Reply #9: I can see an upside and a downside to this. [View All]

[antigone382]

I was homeschooled from first through seventh grade, and although it took me a few years to really acclimate myself to the social norms of public school (moving around a lot was actually a good thing for me), I have a much stronger sense of who I am and what my values are because of it, and an ability to think independently that is absent in a lot of my classmates. I think it would be wonderful for kids who are "different" to have a place where their uniqueness is encouraged instead of repressed.

On the other hand, I can see where it might be detrimental to kids to have to go to the "dork" school; they might either see themselves as totally socially unacceptable, or they might never learn to develop the thick skin necessary to function. Also, what happens when bullying crosses over into these sanctuaries, as it surely will? My greatest concern, however, is the effect on the "normal" kids. This definitely sends the message that those who are different have to be isolated, and it doesn't force kids to recognize and learn to accept people who deviate from the norm.

The court is still out for me; there are ways a school for bullied and harrassed children would be helpful enormously constructive, especially if it fosters and embraces the unique nature of each child; but there are also ways it could be destructive, by placing that uniqueness in a bubble, denying other children the chance to see it and learn to respect it for themselves.