What's Wrong With Homeschooling?

The Illinois Family Institute's e-mail update of the week contains an article written by Rhonda Robinson, a Douglas County native who is homeschooling her nine children.

Here's the lede:

Would you believe the earth was created on Oct. 23, 4004 B.C.?

The age and origins of the earth has been a hot debate for centuries, and remains in full swing today.

Um, well, no Rhonda. I don't believe the earth was created on October 23, 4004 B.C. Actually, I'm kind of shocked to find out that anyone could. I'm guessing they must not have The Discovery Channel in Douglas County. Or Nova. Or books.

And I guess it depends on what you mean by "hot debate." Based on the fossil evidence, its universally accepted in the scientific community that a meteor struck Central America 67 million years ago, wiping out the dinosaurs.

Based on radiometric dating of lead isotopes, as well as meteorites and their remnants, the age of the earth and the solar system is believed to be 4.55 billion years old, plus or minus 50 million years.

Of course, Creationists dispute that, just as they dispute evolution.

Here's a good explanation of why they're wrong on the age of the earth.

Here's a good explanation of why they're wrong on evolution.

Now, can someone explain to me how any kid in Illinois can earn a high school diploma without understanding these basic scientific facts? Or more importantly, that science requires that a hypothesis be testable and the results be reproducable, and that no hypothesis can ever be absolutely proven, only disproven, but once the results are reproduced often enough, they become generally accepted fact?

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