tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14114569.post2479931127335097096..comments2023-10-28T08:10:09.173-05:00Comments on Alasandra's Homeschool Blog: Gonzo Writer Attacks HomeschoolingAlastriona, The Cats and Dogs http://www.blogger.com/profile/13233710830920626326noreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14114569.post-25114783784527772842008-05-16T07:01:00.000-05:002008-05-16T07:01:00.000-05:00Dana, you made a good point when you said."Very of...Dana, you made a good point when you said.<BR/><BR/>"Very often, those who are most vocal are responding to their misunderstandings of what the other side actually believes or practices. Or generalizes based on a few. I think largely because no one extends the other side enough respect to actually listen."<BR/><BR/>I think that is exactly what happened here, and it would be so easy for me to take the most obnoxious public school Mom I know and write a post about public school parents but it would be grossly inaccurate as thankfully there are very few public school Mom's like her. She was keeping the kids up late at night so she could go to the casinos (they have a baby sitting service). The little girl that was in my first grade class slept all day, she was so tired and often showed up in the same clothes she had on the day before.Alastriona, The Cats and Dogs https://www.blogger.com/profile/13233710830920626326noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14114569.post-74234846823451647992008-05-16T06:55:00.000-05:002008-05-16T06:55:00.000-05:00I know a lot of people who joined HSLDA because th...I know a lot of people who joined HSLDA because they were told they had to by the Christian Homeschool Group they joined or they were scared into joining by an overzealous school counselor, attendance officer ect who didn't know the law in Mississippi. So I would hazard a guess that not even a majority of HSLDA's own members agree with them 100%.Alastriona, The Cats and Dogs https://www.blogger.com/profile/13233710830920626326noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14114569.post-49885582545564675402008-05-16T05:52:00.000-05:002008-05-16T05:52:00.000-05:00Thanks for the compliments you guys. :) It's a lit...Thanks for the compliments you guys. :) It's a little funny becuase I see myself as extremely prone to bouts of snarkiness. Maybe that's becuase I know the posts I write before I edit and write the more polite ones. :D<BR/><BR/>Grovestreet - Totally with you on the HSLDA crap. There's a large group of homeschoolers who find them, to say the least, questionable. Personally I think they're a bunch of nuts bent on christian dominionism that I wouldn't touch with a ten foot pole, but that's just me.Dawnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05895897568006441289noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14114569.post-66905063367565703792008-05-16T02:27:00.000-05:002008-05-16T02:27:00.000-05:00Oh...and on the religion thing. I am all for peop...Oh...and on the religion thing. I am all for people passionately defending their beliefs and not compromising, regardless of what those beliefs are.<BR/><BR/>I just don't like the intimidation, name-calling and attempts to silence opposition, regardless of which side it is coming from.<BR/><BR/>Very often, those who are most vocal are responding to their misunderstandings of what the other side actually believes or practices. Or generalizes based on a few. I think largely because no one extends the other side enough respect to actually listen.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14114569.post-10367993873461509262008-05-16T02:20:00.000-05:002008-05-16T02:20:00.000-05:00Wow, Not June Cleaver. I'm very humbled by that. ...Wow, Not June Cleaver. I'm very humbled by that. <BR/><BR/>Nice job, Alasandra. The most difficult thing I had in this whole non-conversation was the "Gonzo" thing. I don't know what is supposed to be literary since exaggeration seems to be the beginning point of the conversation. <BR/><BR/>But the virtual Mimosa was good. As was the time I spent watching the Muppets on YouTube after looking for snippets including Gonzo. :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14114569.post-18621240798189375662008-05-15T20:36:00.000-05:002008-05-15T20:36:00.000-05:00It sounds like emotions got high. One being her g...It sounds like emotions got high. One being her getting those emails (I am not a part of H$LDA either.) and she posted with emotion and misinformation and then that in turn made everyone else emotional LOL. I am glad she understands a little better now though.Jodyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15021539541739381121noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14114569.post-43105362397280178782008-05-15T19:26:00.000-05:002008-05-15T19:26:00.000-05:00Actually my perfect world has already been achieve...Actually my perfect world has already been achieved when grovestreet posted this<BR/><BR/>"Homeschool may not be for my family. Life experience plays a role. You have your reasons to homeschool. It is not my place to condemn it." <BR/><BR/>That's all I ask.