Should the state require teacher certification for parents who homeschool their children?

Do parents need professional credentials to homeschool their children? The answer is a resounding yes, according to a recent California appeals-court decision [2]. The controversial verdict, upholding an unenforced ruling from 1953, requires California parents to receive teacher certification in order to homeschool their kids. The homeschooling community has reacted to this decision with outrage: These parents insist they are both entitled and equipped to educate their own children. But many educators applaud the decision, believing that certified teachers should always be the ones who educate students, whether at school or at home. Was the California decision the right one? Tell us what you think.