Homeschoolers suck and more falsehoods...

[mareserinitatis]

I saw a post on homeschooling today. I responded. I sensed an argument was about to start, so I bailed. I don't need to waste my time with that, right? I've been drawn into too much of that before.

Later, I saw this article had been posted.

Comments

[joannaravenclaw]

I read your entire post and thought it was excellent.

Collin and I have given serious thought to homeschooling (if it's financially feasible for us) for all the reasons you mentioned (especially #1). My aunt homeschools her 5 kids and they are all smart, bright, and articulate kids. The oldest is now attending college in the Twin Cities and, from all accounts, is doing quite well.

[mareserinitatis]

I'm surprised you mention religion as the main reason. Is it more of the (lack of) ethics in schools? I mean...I didn't think you guys believed Jesus rode on dinosaurs... :-)

For me, one of the side benefits of homeschooling was to not have my son exposed to that damned Pledge of Allegiance every day. It made me insane because Quakers aren't supposed to make pledges or take oaths (and I fully jive with that because of the reasoning...not just as a mindless rule). Unfortunately, his teachers brainwashed him that he wasn't patriotic if he didn't say the pledge, and he believed (at the time) that being unpatriotic was worse than making a pledge.

Grrrr....

[joannaravenclaw]

We have no problem with our kids learning about evolution and such; that's not the issue. It's more of a moral problem -- as in, society's morals are, frankly, crap.

For example, there's a new law in CA mandating that public schools can only teach "positively" about homosexuality.

We think that EVERYONE should be treated with dignity, kindness, and respect regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, etc. -- but we do not believe that homosexual behavior should be condoned or accepted as normal. (Not to mention that, IMO, sexual orientation should not even be a TOPIC that is taught about in a public school curriculum.)

However, if my kids were going to school in CA, it would be against the law to present homosexuality as anything but a wonderful, completely normal thing This opinion goes directly against our religious beliefs. And if my children tried to articulate authentic Catholic teaching about homosexuality in school, they could be charged with propogating hate speech (in other words, religious descrimination against

[mareserinitatis]

This is the biggest problems with public schools. They want to perpetuate a certain set of values, but we live in a diverse population which does not necessarily adhere to all those values.

I do have to take issue with this, though: in other words, religious descrimination against Christians is okayI don't think that's it at all. There are a lot of religions which share your beliefs on homosexuality, so they aren't picking out Christianity exclusively. What they're doing is attempting to create a homogenous set of values within the population that transcends religion and cultural attitudes and beliefs

[joannaravenclaw]

And frankly, I think that exposure to many different attitudes and ideas is a good thing. While it can lead to misunderstandings, it can also lead to creativity and a lot of other good things.

I agree, but there's a big difference between "exposure" to new ideas, attitudes, etc. and forcing those ideas, attitudes, etc. upon a child -- especially a young child. As I parent, I think I have the right to decide when and at which time my child is exposed to the belief that homosexuality is completely normal, and in what context (i.e., I don't think discussions of sexual orientation are appropriate within an elementary public school educational context).

Stories like this one also make me want to homeschool.

[mareserinitatis]

First, I think you misunderstood me. I meant that I don't like the idea of making a homogenous culture. I meant that I think it's good for people to develop their own ideas and attitudes. Then, as adults, they'll get to develop them more fully with their own experience. The things they learned as children may stay with them, or they may chose a different path than what their parents want

[joannaravenclaw]

Your first point goes back to what I said before -- we believe everyone should be treated with respect, kindness, and dignity regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, etc. Teaching that homosexuality is acceptable is not the way to stop insults like "you're gay" or whatnot -- teaching that EVERYONE needs to be treated with respect and kindess is.

As to your second point, it wouldn't make a difference. Catholics acknowledge that same-sex attraction may have a genetic factor, but that doesn't make the behavior acceptable or less sinful any more than it would make alcoholism acceptable for those who have a genetic predisposition to alcoholism.

Let me ask you a question in return (and it's an honest question, I am NOT trying to be snarky or anything) -- if it turned out that pedophelia had a genetic component, would you then think that pedophelia should be considered "okay"? Or would you think it was wrong regardless?

[mareserinitatis]

Would you mind if I posted my reply as a topic of it's own?

[joannaravenclaw]

That's fine with me, although I'll warn you in advance that I don't know if I'll have the time or energy for a long debate on the subject.