<BR/><BR/>I am thrilled that public school works for her family. If one day for some reason it doesn't then I am thrilled that she will have options to choose from, homeschooling among them.Alastriona, The Cats and Dogs https://www.blogger.com/profile/13233710830920626326noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14114569.post-11595304324461171202008-05-15T19:13:00.000-05:002008-05-15T19:13:00.000-05:00And in our perfect little world, Grove Street will...And in our perfect little world, Grove Street will soon be extracting her children from public school and opening a blog on homeschooljournal.net. Oooops. Dreaming.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14114569.post-59140091723321294852008-05-15T19:07:00.000-05:002008-05-15T19:07:00.000-05:00I need to take lessons from Dana and Dawn as they ...I need to take lessons from Dana and Dawn as they are always nice and unfailingly polite.<BR/><BR/>Unfortunately I love satire and sarcasm comes naturally. The gonzo writing style is so appealing, I could do it in my sleep. Whereas Dana and Dawn's well thought out responses take time and thought, at least for me to emulate them.<BR/><BR/>Hopefully we can all take it down a notch and learn from each other. I even think me and grovestreet may have some things in common. Who knows we might wind up being blogging buddies, stranger things have happened.Alastriona, The Cats and Dogs https://www.blogger.com/profile/13233710830920626326noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14114569.post-19345724960387115022008-05-15T18:54:00.000-05:002008-05-15T18:54:00.000-05:00Oooh Alasandra, we posted at the same time!!Oooh Alasandra, we posted at the same time!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14114569.post-6372915667131539582008-05-15T18:52:00.001-05:002008-05-15T18:52:00.001-05:00Oh I have to laugh, Grove Street, because someone ...Oh I have to laugh, Grove Street, because someone sent me the same email. It was another homeschooling mom in a co-op that I belong to (mostly Christian homeschoolers, but a few oddballs like me too). Just remember that wacky conservatives are everywhere, not just homeschoolers. There's really no link, except maybe more wacky conservatives choose to homeschool for religious reasons than the rest of us wacky people.<BR/><BR/>HSLDA definitely defends homeschool rights, but they also have a political agenda that reaches far beyond homeschooling and homeschool issues. That is why I choose NOT to have anything to do with HSLDA.<BR/><BR/>And I'm not certain, but I think the continuation of this particular issue is no longer directed at you. It has taken on a life of its own as a general rant against people who rant against homeschooling. :) <BR/><BR/>That's kind of the way these things go in the blogosphere -- someone posts something. Someone picks it up on their feeds (many bloggers subscribe to feeds that they can insert keywords into so they are alerted when someone posts about a subject of interest a blog) and that person posts more, pointing people to the original post. Then, people who know that blogger rally and before you know it, your little personal rant has been published all over the place and people are picking on you. <BR/><BR/>Sometimes thick skin helps. Sometimes responding helps, depending on how you approach it. But always remember that we don't know you, and you are the best judge of yourself and how you really feel. We can only go by what we read.<BR/><BR/>There are two bloggers who, in my opinion, continually maintain a level-headed tone no matter how ugly a conversation gets and they are Dana and Dawn. I try to learn from them.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14114569.post-3330205487633328282008-05-15T18:52:00.000-05:002008-05-15T18:52:00.000-05:00saw your question about HSLDA and I wanted to answ...saw your question about HSLDA and I wanted to answer it. I made a post on my blog because I am sure many other people have questions about HSLDA & Homeschoolers<BR/><BR/>Many homeschoolers are not members of H$LDA and are infuriated by their alarmist emails. We are also infuriated by the fact H$LDA claims to speak for all homeschoolers. They do not! <BR/><BR/>H$LDA has their own political agenda (an agenda which I do not agree with), which they need money to achieve. So they convince homeschoolers that they need protection (when people post anti-homeschooling rants HSLDA rejoices as it helps convince homeschoolers HSLDA is still needed). I did several post on HSLDA.<BR/><BR/>Coincidence or Conspiracy<BR/>One Homeschool Association to Rule Them All………..<BR/>Home-School Non-Discrimination Act of 2005<BR/>Do You Have to Join HSLDA to Homeschool?<BR/><BR/>Apparently you did not realize how insulting the post you did on homeschooling would be to anyone who had chosen to homeschool their children. But think about it. How would you feel if a stranger told you “I think you are damaging your children by sending them to public school”. Since you seem to be new to the blogging world, I’ll explain that a vast number of bloggers have their google search engine set up to send them emails on topics that interest them. I have homeschooling as one of my topics, so I got an email notifying me of your post. I didn’t exactly come looking for you. I am sorry things got out of hand and I appreciate your latest post.