Comments on FREE HOMESCHOOLING 101: ANSWERS TO RANDOM STRANGERS ABOUT HOMESCHOOLING

Holy Moly Teamkyte, Back in the day I would have ...

2010-03-24T11:33:02.292-04:00

Holy Moly Teamkyte,

Back in the day I would have had a zinger for her, but, alas...I grew up. Oh my...I cannot imagine! She must have assumed IVF but WHAT an assumption that was!

On another note: We also have 5 children...two are twins! What a hoot!

"I had a woman ask me how my twins were conce...

2010-03-24T07:44:27.234-04:00

"I had a woman ask me how my twins were conceived "

WOW. I can think of a hundred funny comebacks but I'm sure I would have just been standing with my jaw on the floor.

Just WOW.

That was hilarious!!!! I will be homeschooling my ...

2010-03-24T00:51:55.322-04:00

That was hilarious!!!! I will be homeschooling my kids in the Fall. We are already used to rude comments by total strangers as we have 5 kids and twins to boot. I had a woman ask me how my twins were conceived - can you imagine asking someone that??????

Wow!!! I LOVED this article! This is exactly what ...

2010-03-23T08:52:33.504-04:00

Wow!!! I LOVED this article! This is exactly what I dread every time we go out. I HATE getting asked these questions! ;( Whose business is it? Gosh, I don't even know how they notice, or CARE.... when I see kids out w/ their PARENTS, I don't wonder why they are not in school, especially now, w/ all these on/off track systems.
And yes, many days, I'd sure LIKE to give a cocky response... boy would I!
We go over our desired response each time we go out: "Hmm... today we'll say "We homeschool", OR "We're off track", OR... we got off early today, or we're off.... we're on break... we're on a field trip....
OF course, any of these, and all of these would be true for the day, because they pretty much all apply each time, in the homeschooling world.

I see this topic hit a nerve. -Not at all shocking is it? That is precisely the point being made to begin with, that we cannot even TALK about homeschooling, without hitting SOME kind of nerve in SOMEbody.

This is an awesome, awesome post, my friend! ;)

KUDOS!! ;)

Blessings, Katie-Beth

Hi Jozet, Your responses intrigue me. You've...

2010-03-18T16:03:39.341-04:00

Hi Jozet,

Your responses intrigue me. You've read my answers and perceived that I somehow "bashed" public schools, though I have, in no way, "bashed" anything.

I now, however, understand the meaning behind the phrase, "The truth hurts." You've come out of the gates swinging to defend... something...though, I'm still not sure what.

If you are happy with the public schools, have at it. I've not been put on this earth to tell you or anyone else what to do with their family. Your heated reaction to this post however, causes me to believe that I hit a nerve that you have kept very well hidden...maybe even from yourself. I can only state the reason why we've chosen our path. If that chafes your wound, I'm sorry but I just don't have your salve.

Netmilsmom: Thank you for standing up for me, my friend. You're true blue! :o)

Jozet, it is quite offensive to accuse Shelly of p...

2010-03-18T11:06:10.529-04:00

Jozet, it is quite offensive to accuse Shelly of prejudice when she simply posted her own experiences and how she handled them. Shelly is an amazing person and I find your accusation to be appalling.

Any parent that feels "powerless" needs to understand his/her role as a parent, is to parent his/her own child. If a school is not working for that child, it is the parent's responsibility to do what works for his/her child. It's not my job to make the PS better for your child. It's my job to educate my own children. Perhaps I'll consider working to improve schools once I've done my own job.

No pain or hurt here! I wish everyone could be as blessed as I am. Bless your heart.

But meeting prejudice with prejudice isn't the...

2010-03-18T10:25:19.076-04:00

But meeting prejudice with prejudice isn't the answer, is it?

And yes, of course there are times when kids are told to stop talking and get to work. My homeschooler friends complain all the time about keeping their kids on task, especially with siblings in the house or at co-op groups. And in all those other "social" events we all take our kids to: scouts, sports, etc. There actually is a time and place to get to business and a time and a place to socialize. On the other hand, I have friends who have high level athletes or gifted musicians who actually put their kids back into school so that they could socialize.

I make no excuses for people who ask questions in unkind ways. But sometimes people are truly curious and don't know the landmines when asking a question. When we were planning to homeschool, I asked some of theses questions and only later realized how patient and understanding the person I was asking was being. Their patience - and no snark - in pointing me in the right direction meant everything in my understanding what homeschooling is and how it can benefit some children.

I guess I just don't ultimately fighting back assumptions and stereotypes with more stereotypes and generalizations. There are plenty of people who are intelligent and care deeply for their children and whose children thrive in public school, just as parents who choose homeschooling are doing what is best for their kids and are having a positive experience.

