Homeschoolers & Socialization

[For those readers whose children go to public schools, please don't read this unless you have a sense of humor . One of the reasons it's funny to me is because of how much it mirrors mine and my husband's public school experiences. It's not intended by me to be a "slam" against people making different educational choices, OK? You know your own threshold for being able to take a joke. So, seriously, if you're going to be offended, don't read any further.]

A friend of mine, Leanne, found this in an Austrailian homeschooling journal, --"In the Kolbe Little Home Journal (Fall 2005), "Homeschooling Family Finds Ways to Adapt to a Public School 'Socialization' Program", and it cracked me up. Just wanted to pass it along for your amusement:
"When my wife and I mention we are strongly considering home schooling our children, we are without fail asked, 'But what about socialization?--' Fortunately, we found a way our kids can receive the same socialization that government schools provide.

On Mondays and Wednesdays, I will personally corner my son in the bathroom, give him a wedgie and take his lunch money.

On Tuesdays and Thursdays, my wife will make sure to tease our children for not being in the 'in' crowd, taking special care to poke fun at any physical abnormalities.

Fridays will be 'Fad and Peer Pressure Day.' We will all compete to see who has the coolest toys, the most expensive clothes, and the loudest, fastest, and most dangerous car.

Every day, my wife and I will adhere to a routine of cursing and swearing in the hall and mentioning our weekend exploits with alcohol and immorality..--.. And we have asked them to report us to the authorities in the event we mention faith, religion, or try to bring up morals and values."
Simple enough! :)

56 comments:

Joanna said...

LOL, that's a good one.

mamashine said...

Oh, I love this. :)

Sandra said...

Too funny! My husband and I are thinking about education options for our children. It's early, but we think we may need to start now convincing extended family members that homeschooling is OK (and even better than OK!!).

Kacie said...

Lol! That's pretty funny.

As a public school grad, unfortunately this rings true for some students.

It wasn't that bad for me (nobody ever took my lunch money) but there is always a pressure to conform and be accepted.

Anonymous said...

What a crack up. I love it.

Anonymous said...

That is funny, but don't you think that your children need to deal with those things eventually. Unless you can keep them in a bubble, they will eventually have to deal with those things. I guess it just depends on what people's motivations are for homeschooling. I don't think that the motivation of "protecting them" from those things is a good motivation unless you can protect them for their entire lives.

Chelsea

Jess Connell said...

Actually, Chelsea, I've never had anyone make fun of me for having a different hair style as an adult. I've not been physically bullied as an adult. I've not had anyone challenge me to a race as an adult. No one makes fun of other people names as an adult. There are many things that kids do when they're kids that aren't good, and that aren't done when they grow up. That's the ever-loving point.

This was intended as a joke, but there is some level of truth behind it. That's the key to most good jokes.

Tasha said...

Before my daughter was born I was a public school teacher. Sadly, this passage does describe public school to a "t". In fact observing all these things on a day to day basis (even at a Kindergarten level) opened my heart to the Lord's prompting for me to homeschool my children.

We know two families that have boys in nice public high schools that are looking at taking them out. Bullying has become such a problem. One of the boys is 6'5" and he is on the receiving end because he is well behaved and won't go against the grain. The other is being bullied because he won't join in the gang like activity of the ones bullying him.

My husband was having a conversation at work with some of the doctors that he works with on this same subject. One of the doctors told him that he had a stradegy for surviving bullying when he was in school. When he would start a new school he would find out who the biggest bully was and beat him up. Sad, but true.

I was oblivious to these things in schools until I worked in them. I worked in 3 different districts and at the elementary, jr. high and high school levels. Same song different verse at each place.

I'm very thankful that the Lord has provided for me to stay home with my children.

Kate said...

That is so funny! In the fall we will start homeschooling our older children who are currently in public school (we actually have had a positive public school experience unlike some families). We are already getting the "what about socialization? " questions. I just chuckle and say "spend the day with a typical homeschooled teenager and tell me who is more socially adept?" That usually ends the discussion.

