Hateful anti-homeschooling thread in GD right now.

[kath]

mzmolly and some others are doing an awesome job of defending homeschooling. Maybe some others could help out?

(I've posted some, but I'm busy tonight and it takes me SOOOO long to compose semi-intelligent posts. :-( )

Link:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x1691117

[mzmolly]

1. Thanks.

:hi: I just came to take a peek here and saw your post.

I'm out for the night soon, but plan to check back in the am.

Peace

[qanda]

2. That thread is awful

I've argued in those types of threads before and it gets old. One poster in particular is very harsh and mean-spirited and I'd rather spend time educating myself and my kids than arguing with people who only want to tell me how stupid my children probably are because they're homeschooled.

Such a shame that more Liberals aren't on board with homeschooling-- I think it's a natural fit. We should really start our own Liberal homeschooling forum because it's very hard to find support on the internet without the forum being filled with Republican nutjobs.

[deadmessengers]

3. That was an uphill fight, for sure

Trying to convince 2 public school teachers that there might actually be a viable alternative to public schools is like banging your head into a brick wall. That didn't keep me from trying, though ;)

[GoddessOfGuinness]

4. I'm sorry I missed that...

But I'm afraid Deadmessengers is right on target. Professional teachers who get involved in homeschool bashing are taught to be inflexible in this regard.

Still, I've known public school teachers and administrators who choose to homeschool their own kids. My nine year old still visits with his kindergarten teacher from time to time; and she always remarks how beautifully he's doing. There are teachers who understand that this is about finding what works best for our children, and not a personal slap in the face at those who teach school. It's those teachers who inspire me to think that public school is still a viable alternative to homeschooling.

[Maat]

5. Sorry I missed the excitement, GoG!

I'm kind of glad, though. My blood pressure would have zoomed up too much - what you said!

[Seabiscuit]

6. I think you're misunderstanding the OP in that thread.

The OP isn't bashing homeschooling in general. Just questioning the practice where it's done "for religious reasons" (the fundies/evangelicals who homeschool for religious/ideological reasons) and where the kids reach high school graduation age and are pretty much functionally illiterate.

I've gotten the impression over the years that DU'ers opposed to homeschooling are not opposed to all homeschooling, but rather they are opposed to the religious right nutcase families that keep their children out of school and not only fail to provide adequate education at home, but who isolate their children from normal interaction with others of their own age.

[DollyM]

7. not everyone who is religious is a "Nut" especially those who HS!

As a home schooling Mom and a Christian, I really really resent the depiction of anyone who is religious and homeschools being a nut. There are people of all faiths and walks of life who home school. It is really more about your motivation for homeschooling rather than whether you are religious or not. I know a lot of other people who home school, most of them are Christian or have a strong faith system and all of them do an excellent job of home schooling. People just tend to fear what they do not understand so they throw stones and riducule and place everyone in the same frame in regards to homeschooling. The one thing I do not like about DU is that people get on the "all people who are religious are nuts" bandwagon. I switched from the Republican party long ago because I saw that the Democrat stance really did take care of the widows and orphans with the concept of social programs. Democrats follow more Christian principals that they realize.
I just finished reading "Amish Grace" about the shootings at the Amish School in Nickel Mines PA. Remember that? The Amish base their lives on religious principals and it seems to help them keep their lives and families largely intact. The Amish did not ask for donations for their children, who incurred thousands of dollars in hospital bills but they received them. Something like 4 million dollars came in from all over the world. You know what they did with part of the money, they donated it to the family of the man who shot their children and offered his widow their love and support. Now some would consider them to be religious nuts (they home school, separate themselves from the rest of society and so forth all based on their religious principals) but you have to admire them and realize that they have something special in order to go forth and reach out to this man's widow and his family. Their faith helped them forgive and move on and maybe helped this man's family to grow beyond the devastating loss of husband and father. I am not running out and buying a buggy and trading in my blue jeans and t-shirt yet but still, you have to admire them and realize they they do have something really special.

[Kerrytravelers]

8. Seabuscuit didn't say that all religious people are nuts. Rather, it was said that DUers are often

annoyed with the right-wing religious nutcases who homeschool based on ideology (which is commonly against public/private schools.) As there are many religious people of all faiths on DU, and many of these people homeschool or work with homeschoolers (as I do,) and they are very active and longstanding members of DU, clearly not all religious people are part of the right-wing religious nutball zombie-brigade that we here at DU don't think too highly of.

The bandwagon you are referring to is the anger over the insistance of many right-wingers who claim Christianity that everyone agree with them, or otherwise you are less than a person and your personal beliefs and rights aren't as valid as theirs.

Now, with that being said, welcome to DU! You'll find that DU is just like the Democratic Party- it's a big tent and all are welcomed! :hi: