Posted on 06/02/2005 12:55:33 AM PDT by baseballfanjm
ESPN.com ran this article, intending for it to be an amusing take on how to predict the winner of the National Spelling Bee. However, the last "formula" irked me.
Here's what it says:
"Stay away from home-schooled kids.
It goes without saying that these kids don't get out of the house much. There are 34 home-schooled competitors in this year's bee, including speller No. 142 Jack Ausick and speller No. 217 Benjamin Zachary Walter. The first home schooler won in 1997 and others followed, including Lala in '99 and Thampy in 2000. But kids that actually interact with other children at school have won three out of the last four bees."
While he has other "stay away from" picks that fit the joking manner of the article, that one struck me as just lame and as a swipe more than a joke.
(Excerpt) Read more at sports.espn.go.com ...
Well from a parent who homeschooled, I will say it is a matter of prespective on who the social misfits are.
Becky
I disagree with who you are labeling as the social misfits in the PS system. I'd say the misfits are the jocks, cheerleaders, and over "popular" ones in the group.
Becky
I know just what you mean!!!! I have to stand in line to have one of grandchildren for a few hours. They are off to a friends or have friends in or to music lessons, or ballet lessons or art lessons, or to another home schooler parents, who expertise might be a foreign language or what ever. Poor bored misfit children. Forgot the sport events. I am worn out just talking about it and I am not even the parent!!!!!!!!!!!
You know, it just doesn't seem to occur to people that one of the reasons folks decide to homeschool their children is because they realize that their kids are just different from the other kids in school. Doesn't make them wierd or misfits; they're just different.
Our daughter didn't have anything in common with the girls in her schools; she wasn't into the clothes, music, boys and hair. She had nothing to say to them, nor them to her. Why keep her in that social situation that was clearly uncomfortable for her? Her interests lay with things in which they were clearly NOT a part. She loves Japanese Anime, and has taught herself Japanese this year. She also taught herself Digital Video Editing, and two of her Anime Music Videos made it to the finals of a major east cost Anime Convention. Looking at the competition in the finals, I was astounded at the quality of her work after having done it for so short a time.
You hear about the 'strange' kids being picked on all the time in high school. The 'cool' kids make life difficult for them, and their school experiences leave a lot to be desired. Why make them have to endure all the "Lord of the Flies" crap when there is an alternative? Some of the 'different' kids have talents of which most are not aware because they can't look past their shyness. Folks assume these kids don't have any social skills, but maybe the kids just don't feel like making nice to others who do nothing but put them down.
Folks always say, "Well, they have to learn to get along with others because they'll have to work with different types of folks someday". The difference is that, at school, you're forced to be with others who are all the same age and have the same teenage hormonal angst going on. In the world of work, people can CHOOSE where they want to work, and if they don't like the folks, can just ignore them or change jobs. They are not FORCED by law to be there.
Just some food for thought...
"...but children need the social interaction with others of different faiths and different backgrounds."
Forgive me for ROFHWL, but my local ps is and always has been 98-100% white, Christian, middle/lower class. Fortunately for my children, our "home life" is infinitely more "diverse". :) In fact, just yesterday we had a "surprise" visit from an Australian friend. :)
Dang! Another "myth" busted. ;)
Hi Mikey,
I'll concede that some homeschooled children are over-protected socially. However, I have found that to be the exception and not the rule. I have listened to folks complement my children on their social skills (how well they interact with people of all ages, how mature they are considering their ages, how large their vocabulary is as well as knowledge of topics, even current events) and then the minute they find out they are homeschooled they ask, "aren't you concerned about their socialization?" It doesn't make sense. For the record, my children's playmates have been neighbor children, all public-schooled and of various races and ethnic heritages. We have plenty of "different faiths" in our own family and a Buddhist friend living across the street.
The good news is that there are plenty of educational options out there and homeschooling is but one of them. Parents are free to consider all the options and choose what is best for their family.
I agree that children need to be exposed to more then "people like me".
We did alot of horse activities with our kids. Rodeo, etc. You meet all kinds in the crowd. The good the bad and the ugly. I thinkt the important thing about doing that is, we , my husband and I, were right there with them when they saw all that. They learned from our example how to handle the good, bad and ugly. IMO, "most" PS parents, throw their children into those situations and leave them on their own to learn for other children how to handle it.