Lydia said...

Hilarious. Both my hubbie and I are public school graduates, we've chosen to homeschool for much of the above reasons. We want our kids to be healthy, happy, and have goddly wisdom with some good self-esteem throuwn in- something that I know my physically handicapped daughter WON'T get in public school.

K said...

LOL Love it! So funny.

Anonymous said...

Well, I was homeschooled in Africa and went to public and Christian school in Europe, and though thankfully I loved my time at school, I thought this was hilarious! (Sensible of you to put the warning up though!)

Elspeth said...

Well, Jess, you know that my big kids are in public school 9one high schooler and two 8th graders). Not my choice but by the time I even got a clue what homeschool even IS ( about a year ago) we decided to let the big girls stay put. I can appreciate this joke totally and am in no way offended. Mainly because it rings eerily true!

And I agree with your response to Chelsea: there are things I don't have to deal with as an adult that I had no choice but to deal with in P.S. And my kids don't have to deal with half the stuff at home that they do at school.

anya* said...

oh that is funny. my husband is actually a public h.s. teacher (a science one at that.lol), and is currently working towards a degree in school admin., so i don't know how homeschool would work...although our new kids (via adoption) who have always attended public school, i feel like i haven't had time to make a decision before it was thrust upon me.. but thats a whole other story i suppose.
thanks for the afternoon smile.

Anonymous said...

Ok, now thats so funny and true! Going to link on my blog for my HSing friends!

Kimberly said...

toooooo funny! thanks!

Amanda said...

LOL. Jess, that was funny. :D

I'm a public school grad and I even worked in the public schools as an aid for children with Autism (great job, BTW); and people wonder why I want to homeschool!

I heard this question asked before (I'm paraphrasing): Who would you rather socialize your kids? The bullies and humanistic-minded educators and curriculum or you and your family?

I should say, though, my public school experience wasn't bad. :)

Claire said...

I probably have a very large bladder, simply because I NEVER would go at school in junior high. :-) I held it all day, every day. There were some really mean girls ready to bully the nice kids like me.

I went to a private high school, and things were better there. I put my kids in private, Christian school, and my daughter was accosted repeatedly by another child...in 2nd grade!!! I decided to not subject my kids to that kind of "socialization" anymore.

We live in very heavily populated Southern California, so we have lots of experiences, not all positive, with all different kinds of people. I'm convinced my children are better able to handle those negative experiences because they are with me when they happen, and we talk about it immediately. If they were in school, I'd only know about it after the fact, or I may never hear about it. Some bullied kids are so beaten down that they are embarrassed to tell even their own parents (I have a friend dealing with this with her son, and my daughter didn't tell me for months).

Anonymous said...

I've got to say that we had a great experience in public school this year--it surprised us and has been very different than our own experiences in school.

The "different" kids seem OK too. Go figure. We've had great opportunities for ministry too--ones we would not have had otherwise. Sure, there are things I've disagreed with--not big ones, but opportunites for great conversations.

We all homeschool, but some of us use the schools too ;) I know too many people who crashed and burned when they got to the "real" world to totally protect my family from what's out there.

I hope this isn't a duplicate post--I've been having problems with my email and I may have posted another reply.

Sheila said...

That's HILARIOUS!!!!!

gonna have to save the link to this one!
sheila

Abbi said...

How very funny but also sad because I guess that does go on. My husband and I were both blessed to be homeschooled and we homeschool our children so I can't relate but I can feel very blessed.

I think it is wise for us to protect our children from things like that. God placed them in our care for sheilding and protecting. He is our Sheild and Protecter and we need to be sure our kids have that too and even more than us.

Kim said...

This public school teacher says, "Touche!" :) (IF we're going to dish it out, we have to be able to take it. And I have defended home schooling to public educators, because of the following explanation...)

