This paints a somewhat romanticized view of homeschoolers, but it sums up the discomfort felt by others reasonably well:
Indications are that home schooling is working well for the kids, and the parents are pleased with their choice, but the practice is coming under increasing suspicion, and even official attack, as in California.
Why do we hate (or at least distrust) these people so much?
Methinks American middle-class people are uncomfortable around the home schooled for the same reason the alcoholic is uneasy around the teetotaler.
Their very existence represents a rejection of our values, and an indictment of our lifestyles. Those families are willing to render unto Caesar the things that Caesar’s be, but they draw the line at their children. Those of us who have put our trust in the secular state (and effectively surrendered our children to it) recognize this act of defiance as a rejection of our values, and we reject them in return.
I used to find it annoying, but now I’m mostly amused by those who get their noses out of joint simply because I don’t live my life the way they do. I’ve found the easiest way to end the hostile questioning is to simply ask “why do you care about this anyhow?” Somehow, I think the homeschoolers will somehow find the fortitude to survive their rejection by the mostly maleducated masses.