The topic of home schooling was met with mixed reactions. My in-laws are against it and continued to tell me that I needed to put the kids in school. To which I normally simply replied “They are in school”. I had printouts along which answered many questions they probably have about home schooling, but I don’t believe any of them read it thoroughly.

Our friend in Bombay, surprisingly, said she wished they were able to home school there. She has two daughters. One in fourth grade and the other I think about 9th. They attend a private school which is very strict and each girl brings home page after page of homework each night. She struggles, especially with the younger girl every evening to get it done. Both of her girls began school at age 3. I asked why so young. She said that if they didn’t attend pre-school they would not be accepted into the better private schools.

Private schools are very common in India. In fact, of all our friends and family not one child I met was attending government schools. All were attending private schools. (Called public schools there.)

One of the most interesting reactions I received was when talking with my husband’s former university professor in Delhi. The professor had recently retired from teaching and was pondering what to do in his retirement years. He and his wife were thinking to leave Delhi and return to their village in the mountains of Himachal Pradesh. He listened completely to everything I said, and read the papers I had completely. He was very interested and said this gave him an idea of what he thought he might like to do in his retirement. Hmmm! Take home schooling to the remote mountains of Himachal Pradesh where it is difficult to get children to school for an education? Sure. Why not?