I think the issue isn't who is right or wrong. It's respecting that each family makes the best choice with the best knowledge they have for their children! Some families don't think they can, or logistically cannot homeschool - and that's okay! And some moms can't fathom sending their kids to public school, and that's okay too! And some families think only Christian school, where children are only (yeah, right) exposed to Christian morals is the best. And that's okay! The point is that each family makes their choice.

We are all so (and myself included) defensive of our choices, that we insist upon arguing just so we don't feel bad about possibly being "wrong" or being seen as "less." I think it's important to just, as a parent, be confident in doing your best with what God provides for you! :)

While I don't think the joke is 100% accurate and descriptive of every, or even most public schools (and hey, it's a JOKE, right?), the point is made!

darci said...

funny funny funny! i loved that. but of course only homeschoolers do :) oh don't we get tired of the socialization question..when many many studies prove that homeschooled kids are BETTER socialized, more tolerant, more honest, more motivated..etc etc. :) cracked me up. thanks!

Jess Connell said...

Yeah, madge, I'm not one for complete and total seclusion either. But in the early years, I do try to protect them from unnecessary influences by other "foolish" children (that's the Bible's word, not mine). ;-)

That doesn't mean we don't talk about real world issues and the nature of sin. Of course we do-- in fact, our kids have been directly exposed to nearly all major world religions at this point, and we talk about all kinds of stuff with our kids that I've gathered other people don't.

And I was in youth group with a whole slew of homeschooled kids raised completely under the Gothard mentality who (without exception) went wild after high school. Every single kid I knew who hadn't interacted with the real world went wild... so I hope even a joke like this wouldn't be misunderstood to be an endorsement of secluding ourselves from the real world. Quite the contrary.

Thanks for commenting--



I'm glad so many people have been able to take this as I intended it-- simply as a good chuckle with some memories of junior high brought to mind. (I really DIDN'T intend it to segue into a discussion on homeschooling; honest!)

~Jess

Sanders said...

HAHAHAHAHA! That's funny!

CappuccinosMom said...

Too funny!

I went to a "good" public highschool, and the kind of socialization available there was not what I want my children to get. Yuchhh.

But maybe I will give them a surprise wedgie now and again, just to toughen them up and prepare them for "real life". :p

Anonymous said...

It seems like you're frustrated that people are making comments on homeschooling and not just laughing at your "joke". You can't make a "joke" like that, that says "anyone who puts their kids in public school is a bad parent" and then expect everyone to agree with you and make fun of those people. You have to expect comments on things like that if you set yourself up as an "expert" on all these subjects you talk about. Don't get so offended or annoyed - you set yourself up for it.

A.P.

Anonymous said...

Hi Jess

My kids are public schooled in Australia so this was quite hilarious for me. At ages 9 (boy) and 7 (girl) I fear the worst may be ahead for them, but fingers crossed my kids will get through as unscathed as I did. I certainly will be keeping a close eye on them! I take my hat off to all of you mums and dads who homeschool. I am well aware that I do not have the patience that it would require! But thankfully both my kids are above average intelligence and have this recognised by their school. They go to extension programs and participate in extra-curricular classes. So far, no wedgies have been included in said extra-curricular program - so should we begin to do that at home?? ;-)
I think I am blessed - if they were struggling I know my husband and I would give more of our time. I pray for their safe passage through high school and have made sure they are involved in Church and Scouting so that they always have a group of friends around who live by the same morals as we try to.
Good luck with your homeschooling journey!
Carolyn

Anonymous said...

OH-MY-GOSH!! Jess this was hysterical (and unfortunately true...). I couldn't stand my school years (any of them) for just these reasons...well, except for the wedgie...thankfully I never experienced that from my peers...lol.

Jess Connell said...

