Gonzo Writer Attacks Homeschooling

This has to be one of the most close minded public school Mom's out there.

The formality and structure created by going to school everyday is lost in homeschool. Monday through Friday there is a routine, a sense of purpose. No confusion or ciaos. A learned respect of the adults that are teaching them. A respect for all people is gained by following the rules in school, as do in, the rules is society. Created to maintain order. When is this learned in homeschooling?

I can assure grovestreet homeschoolers do not live in confusion or chaos (it would be nice if she would learn to spell). Our children know what is expected of them each day and they do it. And guess what homeschool families have rules, just like the majority of public school families do. Apparently groovestreet's family is an exception as she can't imagine children learning rules or respect at home.

It has been said to me…..Why does their child have to learn for six to seven hours a day when they can teach them in two to three hours. WHAT THE HELL DOES THAT TEACH? WORK AT HOME. This child is learning nothing about adult work ethic by knowing that all work can be done in two-three hours. What is normal for most of us…. Punch a clock and spend the eight and 1/2 hours at a location to collect a paycheck. Run a business and it is a up at dawn, 24/7 career. What job can you work for an hour and then go out and hug trees? Drug dealer…sorry…. that was wrong but true. I wonder, if all those San Diego students were homeschooled prior to joining that frat house. Oh again, Sorry. Just trying to prove my point.

She so totally misses the point. Being more efficient is a good thing. Employers are always looking for ways to make their workers more productive.

To me there is an elitist attitude in homeschooling…. that you are a better teacher than our hard working, well-educated teachers or our educational system. The educational system is not good enough for your standards. What are you truly afraid of your child learning in school…all the bad things you see on TV. Do you study the statics of all these negative reports or just jump on the fear bandwagon of the group of like-minded individuals you surround yourself with. Was school that horrible for you? I am only trying to figure out for reason you would withhold your child from school.

The educational system in America is in serious trouble. Grovestreet can bury her head in the sand and deny it all she wants, but if she is truly interested she should watch John Stossel's Stupid in America. Parents have the RIGHT to make the educational choice that is best for their child ~ homeschooling, public schooling and private schooling are all valid educational options. Considering that my eldest son started college at 16, homeschooling was the best choice for him. It allowed him to move at his own pace, which was much faster then what his public school counterparts were moving at. And I am sure this would come as a surprise to grovestreet but many public school teachers homeschool their own children (I personally know several of them). And I am sure this will shock poor grovestreet to the core but I have been a substitute teacher in my local public schools. I can tell you first hand that it is much easier to homeschool you own children then it is to teach a classroom of 20 or 25 kids.

What I hear from them, through their church, is so much negative information and they feel so strongly that it is right. But it is so, so wrong. The information and facts I receive are so twisted it is scary to hear. They hold ideals which appear to me to be very judgmental of others, they use alarmists tactics when trying to make a point and are very negative to the “outside” world; government agencies, public institutions. Most to all of information received come to me through email and then the email war begins. It is so filled with negativity and alarmists view it infuriates me beyond belief. Therefore I begin explaining why I disagree with the views sent… firmly denying the whole idea of these beliefs and try to prove that the facts given to me are wrong.

This really doesn't have anything to do with homeschooling. I know this will probably come as a HUGE surprise to grovestreet but not all homeschoolers, homeschool for religious reasons. In fact not all homeschoolers are Christians. Homeschoolers are a diverse group. The chicken little email senders are just as likely to be sending their children to public school as to be homeschooling.



Here is an example: I received email regarding the book “The Secret”, and how dangerous it was, it is being used to reshape the minds of all humans and we should never, ever read such material, followed by BEWARE



What does this have to do with homeschooling? Again these emailers are just as likely to be sending their kids to public school as homeschooling. And this would probably shock grovestreet no end but I agree with her. I don't want anyone telling me or my kids what books we can read. The most irritating thing about these emailers is very often they condemn a book, movie or whatever without ever reading it or seeing it for themselves.



Or the topic of the 400 children taken away from the polygamist compound and how is was so wrong of the government. The government did not move fast enough in my opinion.



