Chanel Volpel column: Homeschoolers don't match stereotypes

Read the article here.

W&L Professor's Memoir Offers Insight into Short-Term Homeschooling

Read W&L Professor's Memoir Offers Insight into Short-Term Homeschooling. I will have a chance to review her book soon.

223rd Carnival of Homeschooling: Open House

The Nerd Family is hosting the 223rd Carnival of Homeschooling: Open House. I can't wait to drop by for a nice long visit.

Alasandra's Place: Books I Read in March

Alasandra's Place: Books I Read in March

52 Totally Awesome Science Experiments You Can Do At Home

Are you looking for Science experiments you can do at home? check this site @ Phlebotomy Technician Schools out.

If you ask stupid & insulting questions don't expect to be treated with kid gloves

A rather immature blogger posted a list of homeschool questions some offensive, some plain stupid and some seemed to be serious questions. Then she got in a huff when homeschoolers didn't answer them the way she wished them to be answered. What is the point of asking questions about a topic if you aren't willing to listen to all the answers?

1. Why do homeschoolers choose homeschooling? Do the kids get a say in this choice?

This question was fine and seemed to be motivated by a legitimate desire to learn more about homeschooling. But why don't we ever ask public school parents why they choose to send their children to public school and if their kids get a say in the choice.

2. How do HSers (homeschoolers) know they will be good at homeschooling?

Again this question is fine, but why don't we ask public school teachers how they know they will be good teachers, or public school parents how they know they will be good parents? 

3. What are the benefits of homeschooling?

Good question but again why don't these bloggers ever question the benefits of public schools or private schools for that matter.

4. Okay. Seriously. If parents are stupid — as in, not all that bright from an academic perspective – should they homeschool? 

OK, this question is insulting. Why not ask if a couple isn't all that bright should they have kids? And if she means that they weren't top of their class straight A students, has she talked to any public school teachers. Most of them were average students who made B's & C's especially those who teach the elementary grades.

5. If parents are stupid, do they know they’re stupid and perhaps shouldn’t homeschool?

Another insulting question.

6. Or are the available curricula (check me OUT) so amazing that they render anyone a teaching genius, so it’s okay if you start out dumb — or dumber?

OK, this could be a legitimate question about curricula, but it is worded to insult. Why not just ask if the available curricula makes it easy for anyone to teach it?

7. What does a HSing parent do if they don’t understand something they’re supposed to teach? I’m serious here. I could never teach, oh, calculus, for instance.
Legitimate question and she managed not to be insulting.

8. Why does it seem a disproportionate number of homeschooled kids become obsessed with Ren Faires and crossbows and Celtic music and pan flutes and penny whistles, etc.?

OK, this question was insulting and STUPID and apparently no one ever taught her that if you ask a stupid question you are bound to get some stupid answers.

9. Uhm, is there a pan flute and penny whistle curriculum? 

Again STUPID AND INSULTING.

10. Do many homeschooled kids think TV is the devil and therefore don’t watch it?

Another slightly insulting question and apparently she is assuming that all homeschoolers are Fundamentalist. Why not ask why some public school kids aren't allowed to watch TV?

11. Where/how/in what ways do homeschooled kids hang out with kids other than their siblings? 

A rather stupid question, but giving the blogger the benefit of the doubt perhaps she was clueless and really did want to know.

12. Do most homeschoolers belong to a network of homeschoolers who share their “worldview”?

Again she seems to be making assumptions and unaware how diverse the homeschooling community is.

13. If so, how do homeschooled kids get exposed to other worldviews and learn independent thinking skills?

Again another stupid question.

14. I mean this question quite sincerely because I don’t know the answer, but is there such a thing as a secular homeschooling curriculum or does most HS curriculum contain religious elements?

This was a legitimate question and is worded fine. But if she was really interested why did she delete many of the comments that answered her question. I gave specific examples of secular boxed curriculum in my response.

15. Is homeschooling an anti-culture choice or a hope for a better educational choice or both?

Legitimate question.

16. Does a HSing parent really have to come up with 5 or so hours of lessons every day? How do you handle the disparity of ages in children?

Another good question.

17. Do homeschools offer Christmas, Valentine’s, or Sadie Hawkins dances? What about senior proms?

This question was fine.

18. So how do boys and girls learn to interact with each other?

Another stupid question.

19. What about sports teams, drama clubs, etc.?

Some people do seem clueless about all the many opportunities homeschoolers have so I consider it a legitimate question.

20. If you homeschool, would you do it again or recommend it to a friend? Please explain your yes or no.
Great question.

My answers to her questions can be found here. At one point they were approved and showed up in her comments and then the next day they were gone. Not sure what she found insulting about them.

It is too bad she got in a huff and deleted comments. There was a chance for a honest and open dialog between homeschoolers and non-homeschoolers. Unfortunately since the blogger was too immature to handle answers that didn't pander to her prejudices that chance it gone. And bloggers if you genuinely want to learn more about homeschooling homeschoolers will be glad to answer your questions but don't ask insulting questions and expect to be treated with kid gloves.