A.P.,
Yeah, maybe a little frustrated because it seems like they aren't reading the disclaimer. :)

For the record, I'm not saying or implying that "anyone who puts their kids in public school is a bad parent". The joke is NOT about parents. Heck, my own parents sent me to public school for 1st through 12th grade. The joke is about how naughty little children really are. And they are... I was, you were, and the kids you and I went to school with were.

I'm certainly not setting myself up as an "expert" for homeschooling. Goodness gracious; I just started! I just laughed at this and thought other people would too. And, hey, I was right. I also knew other people would be offended-- which is why I put the disclaimer at the top. And, hey, I was right. Maybe I'm an expert on predicting the responses of my readers, even if I'm not an expert on much else, LOL.

Johanna said...

It's funny because it has truth in it! I went to private, Christian school and taught in private Christian school for 6 years. Although there is less of this at Christian school, I found that anything that can be found in a public school can be found in a Christian school, just on a smaller scale. My husband had a great public school experience, but I wonder how much of that was because of where he lived. At some point I plan to put my kids in school, but I plan to wait until they are strong enough and confident enough from the foundation we gave them to handle what I know from experience they will face.

a said...

I'm not a homeschooler but I so wish that I were. I think it is s a funyy post so I must have some sort of sense of humor...funny about being bullied as an adult we were actually bullied into public school, by some rather overbearing family members. My daughter is starting second grade in the fall, and already we have dealt with almost every thing mentioned in your post.

Anonymous said...

If "protecting them from those things" is a bad idea unless you "can protect them their whole life," then I guess we shouldn't read to our children unless we want to read to them their whole life. Don't feed them with a spoon unless you want to feed them with a spoon their whole life. Don't drive them anywhere unless you want to drive them around THEIR WHOLE LIFE.

Now, we all know there is a season for everything, and a time for every purpose under heaven. Homeschoolers want to make sure their kids enter seasons at the most appropriate times. It's a parents privilege to do that! Hurrah!

I do love that post, though. I went to government school, and my husband went to private.

Alice

MaryBeth said...

First of all I have some strong opinions on education....second I won't be sharing them here and now :) Thanks for the joke. I really did get a good laugh out of it. Sometimes we have to set aside our strongly held opinions (no matter where they may fall!) and laugh. Thanks for the reminder... without going into great detail I needed it :)
MaryBeth

Anonymous said...

Hi Jess,

I've been lurking here for a month or so and have really been enjoying your blog.

The public school joke is funny because it's so true! I was pretty obsessed over peer pressure issues, especially in public high school, and they completely overshadowed academic and spiritual growth. I was in the crowd that participated in weekend exploits with alcohol and immorality.

I have a question. In your comments you said "And I was in youth group with a whole slew of homeschooled kids raised completely under the Gothard mentality who (without exception) went wild after high school. Every single kid I knew who hadn't interacted with the real world went wild..."

What are some real, concrete ways for my children to interact in the real world? Like at age 5, 10, and 15. Since I went wild in high school, I, to a fault, lean toward the solution of seclusion (we are not Gothardites, though.)

What kinds of things could I do to get my children to interact in the real world? (We plan on homeschooling until college.)

In Christ,
Mrs D

Katie said...

As a 2nd grade teacher, this is so unfortunately true! I try so hard to protect my little ones from each other, but they can be so mean. Even though you meant it as a joke, its very thought-provoking.

Catherine R. said...

This is great. Quite honestly I am running out of reasons to not plan on homeschooling my kids.

My experience with public school is much the same as this. I don't get it when people say it's bad to protect your kids. God forbid they make it to age 14 without an STD or a positive drug test!

Okay, I know people will get all mad at me for saying that but still, how is it bad to protect your kids? Avoiding harsh realities of the world aint that easy, why make it harder? I can only conclude that people who are eager to throw their children into the world have some niave notion of how great it is.

Jess Connell said...

Well, Mrs. D., surely every person would answer that differently. And I've only got an almost-6 year old, so I'd be foolish to try to lay out some kind of specific guidelines for how to raise a 10 or 15 year old.

