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controversy per Mary's request
I disagree with home schooling.
Ok well I mostly disagree past elementary school. I figure most involved parents, and if you're going to home school I would assume you're an involved parent, can teach the basics of reading, writing, math, science. But past that? I don't see how most parents can teach in-depth concepts. I did just fine taking advanced math and science classes in high school but there's no way I could teach the stuff, let alone do the chemistry experiments I did!
Now from what little I know (freely admit I've gleaned it from watching 19 kids and counting on TV) there are computer programs that I guess the kids go through so the parents aren't really teaching some of this stuff but that leads me to why home school if you're just going to put the kid in front of the computer? That's the computer teaching not the parents.
My former SIL home schools her kids and I cringe at the thought. She barely passed high school, so how in the world is she going to be able to competently teach her children the same concepts that she couldn't/wouldn't learn? (point: when my niece started 9th grade math her mother would just hand her the work book and tell her straight up to 'figure it out' and wouldn't/couldn't help her... how in the heck is anyone supposed to learn that way?)
Or what about things that you just can't teach at home? The chemistry labs? The dissections? Sure you could do a computer dissection but it's surely not the same even though it might teach the same things. I think you miss out on a lot of hands on things.
And what about the social interaction you learn dealing with 20+ other kids everyday? The friendships? The enemies? Learning life lessons? I'm sure there's play dates and social gathering that home school kids attend and that's good but I just don't see it as being comparable.
And I'm sure there are exceptions to everything so don't take this to mean no one should home school ever but the people that I know personally who home school really have no business doing it past elementary school (and some should never do it at all!)
Re: controversy per Mary's request
I'm not a fan, but I think most people home school b/c of religious issues.
The other thing is that while organized school has its benefits (and I'm a product of it) there is so much BS that goes into being a part of that system that takes away from a lot of the education that should be going on. The paperwork and CYA needs for teachers/schools create so much extra work that really takes away from the kids. Also - seriously - how is anyone supposed to plan work that meets the needs of 20-30 different kids/learning styles, needs, etc. But, I think alot of homeschooled kids come out weird and socially awkward too.
I definitely agree some are not cut out to homeschool their children but I think it works great for some.
My boss homeschooled her daughter because her daughter was (is) an equestrian rider and competes on higher levels. She just graduated from homeschool/highschool and was accepted into a pretty good college out of state. Most of her homeschooling was done through a local school that has a home school program. I know for a fact my boss didn't do much of the schooling bc her daughter was travelling/in another state the bulk of the time. She had tutors and did most on her own.
I guess I don't see the big deal of missing out on certain things, but I do see it to be a big deal on other things. I really think it is a very personal decision and one that can only be truly made by the parent (and child to an extent). Every situation is different and until you walk in that situation and understand it, I think it's silly to judge homeschooling across the board.
Much like public & private schools I believe that there is a HUGE range of home schooling philosophies and the quality of education can vary a huge amount.
There are a few families in my neighborhood that did or do home-schooling. I know that with the one family the mother (who was an attorney) went back to school for her masters degree in education in order to home school her children. They were sending the children to a very expensive private school. I see these kids around our neighborhood and they never seem to be hurting for friends or at all socially awkward.
Another family chose to home school their son for the 3 years of middle school and he is now in the competitive IB program at Annapolis HS. The parents (who met @ Harvard) were not satisfied with any of the middle school programs public or private in our area.
There are different home-schooling programs, curricula & groups. I know that some groups/programs organize themselves so they can share resources and have field trips, etc. You can also buy dissection kits for homeschooling.
I can't say that it is personally ever something I would do- but I don't view it as being only for freaks the way I once did.
Lastly, I think that so much of a child's academic success is based on the parents in one way or another regardless of where the child goes to school.
Oh and just because I am an internet shopping fool- you can order up dissection kits w/ no issues-
just $9.95 for a frog-
http://www.carolina.com/product/221521.do
For the low, low price of just $30.95 you can get an earthworm, frog, perch and crayfish! http://www.hometrainingtools.com/biology-dissection-kit/p/AM-KTDISS/ That works out to less than $10 per dissection!
And last but definitely not least, for the more advanced anatomy course, the fetal pig. A bit pricier at 39.95- http://www.carolina.com/product/221550.do
ETA- and now I REALLY want to order a microscope, because I think they are fun!
Hi! Here's some controversy for you
I was homeschooled for most of my schooling along with my siblings. Do you think I am socially awkward? 
My father has a masters degree, but my mom only went to nursing school. She was the one who did the teaching, and what she didn't know, she learned, so she could teach us.
We did labs and dissections at home and sometimes at co-op groups (one place where we socialized!).