<BR/><BR/>"Homeschool may not be for my family. Life experience plays a role. You have your reasons to homeschool. It is not my place to condemn it." <BR/><BR/>Thanks, and if you have any further questions regarding homeschooling I will be happy to try to answer them.Alastriona, The Cats and Dogs https://www.blogger.com/profile/13233710830920626326noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14114569.post-14679525266566184152008-05-15T17:35:00.000-05:002008-05-15T17:35:00.000-05:00#1. This started when an email was sent to me by a...#1. This started when an email was sent to me by a homeschool mother wanting me to sign a petition at PARENTALRIGHTS.ORG, I then was directed to HSLDA? It was full of alarmist information. I got upset.<BR/><BR/>This is what triggered my blog!<BR/><BR/>#2. What is the HSLDA...if not, to defend homeschool families.<BR/>#3. I posted this out of anger from these emails. Instead of sending it back to her = to whom it was directed at. I never meant to come out to demean the whole homeschool world. Like you are demeaning me... <BR/>#4. - The following artlicles and responses were trigger as a reaction to all of your groups comments. <BR/> I did not comment to you first. I was immediately put on the defensive.<BR/><BR/>Please stop harassing me. <BR/>I understand I shook up your whole homeschool community and am making an attempt to listen to you.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14114569.post-77276382163066007682008-05-15T04:23:00.000-05:002008-05-15T04:23:00.000-05:00LOL!!! I suppose I am, but if they'll just leave m...LOL!!! I suppose I am, but if they'll just leave me alone we can all live in harmony.Alastriona, The Cats and Dogs https://www.blogger.com/profile/13233710830920626326noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14114569.post-50223601585390964432008-05-14T20:12:00.000-05:002008-05-14T20:12:00.000-05:00I can see where you are coming from Crimson Wife, ...I can see where you are coming from Crimson Wife, and I actually agree to a certain extent. And IF we all shared the same religious beliefs it wouldn't be a problem. Since there are so many differing religious beliefs in America and there seem to be so many extremist on both ends of the spectrum I am not sure how you could put "religion" in the public schools.<BR/><BR/>On the other hand IF every parent is free to teach their children what they believe without the interference of busy bodies (government interference) then it shouldn't be a problem.<BR/><BR/>I do wish that people could learn to respect those who hold different beliefs and show tolerance for the choices people make. I get so tired of all the intolerant jerks.Alastriona, The Cats and Dogs https://www.blogger.com/profile/13233710830920626326noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14114569.post-51536463230181497712008-05-14T18:43:00.000-05:002008-05-14T18:43:00.000-05:00Except that historically, theology was at the hear...Except that historically, theology was at the heart of formal education. Oxford, Cambridge, the University of Paris, the University of Bologna, Harvard, Yale, Penn, Princeton, Brown, Dartmouth, William & Mary, etc. were all founded specifically as religious institutions. <BR/><BR/>Secular education is a much more recent development that began during the so-called "Enlightenment" of the 18th century and really gained traction in the 19th and 20th centuries. <BR/><BR/>Plenty of people would make the argument that the marginalization of religion in education has played a significant role in the problems of our modern society...Crimson Wifehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03254830856234479999noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14114569.post-39948863641647715952008-05-14T16:38:00.000-05:002008-05-14T16:38:00.000-05:00Yep. :-)Yep. :-)JJ Rosshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03493570025415687789noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14114569.post-33175585772088163962008-05-14T12:24:00.000-05:002008-05-14T12:24:00.000-05:00Hi Jody,Having a terrific day here. The weather is...Hi Jody,<BR/><BR/>Having a terrific day here. The weather is nice, so I have been weeding the butterfly garden. Just taking a lunch break and checking my email.<BR/><BR/>Hi JJ,<BR/><BR/>You said<BR/>we might note that the larger root cause behind such polemic is the incoherent confusion of religion (Church) and academic education (School).<BR/><BR/>True so true. We also might note that the unbelievers want to force their secular/humanist or whatever you want to call them beliefs on believers. And the believers want to force their religious beliefs on the secular crowd. IF everyone would be content to believe whatever they wanted and leave other people alone we would all get along much better.