But I think I can give some general themes that we focus on: real world experiences with real world hurts, pain, and problems would be one way of dealing with it. And a general cultural awareness of the world around them. Maybe for older children it could be something like volunteering at a soup kitchen? At a crisis pregnancy center? Taking a missions trip to see real pain and suffering in the world?

I guess (and this is all off of the top of my head, as in a discussion, not as though I've reached any hard and fast conclusions on this) I have a real problem with families whose children never actually mess up. Never have the choice to foul things up. Isn't that precisely the "choice" that God offers all of us? And our love, obedience and service is unique because they are freely given.

The problem I see in so many repressive ultra-strict homes is that their children have never actually made any of the choices for themselves. It's all been done FOR them. So then when they get out on their own, they see sinners who *gasp* look like they're actually having fun... and it's appealing, and so then, when they make their own "choices" (which they should have been allowed to make long before), the consequences are no longer small and minor. They are significant and possibly life-long, and the "child" is now an adult and is expected to act like one but has been ill-prepared for it.

In our home, we talk about the real world. We talk about divorce. We talk about people who worship other gods. We talk about people who worship no gods. We talk about alcohol, alcoholism, and moderation. We talk about sex (in general terms at the ages our kids are at), and we talk about marriage.

Seclusion and restriction, in my limited experience, produces rebellion. When there are rules/guidelines WITH RELATIONSHIP, then (again, in my limited experience) things seem to come out better.

The relationship is the key... talking about these things with your kids. Perhaps they know x, y, or z is off-limits-- but they should always know they can ask us about x, y, or z. Christian parents who try to parent their children through tight fisted control (I think) are going against the very freedom God allows us. He doesn't force us to follow Him. Else all the world would.

There is an element of free will given to us by God, and we ought to be careful not to try to control that free will in our children as they grow into young adults. I believe we can (particularly as our children get older) not only teach and guide them towards the right choices, but actually allow them to CHOOSE for themselves (even if, sometimes, it's a choice we dislike).



Anyway, I've drifted from your actual question. I mean, I don't know how you're particular brand of "seclusion" looks-- but taking your kids to public sporting events would certainly give the opportunity to interact with the "real world". Community barbecues and pancake breakfasts. Volunteer opportunities. Heck, letting them work at Taco Bell or Kohl's may give them a healthy dose of being "in" the world while still in your home and able to come home and dialogue about these things with you and your husband.

One analogy may be helpful.

Think of a funnel. When children start out in life, there are very few choices they themselves can make. Maybe when to cry? Then which foods they prefer? Perhaps then which outfit they want to wear? Etc... but as they get older, we need to be extending the edges of the funnel so that they can make more and more choices for themselves... releasing them towards adulthood when they will have full choice in nearly everything.

So for me, part of interacting with the "real world" is actually getting to choose some things about it... and for each family that will look different.

But we don't set our children up for successful adulthood by sheltering and secluding them from all of the world. How then could they obey God who tells them to "go into all the world"? How could they be successful doing so if they've never even seen the real world? Never dealt with real world problems? Don't know about everyday terminology or if they've been completely sheltered from culture?

We have to be wise as serpents and harmless as doves, neither cutting them off from the world nor letting them roll around in it as a pig does the mud.

Boy, I've certainly rambled, but perhaps some of this is helpful? I don't know. It's getting late, so it's off to bed for me. ;)

Blessings,
Jess

Anonymous said...

Yes, that does help! I have a 4 yo girl, a 3 yo boy, and a 10 month old boy. We've taken them to local college football games, we LOVE festivals, and we live in a cul-de-sac with lots of children, none of whom are believers. So, there are plenty of discussions about modest dress and speech, loving our brothers and sisters, and not letting foolish children be together (I will let them ride bikes outside once in a while with the neighbor kids, but I'm right there listening to what's being said.) One time a 6 yo girl said to my 4 yo girl, "worship me." Boy, did that make for a lot of discussion; we still talk about it even though it happened over 8 months ago. And, we have a neighborhood pool that we frequent.

