seek out the best options for educating their children. Homeschoolers come from families who do just that! To paint them as being nothing more than religious zealots on the basis of a debated proposal is uncalled for and very unfair.