The following is a quote from a Florida newspaper. http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=1847 "Still, skeptics say traditional schools are better at developing social skills, conflict resolution, even test-taking — and doubt whether home-schooled kids get enough hard science." Overall, the article is positive about home school. But the comment on conflict resolution really got me. Tragedies like Columbine come to mind.... I know that is an extreme example, but who can know what will happen on any given day at school? Besides, I don't need my son to learn conflict resolution in the play ground, dealing with bullies. I won't even comment on "socialization". Please, when are they going to stop beating on that dead horse? And as far as hard science is concerned, have any of these folks seen the cool things one can do at home? I know they've never met TinaTX!!! :wink: Okay, I'll get off my soapbox now! Anne
You are a trip and a half "never met Tina from Tx" hahahahaha :lol: We must pick our battles who cares what a reporters opinion is. Once this lady wrote to the editor about those "poor home educated kids" never make friends and the parents dont have to work as hard as the real educator. This is when I got published. Real education begins at home!!! While homeschooling is not for everyone thinking PS is the only way is wrong I proceded to invite this obviously ignorant woman to my home to see what happens in a day here. And then to go over the paper work I have to keep in PA!! She never responded so I figured that was a stress headache and reflux I could have did with out. While some things still tic me off I choose what to get worked up over. This burns me to the core when I read of a PA homeschooler not complying with the laws of our state. I too agree that our laws are tough but breaking them goes against what God's word teaches us and sets the example that when a law doesnt suit us we can break it. The laws do not ask us to go against God or to knowingly sin. Sooo........ we must comply!
I think the author took care of our argument for us! He included the source of the comment: skeptics. I haven't read the article, but that line seems relatively harmless on its own, at least in my world. Skeptics are skeptics--doubting without facts. Next time, just think of them sympathetically....those poor, ignorant people are still in the dark about homeschooling (head shaking slowly) tsk, tsk....so sad.
I agree with Brooke. There are plenty of (well-meaning idiots) out there who honestly think that "they" can do it better than us poor, uneducated fools who dare to buck the system. I think the reporter did a fine job showing that we are being very successful, but at the same time needed to present an "unbiased" view by telling what the opposition has to say. Jimmy Lu, I agree that we need to obey the laws, BUT at the same time the laws should be made to PROTECT rights, rather than HINDER them. I believe there are two kinds of people that chose to ignore the laws...fools who just don't care and are going to do it their way regardless, and those with lots of religious conviction and are making the decision after a lot of prayer and consideration. This second group believe they are doing God's will by not obeying what they feel is an unjust law, and I don't think any of us can tell tehm they're "wrong". I know Pennsylvania has one (two?) such cases going through the courts right now. Think of where we would be as homeschoolers if the people in this second group hadn't been there defying the laws twenty-some years ago! They are the backbone of our movement. As for the first group, I'd LOVE to eliminate it, but I doubt you ever can. They will always be there to give the rest of us a bad name.
I realize the author of the article did a great job of writing an unbiased article. And he did cast a positive light on home school. My beef was with the "skeptics" - I guess it was "one of those days" and it just hit me wrong! Thanks for the good advice to ignore the "well-meaning idiots" (love that, Jackie!) and just keep on keeping on. I agree that we should obey the law, as long as it does not step into the area of what God would have us do. His law and His will are waaaaay more important than man's law. The home school movement in Germany is going through so much right now. Folks in the USA went through similar battles 20 years or so ago. I am very thankful for the early home schoolers and their courage to stand up for their rights (and ours).
This reminds me of something... (The crowed moans.. Yes, I know I babble, sorry) Did any of you catch the tv show, "20/20"' John Stossels' report, titled, "Stupid in America? He single handedly makes the case for homeschooling (When you are able) with this small news story/report that he did. It was very well done, although it did not talk about homeschooling in specific. Just simply about how much the public school system sucks. AND he shows some MAJOR bad stuff in the NEA. It was SWEET! You should have seen all of the kids around the world who whoooped up on the American kids. Laughable. And yet, so sad. You should be able to go to ABC.com and grab a snipet of the video. Pretty much his entire dialouge from the show is typed out for you to read. There was also the behind the sceens video from an NEA meeting or confrence that was quite scarey. While watching this story, I caught a glimps of a paper that stossel kept refering to, when making his points about how American kids are so far behind the rest of the modern world. I looked it up on the internet and found the actuall papers he was reading from. It is some sort of "United Nations" type of educational intity that tests, tracks and analizes what they learn about education from around the world. I will have to go find the link. I you are interested, let me know.
