Fantastic article: Home-schoolers threaten our cultural comfort

[funmudder]

link (http://www.djournal.com/pages/archive.asp?ID=274594)


You see them at the grocery, or in a discount store.

It's a big family by today’s standards - "just like stair steps," as the old folks say. Freshly scrubbed boys with neatly trimmed hair and girls with braids, in clean but unfashionable clothes follow mom through the store as she fills her no-frills shopping list.

There's no begging for gimcracks, no fretting, and no threats from mom. The older watch the younger, freeing mom to go peacefully about her task.

You are looking at some of the estimated 2 million children being home schooled in the U.S., and the number is growing. Their reputation for academic achievement has caused colleges to begin aggressively recruiting them. Savings to the taxpayers in instructional costs are conservatively estimated at $4 billion, and some place the figure as high as $9 billion. When you consider that these families pay taxes to support public schools, but demand nothing from them, it seems quite a deal for the public.

Home schooling parents are usually better educated than the norm, and are more likely to attend worship services. Their motives are many and varied. Some fear contagion from the anti-clericalism, coarse speech, suggestive behavior and hedonistic values that characterize secular schools. Others are concerned for their children’s safety. Some want their children to be challenged beyond the minimal competencies of the public schools. Concern for a theistic world view largely permeates the movement.

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?

there is more :hat

[farmgirl]

Awesome article. Alot of truth to it, although I can't say my kids are exactly like that when I take them to the store, there's some begging for gimcracks in the line to pay. I only wish my three sons looked freshly scrubbed with neatly trimmed hair, they usually look like they have rolled in dirt and just come down out of a tree. Which they probably have. So maybe we will not be as offensive to the general public. :)

[NewWorldOrder]

Awesome article. Alot of truth to it, although I can't say my kids are exactly like that when I take them to the store, there's some begging for gimcracks in the line to pay. I only wish my three sons looked freshly scrubbed with neatly trimmed hair, they usually look like they have rolled in dirt and just come down out of a tree. Which they probably have. So maybe we will not be as offensive to the general public. :)


Me too. They sure didn't use us as their model for homeschoolers. :lol2

[farmgirl]

I wonder why? :lol2

[Reason&Hope]

Where'd you get the article? I don't know what "djournal" is.

The two biggest differences I notice between homeschool kids I know and ps kids I see out and about are: the way the latter group dresses (suggestively, for girls - they think it's fashionable and don't understand they're dressing like tramps; and pants around hips for boys) and the, er, language they use. My son took a summer school programming class last year that was offered through the school district and he was very put off by the number of swear words he heard all day, every day.

[MochaMel]

link (http://www.djournal.com/pages/archive.asp?ID=274594)



there is more :hat
Only read the posted part yet.. Sounds good so far and to answer his question;

The world is jealous as heck of our successes and joys with our families and children.. What they have been saying and doing and dictating we do for years isn't working still and they still don't get why.. Dumber then dumb is our society IMHO! If it doesn't work you fix it - you don't try and rip the good thing apart or down.. Or do you; isn't that what they talk about in Proverbs somewhere how a good wife will not tear down her house but lift it up..

Thanks for posting Funmudder!!

[MochaMel]

Where'd you get the article? I don't know what "djournal" is.

The two biggest differences I notice between homeschool kids I know and ps kids I see out and about are: the way the latter group dresses (suggestively, for girls - they think it's fashionable and don't understand they're dressing like tramps; and pants around hips for boys) and the, er, language they use. My son took a summer school programming class last year that was offered through the school district and he was very put off by the number of swear words he heard all day, every day.


I know and the bullies!! My son is doing a summer school - culinary arts class and he's had some issues we've had to deal with -- the teachers' love him though so that is a plus in our book!!

[MochaMel]

Awesome article. Alot of truth to it, although I can't say my kids are exactly like that when I take them to the store, there's some begging for gimcracks in the line to pay. I only wish my three sons looked freshly scrubbed with neatly trimmed hair, they usually look like they have rolled in dirt and just come down out of a tree. Which they probably have. So maybe we will not be as offensive to the general public. :)

:lol2 Yeah i know - but in comparison to some kids' i'm sure they not only look better (which doesn't matter, dirt dont' hurt) but they ACT better.. :hat

Nice to see ya Farmgirl -- :hug

[funmudder]

Where'd you get the article? I don't know what "djournal" is.


My friends brother wrote it for a local paper in southern Mississippi. :hat

[Twinklr]

This year will mark 3 years that we've been homeschooling our 3 sons. We love it. It's hard, time-consuming, and sometimes frustrating, but it's well worth it. We have a pretty even split in our church of HS to PS kids. The difference is astounding. The way they dress, conduct themselves, and relate to other people (of all ages) is completely different.

There are a few in our family that still give us a hard time about homeschooling. My sister accused me of being selfish, wanting to keep my children with me all the time. I told her this was the most UNselfish thing I've ever done. I don't get time off from being a mom. I don't go to work and become someone else for a few hours. I don't send the kids off to school and sit at home watching soaps, or even getting housework done. I'm a mom on duty 24/7. The majority of my day, during the school year, is spent solely focused on my boys - whether it be with instruction, grading, planning, or preparing lessons. That leaves me precious little time to get everything else done.

And what in the world is 'me' time? The closest I get to that is when hubby doesn't have to work on Saturday and I get to do the grocery shopping alone...:heh

Abundant blessings to every homeschooler out there. A prayer for provision for those that want to become homeschoolers. And a prayer for protection to those who are not homeschoolers.