<BR/><BR/>In fact IF they would actually listen to each other they might learn something. I have learned a lot from my Pagan and Wiccan friends and I hope they have learned something from me. We all have something to contribute. It's so sad when one group is so entrenched in being right they have to put other groups down.Alastriona, The Cats and Dogs https://www.blogger.com/profile/13233710830920626326noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14114569.post-49915727774487641342008-05-14T11:56:00.000-05:002008-05-14T11:56:00.000-05:00That is great. I honestly don't like seeing where...That is great. I honestly don't like seeing where someone who is supposed to be Christian put down other's for their beliefs. Granted I may not agree with their beliefs or unbeliefs but that doesn't make it right for me to disrespect them ya know?! I hope you are having a good day!Jodyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15021539541739381121noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14114569.post-56663366553208779272008-05-14T09:49:00.000-05:002008-05-14T09:49:00.000-05:00Apart from one unworldly young mom blogger who can...Apart from one unworldly young mom blogger who can't even figure out what she believes for herself much less explain it coherently from post to post! -- we might note that the larger root cause behind such polemic is the incoherent confusion of religion (Church) and academic education (School).JJ Rosshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03493570025415687789noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14114569.post-63432251966400066912008-05-14T05:08:00.000-05:002008-05-14T05:08:00.000-05:00Hi Jody,We have a pagan family in our inclusive ho...Hi Jody,<BR/>We have a pagan family in our inclusive homeschool group and they are a wonderful, interesting family that I have enjoyed getting to know a great deal. The Mother is usually one of the first to offer concrete help.<BR/><BR/>Hi Crimson Wife,<BR/>Thanks for the mimosa.Alastriona, The Cats and Dogs https://www.blogger.com/profile/13233710830920626326noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14114569.post-33443793602560813892008-05-13T21:40:00.000-05:002008-05-13T21:40:00.000-05:00Come and have a virtual mimosa on me and forget a...Come and have a <A HREF="http://bendingthetwigs.blogspot.com/2008/05/virtual-mimosas-for-all-homeschooling.html" REL="nofollow">virtual mimosa </A> on me and forget about that lame excuse for a blogger! :-)Crimson Wifehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03254830856234479999noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14114569.post-7709217420334055742008-05-13T20:33:00.000-05:002008-05-13T20:33:00.000-05:00LOL I know what you mean my now eight year old rea...LOL I know what you mean my now eight year old read's beyond his grade level to and has for a while. So I do know what you mean about finding good books for them to read. <BR/><BR/>We do use Christian Curriculum but I do find I have to supliment with non Christian books and I think we are leaning towards the unschool or relaxed style of homeschooling. I am also part of an inclusive homeschool group and a part of a local MOMS Club that is secular in nature (though there are Christians in it too). I so agree with you too on enjoying friends with different beliefs than I have. I even have a friend I chat with online (for a few years now) that is a wiccan. I may not agree with their religion but it doesn't make them any less my friends :).Jodyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15021539541739381121noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14114569.post-12214394405084158772008-05-13T20:24:00.000-05:002008-05-13T20:24:00.000-05:00Hi Jody, Although we aren't homeschooling for reli...Hi Jody, Although we aren't homeschooling for religious reasons and I use a secular curriculum and belong to an inclusive homeschool group my family is Christian. But I truly enjoy my friends who hold different religious beliefs. They have taught me a lot.<BR/><BR/>You said<BR/> want them to read age appropriate books (meaning maturity wise not age alone).<BR/><BR/>That's a good point. And when you are blessed with advanced readers it is a sometimes difficult job. I wound up explaining the death penalty to a six year old because he was reading one of my books when I was in the shower. Not only did I have to explain the death penalty to him he ruined the book for me as he got to the end before I did. LOL<BR/><BR/>I was very careful what I read after that.Alastriona, The Cats and Dogs https://www.blogger.com/profile/13233710830920626326noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14114569.post-57280097011841953712008-05-13T20:10:00.000-05:002008-05-13T20:10:00.000-05:00That nice poster was me (bashful smile here lol). ...That nice poster was me (bashful smile here lol). I am glad you liked it LOL. Also wanted to add even Christian homeschooler's aren't all fanatics! I am a Christian but that wasn't the major reason we decided to homeschool. I am not afraid of my children reading books. Maybe I want them to read age appropriate books (meaning maturity wise not age alone). Because in the end they will have to choose if they want to be Christians or not. I can't make them decide that. We try to live by example but that doesn't mean they will want to be Christians later. So even Christian homeschoolers aren't necessarily trying to put our children in a bubble. Dare I say that my children have friends how parent's are unbelievers? (gasp LOL). I just didn't want anyone to think all Christians are fanatics :D.Jodyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15021539541739381121noreply@blogger.com