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Well said sailaway...we may have a new thread here despite the hit and run nature of the first poster!
The only problem with home schooling is that once the kids get older it is tough for the average parent to teach what they need to know out of high school and the miss the socialization/ team sports etc. that a formal educational setting can bring. I do believe that much better results in K-8 are achievable through the home schooling process and the kids I've seen taught on cruising sailboats seem remarkably well spoken and educated.
Given the prime underlying causes you cite for under-achievement...home schooling is not the answer since the uneducated can't teach their kids. This is why I see vouchers as the way out.
We also need a better system of educating those who simply cannot be considered college material. I think we let these kids down by not providing skilled job internships and apprentiships and certifications that will still allow them to build a decent life. We prep and send way to many kids off to colleges that they can't succeed in, instead of giving them real skill training for good jobs they can do.
The big problem remains basic literacy, math and citizenship skills and while the recent emphasis on testing for progress forced on the teachers unions and school beaurocracies has helped a bit despite the yowls of protest, far too many kids ARE left behind for the reasons you state and more.
This is one area I would think the Dems would love and could find common cause with Repubs on since it is all about helping kids and poor kids especially....but the unions seem to hold sway since that is the money pot and politics prevails and nothing really gets done.
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