I've been the homeschooling route, the Sudbury route, public school and homeschool. The truth is just as I stated: there are more similarities of experience than not, both good and bad. Yes, be critical of public schools to help make them better for those who don't have the time/money/emotional resources to pull their kids out. But to be bash public school just because you feel like people have been bashing you is unfair and disrespectful in just the same way. "He did it first" is never a good justification, is it?

And Netmilsmom, I'm very well aware of the pros and cons of my particular school and I work hard and daily for my own children and for those children who don't have advocates within the school; for those who might be better off homeschooled, but whose parents do not have the wherewithal to do so. But thanks for the condescension. I'll just assume it's coming from a place of deep hurt and pain; as stated in the beginning of this post, a lot of parents do feel as if they are powerless when faced with a bad situation and likewise don't have the resources to fight the particular battles of keeping kids in public school - homeschooling is not their first choice, either. I wish you peace.

Jozet, Bullying happens in every school whether w...

2010-03-18T08:45:07.761-04:00

Jozet,

Bullying happens in every school whether we wish to believe it or not.

This post is absolutely factual. Every one of those questions have been posed to ME, and those were my answers...to various people depending on my mood and their level of indignation about our choice.

I did not say that Public School or Private School was a bad choice. My children have been to both and I was raised in various Public Schools.

This post reflects what homeschoolers must live with every day. We are indeed attacked verbally and met with snide remarks. Homeschooling is a lifestyle, and I will not apologize for helping people deal with ignorance and prejudice while we travel this less traveled path.

When people take our choice as a personal affront, it intrigues me. Prejudice isn't pretty. My answers, hopefully, reflect that back onto the person so they can challenge their beliefs more deeply.

As a side note:
#7 "Stop Talking! We aren't here to socialize!" Ring a bell, Jozet?

Nice rant Jozet. If you seriously think that none ...

2010-03-18T08:25:58.428-04:00

Nice rant Jozet.
If you seriously think that none of that goes on in YOUR public school ("not in MY school!", a standard answer from public school parents), the odds are against you. Drugs and bullying have been going on in schools since the 60s. While the Random Strangers that this article talks about have never been homeschooled, we've all been IN school. Even my kids were. We know what it's like there.

That should say "Public school is the best ch...

2010-03-18T05:28:43.300-04:00

That should say "Public school is the best choice for some, homeschool for others, private school or unschooling for others still, and within that a million different variables to consider as to whether or not the experience will be beneficial for any one child.

And, of course, that's public school, not pubic school.

Pubic schoolers you are more than welcome to criticize. ;-)

"My wife and I were also concerned that our c...

2010-03-18T04:56:35.091-04:00

"My wife and I were also concerned that our children would miss out on the socialization available in the public schools...so once a week we take our kids into the bathroom, cuss at them, push them around, steal their lunch money, and offer them drugs, and that seems to take care of it."

Wow. This never, ever goes on in our public school. I do hope this answer is a joke. Spreading untruths about any child or anyone's education choice is never a good thing, right?

Frankly, everything you wrote about public school has never been our family's or many of my friends' experience, just as I'm sure a lot of the assumptions people make about homeschooling are untrue. I have homeschooling friends, unschooling friends, public school friends, and private school friends. I see more similarities in our experiences than anything: kids who are bored and kids who are motivated; kids who do well with structure and kids who flounder miserably when there isn't enough structure in their day; kids who like the social level of their education experience and kids who want more (or less); parents who are stressed out from homeschooling and want to quit and parents who are stressed out by public school and want to quit; kids who do too much socializing in public school (which is directly a result of number 7 NOT being true) and homeschool kids who use every trick in the book to get out of doing their work, too (which is why homeschool message boards are filled with parents likewise complaining that their school day is taking 2, 3, 4 hours longer than it they think it should.)

Maybe focusing on the similarities instead of doing the same thing you are complaining about - unfair generalization and assumptions about any particular education choice (in this case, pubic school) - will promote more understanding and in the long run actually get kids the education experience they want and need.

The answer to the last question speaks most to the truth: kids are kids, and teachers and teachers whether they are also parents or not. You can't make assumptions based on anecdote of any once experience, and even with research studies in front, any one type or style of education will not work for every kid. Public school is the best choice for some, homeschool for others, public school for others still and within that a million different variable.

So great....made me laugh! Thanks for the chuckle...

2010-03-18T01:24:45.755-04:00

So great....made me laugh! Thanks for the chuckle. :)

A friend of mine says, "My wife and I were al...

2010-03-17T18:52:17.943-04:00

A friend of mine says, "My wife and I were also concerned that our children would miss out on the socialization available in the public schools...so once a week we take our kids into the bathroom, cuss at them, push them around, steal their lunch money, and offer them drugs, and that seems to take care of it."

Haha, I love this! I needed a good chuckle for to...

2010-03-17T15:40:19.460-04:00

Haha, I love this! I needed a good chuckle for today. :o)
I will be sharing this with my Imagination Tribe group as well.