Well, I opened my big mouth and got into another debate with homeschool freaks. (Not to be offensive… but these people are so sold out to homeschooling that they can’t even be reasoned with!)
Here is what was said to me.
Drew, if you have personally had negative experiences with families who homeschool, may I suggest you do some research beyond your own experience to see what a family who does this well would look like! I also take offense at these statements:
QUOTE FROM ME
I guess I am just frustrated that Satan is winning the hearts and minds of many parents I know who have turned to homeschooling. (Please don’t see that as inclusive to you, I don’t know you.) He has convinced some parents that things won’t change and they only ever get worse. He’s convinced some parents that their children are somehow more valuable than children from non-believing families. He’s convinced some Christians that “being seperate from the world” is pleasing to God. He’s convinced them that they can’t make a difference and that the no of a school board is no to the gospel.
What in the world does all of that mean? I must tell you that Satan has not won our hearts and minds and that we are not convinced that things will never get better (we just can’t justify using our children to fix this). We most certainly DO NOT consider our children more valuable than those of non-believing families [many homeschoolers do so for purely educational reasons…many homeschoolers are not Christians!] We are actively engaged in our world…just not in public school right now. We know we can make a difference and we are making a difference.
My response:
My statement is what it is, I am not going to back-peddle. I’ve done research and I’ve even seen a few decent examples of homeschooling. You say I should research outside my point of view, you should do the same.
If you were to look at the big picture instead of the small picture you could see that you could make a difference. It’s not about your children, it’s about taking you, a trained professional willing to invest time and money into education and a believer, out of the system.I don’t hide my view, I believe it is wrong for anyone untrained to do secondary homeschool education. (6-12 grades) [I also don’t oppose primary homeschool educating even though I chose to not do it, I can respect it as an OK choice]
I feel that parents have a responsibility to know the long-term effects of removing themselves from the public schools. To give up the war [public schools] for the battle [some individual chidlren] is, I think, giving the victory to Satan. That’s my point of view. It’s really not short-sided. I’ve lived in 4 states now and seen it at each place. It is the same all over. You have people who think homeschooling is great and you have people that think it is bad. I know it is a huge industry that makes millions and it has it’s converts who are sold out to it. I’ve read some curriculum and I’ve met plenty of students, my opinion is that it is not as well-rounded of an education compared to the total package of public school.
QUOTE FROM HER
I am also not anti-public school and every year we re-evaluate this choice. I also am not willing to sacrifice my kids to an incredibly flawed system. The majority of the teenagers (smart teenagers) in my youth group cannot read aloud without stumbling. They cannot do simple math (accurately adding money up after collecting it for a youth event for example). That is not acceptable!
I don’t think this is representative of the system in general. Likewise, I’ve had homeschoolers in my groups that were 2-3 years behind because their “well-meaning” parents were bad teachers.Look, I am not trying to hijack this thread. It’s about resources. My opinion to the original post was the best resource they could get was to put their children in the public school.
QUOTE FROM HER
I also take offense at these statements:
If you are offended by others perspectives, I am sorry. You do not hold the keys to these grey area choices any more than I do. Perhaps this is why you have chosen to homeschool? I believe a diversity of opinions is a strength and not a weakness. I welcome your thoughts and reactions. But can I ask that if you chose to continue that you please start another thread?
You can read the thread at Homeliskooling thread at YS forums If this is anything like last time, I am certain to get nailed by some guy like Scott from last time.
To all visitors made at me for speaking out against the cult of homelischooling… WELCOME! Please leave your comments below. Just remember that we still live in the U.S. Members of Landover Baptist Church please leave your comments in the original hillbilly.
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