Thank you for jogging my brain for ways we are in the world, but not of the world and to use those experiences for teaching and training. Like you said, within a RELATIONSHIP. That was so helpful, as was the pig rolling around in the mud analogy. Thanks, Jess!

Mrs. D

Unknown said...

This was my experience in public school as well....and like you, I have not experienced this as an adult! There are so many ways to experience "real life" other than public school. I have a column at the homeschool magazine "The Heart of the Matter". And I try to address this. I too have seen many "Gothard" type families and have seen many children come out of those families and reject everything. It's so sad because these are well meaning families who really want to do the right thing. I guess it's easy to forget that our children are not our "little projects", but they are real people who have to go through a process of growth just like we have!

I did see the humor and the truth in this!

Mrs said...

Jess, I think you're right on target with your last post.

The biggest misunderstanding people have about homeschooling is that we're at home all day. This is so far from the truth! We actually have opportunities to do so much more OUT of the home. In my 10 years of homeschooling experience, there have been weeks where we've said, "We are NOT going anywhere this week! We've got to stay home and do school!" :-D (Relax - their test scores prove they're learning and thriving in spite of my efforts. LOL)

The thing is this: we've got to trust God with our children. We know He wants our children to be properly socialized. In some form or another, my children have experienced the things in the joke (except the lunch money and wedgie) at CHURCH and homeschool co-ops.

Thank God!

God was able to give my children opportunities for spiritual growth under the safe umbrella of our watchful eyes. Both my children and the children doing said activities (don't get me wrong, my children aren't saints and are just as guilty) have benefited from stopping, talking, asking forgiveness, and praying together.

Volunteering, absolutely.

As my son got older, he got a job at the local go-kart track. Talk about exposure to the real world! Again, it was while he was under our protection and guidance, and his boss was his former AWANA leader (great man). At 19, he is a man of honor and integrity. I tell him he'd be perfect if it weren't for his sin nature! ;-) He's still making wrong choices and growing, but he's making right choices, too, and wants to honor God with his life.

The goal is to constantly teach our children discernment. As Jess says, if they're never given an opportunity to make choices, they'll never have this vital skill.

Catherine R. said...

Jess,

I just wanted to say that your response to Mrs. D is wise and clarify that when I say 'protecting kids is not bad' I mean within reason. Of course in the world we live in today, giving your kid a condom at age 11 is considered protecting them. I have never known anyone in my whole life who was over-protected, only those who were under protected and that's my perspective.

I do think it is possible to over-protect and it makes sense that these kids would go "buck wild" later in life. However, I don't know if smoking crack in front of them (what my mom's boyfriend use to do) is a good way to expose them to harsh realities of the world, for example. LOL

I guess my experience is just very different from a Christian "lifer" thus I really benefit from hearing from people who have had different experiences. I don't want to be a fool who shields my kids so obsessivly out of reaction to my experiences.

Anonymous said...

Jess,
I would love it if you could write a post expanding on what you have said about not raising kids secluded and giving them choices and letting them make mistakes, and how that works in your family. I've got kids around the same ages as you and think I would learn a great deal from you!
Did you get my post other post?
Catholic Maria

yoshi3329 said...

hey, that's pretty funny

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Anonymous said...

I have visited again because I just find it very interesting to read what people feel about this subject! I feel like we live in a really interesting day and age where we have so many options for educating our children. (public school, private school, home school) I do not see any of the options mentioned in "black and white"-in the scriptures, just principles for us to apply to our lives and what God calls us to do. I think it is really important to know the potential positives and negatives for each option, pray over them, and then be committed to working to "fill in the gaps" of whatever option we choose. None of the options are "perfect". God has led us to home school...but we have had to be aware of the potential "negatives" and pray for God to guide us through them. He has done that! My daughter just graduated!