Becky
does this mean we have to boycott espn?
My brother's children do better, especially socially, homeschooling. My daughter, on the other hand, does much better in school.
We have friends who homeschooled their daughter all the way through school, and yes, she is different, but remarkable. She doesn't care about peer pressure, she has a strong moral sense and work ethic. She is 19 and teaches textile art classes, has art shows, and works at cultural events. She also sells her work, and does quite well, I think.
I think it all depends on the child. The parents of the aforementioned girl would disagree with me, but I don't think everyone (especially me) is good at homeschooling.
No!!!!!!!!!!!!
You are under the mistaken impression that we homeschoolers keep our kids under lock and key and don't allow them to interact with others. Our daughter is a member of the public school Anime Club, the Girl Scouts, and our Parish Youth group. She attends writing classes taught by a professor at a college in RI, and also attends classes at the local Community College. She can hold her own in a conversation with kids or adults, not just grunt when asked a question. I'd consider that pretty well rounded.
You were probably better than you thought!!!!!!!!!!!
That about sums it up. Alas there are far too many, and all sides of this issue, that refuse to see that simple truth.
I think that makes her a misfit by some standards:)
Seriously, you hit the nail on the head. I've met very few homeschool kids who could not carry on a coversation with almost any age group.
Becky
Mikey, I take issue with your idea that socializing with felons is preparation for the future. Generally, we all associate with people we feel comfortable with. I pick and choose my friends based on their CHARACTER. Occasionally, I run into a weenie here and there. Heck, we have rude and selfish neighbors. We have to figure out how to live peacefully with them. I have worked with people that I don't care for. However, the kinds of inerrant behavior that children have to deal with in public education institutions are quite different. Usually, the behavioral misfits are shuffled along and the behavior is tolerated by the school system. The rest of the kids are trapped with these hoodlums. My neighbor's child was bullied all last year and you have no idea how the system PROTECTS the bullies. I know that most of the homeschooling parents that I have known take great pains to have their children involved in activities where they "interact" with all types of different people. I think there has also been a survey that says that homeschooled children are more likely to be involved in charitable activities as well.
Mr. Rovell,
I'm writing in reference to your lame attempt at humor in trashing homeschooled children as a bunch of isolated freaks in your article on the National Spelling Bee. Let's look at a few facts. First, homeschooled children make up approximately 2% of the US school-age population. But, in this years National Spelling Bee they made up 12.45% of the 273 finalists.
In addition, based upon your facts, we have a series of homeschooled winners in 1997, 1999, 2000, and one of the last four. That would give us a winning percentage of 50% for homeschoolers since 1997. Not a bad bet if you ask me. My 5 homeschooled kids are extremely well adjusted and outgoing. I would put them up against any tribe of public school programmed kids their own age anytime. They have actually been able to socialize better due to the fact that they are not only surrounded by kids their own age. They have a teacher to student ratio of 1 to 5, which allows them to have more direct contact and interaction with an adult during the day. This is even more powerful since that person is their mother who cares more deeply about them than any public school teacher could. This actually helps them to mature socially faster and makes them more capable of handling the stresses of the "real world".
So, before you trash homeschooled children again, why don't you talk to a few and find out what's really going on. These little comments really shamed you with ignorance. I just couldn't believe that I actually read your line "It goes without saying that these kids don't get out of the house much". That has to be the most ill-conceived and ignorant statement that I have heard in years. What do you base that statement on? I would hate to believe that you are so stupid as to write this comment without any support. Please, for your own good, research just a little bit before you make an ass out of yourself again.
Sincerely,
Chip Cantrell, CPA
"I believe that home schooling is abuse."
My homeschooled son entered a local community college at age 16 (SAT 1440). He just finished a two-year program and has been accepted at a top university to study engineering. He was elected to the board of a local radio club when he was 13 and was elected president at age 15. The club is comprised of about 80 persons. He presided at every meeting while president. His summer job is working as a lifeguard. I wasn't aware that I had abused him. Maybe you should call the police.
You know, when we first started homeschooling, I found that a problem.
There was so much going on, as far as activities with other kids and field trips, that I was having trouble fitting in the school work.
Then we learned how to balance the two and it got easier.
Here's why it's easy to take a swipe at the homeschooled kids:
http://www.cnn.com/US/9705/29/spelling.bee.final/bee.39.espn.mov
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