I've been thinking a lot about education lately. I'm trying to figure out what to do next year when my eldest enters the realm of "school aged kids." (shudder) There are so many choices out there, private school, parochial school, public school, and of course homeschooling.

So, a question to all: how do you decide what your child must learn to be educated? I don't mean how do you pick a curriculum or the ins and outs of child-lead learning. I mean, when it is all said and done, what at a bare minimum do YOU want your child to know. They should be able to read, write, count, make change, but what else? How about a foreign language? Should they study one? What about geography and history? Science - What kind? Art? Music? Drama? Dance? Business? Economics? The list is endless.

I'm especially curious about what the homeschoolers have to say since they actually get to decide this instead of leaving it up to a school board. I hear a lot about following the interests of the child, but what child is going to say "Gee, Mom I want to learn about the capitals of Europe." None. But I think there is a real value to knowing the difference between Budapest and Bucharest. Given that there is an unlimited number of things to know in this world but a limited time to prepare your child for living in this world, what do you pick?

Angel