Some very good points, Omniscient. Of course I have to highlight the beginning of your final paragraph - "If I were a parent …"
Trying not to sound like too much of an ass, I must say I was amazed at how my thoughts about the school system changed before and after I had kids.
Your premises would be more convincing if we were guaranteed that the schools would be effective, or even competent, at teaching “the things that parents aren’t capable of teaching.” (I also note that you did not specify exactly what such things are.)
I attempted to indicate the amazing amount of technology and equipment that is available in my kids’ schools. It is distressing, however, to see how ineffectively such stuff is used. My daughter will have a session supposedly on digital video editing, for example. We can go into as many details as you wish, but I assure you she learned next to nothing from the class. Now if I did not have my kid (a motivated, straight A student, prolific reader, first chair flutist) tell me how boring and worthless this class was, I might say, “Gee, isn’t it neat that these kids are being exposed to all this wonderful stuff that I do not have at home that will spark their interests in so many ways.” Sorry to say that has not been my experience.
Meanwhile, I could take my kid out and mess around with the digital movie camera I already own, buy some software to help her manipulate it, etc. And I would have more time to do so if I did not have to work on handwriting.
I mentioned the CNC machine they were not allowed to touch. One of my best buddies maintains the darned things, and another very close friend has his own machine shop. I can take her into his shop and have her actually machining. Instead, her school does not even teach her what “CNC” stands for.
Another point you may not be fully aware of without kids is the limited amount of time your kid has following school. My kids wake up as early as 6-6:30, get home around 4. They are in bed between 9 and 10. Take out family dinner, musical instrument lessons, and any homework, and tell me how much time there is to teach handwriting and keyboarding in an positive enjoyable manner. Not to mention if you want to give your kid a chance to enjoy a post school snack, unwind a bit, or even spend time being a kid either by themselves or with siblings and friends. Or any additional committments such as scouting, sports, etc.
Moreover, not to slam the entire profession, but teaching, like all professions, has some motivated top notch people, a greater number of decent but average folk, and some dead weight. And you may have little control if your kid gets a teacher who turns an interesting subject into a bore.
I don’t know what your education and experience is, but I experienced a shock the first time I met with a very energetic and well intentioned teacher, who was fresh out of school and had little practical life experience or on the job experience. On the other end of the spectrum, are the teachers who are just putting in time until they retire. No, I am not painting the entire profession with these colors. But these folk are out there in significant numbers. And now explain to me how they are “able to teach the kids something I can’t.”
I have met far too many teachers who seem unable or ineffective at teaching “the fun stuff.” So as long as I am paying their salaries, I would prefer that they emphasize what I consider the necessary basics.
Also, let’s look at the relative ability of schools and parents to teach “basics and boring stuff.” The kids are required to be in school. Therefore, IME being asked to learn cursive, or a boolean search, would be met rather equally. Further, my experience has been that the schools have not excited my kids with exotic topics. I am not convinced they would be less excited about the mundane. Unlike school, at home the kid has more options from reading on their own, visiting a friend, playing games, etc.
Again, please tell me what the teaching profession is uniquely qualified to expose my kids to, as opposed to my wife and myself, both with advanced degrees, diverse interests, and sufficient disposable income and liesure time. In anticipation, I would suggest to counter that some things they MIGHT be qualified to do, is to train developing minds in the basics.