Again what does this have to do with homeschooling? The vast majority of homeschoolers have a monogamous marriage just like public school parents. In fact unlike a great majority of public school mothers, homeschool mothers are more likely to be married to their child's father. I am reserving judgement on the polygamist compound in Texas as "Officials still haven't found the 16-year-old girl whose abuse complaint triggered the massive raid". Unlike grovestreet, I like to have all the facts before forming an opinion. I do believe polygamy is morally wrong and that it would be reprehensible to force young girls into marriage. But at this time we really can't be sure what was going on in the compound. For all we know the alleged 16 year old girl who triggered the raid may have been a prank call, until they find her we just don't know. And I don't intend to rush to judgement.



Back to my original topic and why I feel that their religion may affect their decision to homeschool- In a recent email I received from one of my friends. It contain information that homeschool families are scared their children will be taken away. There are websites -parentalrights.org and hslda.org- to protect homeschool families. Why do they need protecting? Here’s an idea put your kids in public school, get to know the principal, your community politicians and be productive member of society and you will never have cause to fear such wasteful notions.



Homeschoolers don't need protection from the law. Homeschooling is LEGAL in America. You do not have to put your children in public school for 'protection'. You merely have to follow the homeschooling laws in your state. On the other hand homeschoolers do need protection from irrational fruitcakes that spread lies and misinformation against homeschoolers. As for being productive members of society, I assure you grovestreet homeschoolers are just as productive members of society as public school parents are. In fact many homeschoolers involve themselves in social issues, environmental issues and politics. In fact John and Elizabeth Edwards were homeschooling their children briefly.



Socialization and homeschool is a huge issue. In my opinion, a child will never be properly socialized through homeschooling; even though, there are many articles written to make these families feel better about their decision. Involved in music classes, athletics or meeting other homeschool families at the park. Are you spending six hours a day, five days a week with the same people? That is how you learn about others. A great example was the reality show, “The Real World”. A socialization experiment, how well did they deal with other humans unlike them. A need for the new socialization tool- MYSPACE.



I wonder why socialization is such a huge issue for her? And honestly citing a reality TV Show as an example of how real life is, is ummmmmmmm unreal. Maybe somebody is watching too much TV.

After supposedly receiving comments which we will never be able to verify as she deleted all the comments. She went on to post this.

Thank you for all you seriously committeed homeschoolers for commenting on my article. WOW– you are all defensive and pissy…Is that what you teach your kids? Quite aggressive, maybe you had bullying issues in school. No wonder I think you should put your kids in school. Don’t start pissing in my lawn. This blog is for me and only me. Every single comment came from visitors to my blog, my home. YOU FOUND ME! I don’t care about any one of you or would ever come to visit your blog nevermind waste my energy on telling you I disagree with YOUR OPINION. So GET THE HELL OFF MY LAWN, GET OUT OF MY YARD… YOUR TOMMY CANNOT PLAY WITH MY SALLY ANYMORE. You not invited here. BUG OFF. BTW - I am a mother not a father. You should read all of my blogs not just your self- centered interests.

I am a gonzo writer. If you don’t know what that means - look it up - then teach it to your children.


Jeez, I wonder why she not only read my blog, Dana's blog and Taz's Mom's blog but left comments? Apparently she likes changing the rules. As for being a gonzo writer, maybe she should consider that she isn't the only one who can engage in gonzo writing. Apparently she is less fond of name-calling, bomb-throwing and sardonic humor in the gonzo style when it is aimed at her.

A very nice blogger attempted to explain why homeschoolers went on the defensive when we were attacked. Her response (both comments will probably be deleted as she is fond of deleting comments).

Comment by grovestreet on May 13, 2008 4:36 pm I don’t mind a different perspective — I mind personal attacks. I was never aiming my opinions at anyone.

Sorry this doesn't fly. Homeschoolers are people, she was aiming her attacks (as there was more then one negative post on homeschooling) at anyone who choose to homeschool their children.

One homeschool blogger decided to take my opinion and break it up and use it for her own blog. Through that blog it sent me unwanted comments and attacks.

That's what bloggers do. And did she seriously think she could trash homeschoolers without getting some sort of response?

This blog is not an anti-homeschool blog–it is a personal journal.

Then choose the private option instead of the public option for your blog. If wordpress doesn't offer a private option switch to blogger.

Never did I go to search out these bloggers- they began coming to me. I can see the upset if I went to their blog and made my opinions known there.

Actually she did come to our blogs and she did leave comments. Maybe she is catching on to how blogging works.

Does anyone see where I am coming from?
NO!!!!

HT:EternaLearning Academy ~ Thoughts Like These Damage Homeschoolers Everywhere