While I can not honestly say that I agree with everything Sandra Dodd says (And what a boring world it would be if we all always agreed) I happen to think there is a point in this cartoon that was worth sharing.
There was an article I was reading just yesterday on how schooling and extending childhood is thought to be causing the conflict our society seems to having with our teenagers. The artificial setting of schooling conflicting with a need to be really living, not simply prepping for the real world.
While anyone that knows me, my blog, my facebook page knows that I do not believe homeschooling is for everyone, they also know it is something I really support and I am well educated on the homeschool reality as we have been researching it and doing it now for over 8 years.
Doug Wolfgram while a “fan” of my facebook page I am not sure actually read much before today. He made a comment along the lines of “Meanwhile homeschoolers are failing at life, are anti-social, because of fake teachers.” or some such. I have to say the insults got to me instantly. I thought I would respond with some real information and see if maybe I could help clear up the stereo types. I had linked to a study showing how homeschoolers are doing better in colleges than public schooled students. He did not bother reading it though before posting the following:
Doug Wolfgram said: 90% of the kids I know who are homeschooled are complete losers. But then, that’s just me. (Doug Wolfgram)
Sadly this is just what one warns their children about when it comes to bullies. We know now that asking a child to suck it up and ignore the aggression of a bully does not in fact build character. Plus I have a lot of character already I think you might have noticed. So I let him know that his words where not acceptable on my page and that he was no longer welcome. Of course then he deleted his comments and tried to again insult anyone homeschooling who are not “real” teachers. His parting words don’t reflect well on his character so I will not share any more of them.
I have to thank him though for reminding me how closed minded some can still be and how insecure homeschooling can make many people. It was just fine that he didn’t agree with the cartoon but his further comments where just hurtful.
I wish he would have read what I shared. I wish he would have been civil so I should have let him know that if his worry is valid over “real” teachers that many homeschoolers use real teachers to help and come children cyber school and have real teachers. Why do people assume homeschoolers do not support teachers? If anything I think homeschoolers love teachers even more. We see a tiny bit of what they do and have great respect for it. Often they have their hands tied and these days many of them dislike teaching to test as much as many students and parents do. Homeschoolers are not against teachers, we often hire them personally even when we hit something we need help with. We value what they do and very homeschoolers think public schools should be closed. I certainly don’t think schools should be closed. There are some amazing schools and teachers and I hope our education system gets better and better. There is space in our educational system for homeschoolers and we need to support this option as well. We need to put aside the stereo types and research things to have informed opinions and not ones like Mr. Wolfgram shared.
Dear Doug, maybe public school did not serve you as well you thought. In the real world you can’t be in someones house (Facebook page) and call them and 90% of the people they know losers and not expect to be asked to leave. I hope you have learned that communicating like that will never serve you well.