Also, "the Gothard mentality" was mentioned. It is so easy to grab hold of a mindset that "looks good", and try to fit our kids and family into a mold that appears to be perfect. Let me tell you, perfection doesn't happen in this life time!! Now I am seeing that same thing happen in some families. It's so similar to the Gothard mentality. I see different organizations presenting an ideal, and families wanting to fit the mold. I could name few that concern me, but I probably shouldn't do that. When we "latch on" to phrases or ideas it can be so dangerous. Things like "courtship" etc. Some good ideas can be found in the concept or courtship...but again...it is not a mandate. There are principles to be applied from scripture as to how we are to relate to our brothers and sisters in Christ etc. but dating or courtship are not specifically mentioned. I do not promote our culture's way of dating, but I know families that consider themseles "courtship families"...and it is written about and promoted by certain organizations...and presented as "biblical". I just think we need to be careful with that type of thing.

In the end, I don't want to be known as a "homeschool mom", or a "courtship family", or someone who fit some mold. I just want to be known as someone who was the person/individual God made her to be, who sought the Lord, who wasn't perfect but did strive to honor the Lord in all she did....and gave her children "room" to do the same!

Unknown said...

Oops! I did it again! I posted the last comment under the wrong account by mistake... that Gina is me!

Bbowzwife said...

I just LOVED this post! We homeschooled our two children and we got the same ignorant question from everyone, including our entire extended family! Now what we have are two mature, well behaved, committed to purity, Christ believing young adults. Everyone I meet asks me "how did you DO it????" The short and simple answer is "We raised them ourselves without handing them over to other people to spend all day every day learning how to duplicate everything that is immoral and offensive about our world today." Stick to your guns honey! It is so worth it!!!

Carletta said...

LOL, Jess! I read that over a year ago and posted it somewhere. A few months ago I searched all over for it and couldn't find it. I'm so glad you came across it. I is very funny just because it rings so true!

Shari said...

Just for the note: I homeschool my kids and they are naughty, too! Just like all kids. It's the training and direction they receive that makes the difference! :)

Ticia said...

Hee heee ha ha ha ho ho yes I am rolling on the floor laughing---- at everyones comments ! People get so worked up. If I got mad every time someone said something unkind about homeschooling I would be mad an awful lot.

Mrs. Anna T said...

I'm smiling here, remembering my own school years. Homeschooling is practically unheard of here, but my husband and I hope to be pioneers in this area. If it doesn't work out, we plan to send our future children to good religious schools.

Anonymous said...

I think that what all of us, as Christians (whether we homeschool or not!) need to do is examine every new idea to see if and how it measures up with the Word of God.

That being said...Jess, I found your post to be absolutely hysterical :o).

Anonymous said...

oh my- what a great discussion! And to think I almost missed it because it was in the comments.

Jess, I'd love it if you'd post the best parts of this discussions on the main page of your blog. I'm sure others have missed it as well and I'd like to be able to reread it in an easier format than the little comment box I'm restricted to.
Hope you're doing well.

sara said...

Funny!

Jess Marie said...

Props from Costa Rica. Great post!! Socialization? I don't remember that by simply being put into public school, "nerds or freaks" were magically cured of their social awkwardness. Thanks for the laugh.
-John

homeschooldawn said...

So funny!

In response to the "keeping our kids in a bubble" comment, that is a misconception of homeschooling. It is impossible to keep our children in a bubble. What I strive to do is keep home and church central and build deep, Christ-centered relationships with my children in order to build a Biblical world-view.

My kids have encountered teasing when interacting with children in the community. Instead of feeling isolated and deflated by the comments, my children expressed concern for the offenders. They are being taught that they live in a fallen world and are not to openly embrace the things of it but are to love their neighbors as themselves. They are learning, too, that when the world becomes too much to handle, they can turn to the Lord and to their parents. That is the "socialization" that I desire for my kids.