How to Be a Beekeeper (ESPN.com takes swipe at homeschooled Spelling Bee contestants)

ESPN.com ^ | 6/2/2005 | Darren Rovell

[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.

[baseballfanjm]

I know, I know, it shouldn't be a huge deal, but it bothered me. For an article that was supposed to have a sense of humor, why did the last entry resort have to take a swipe at homeschoolers?

[Nipplemancer]

cause homeschoolers have values, expect their children to learn, and are generally conservative (with the exception of the northern californian homeschoolers who are just hippies in communes)

[baseballfanjm]

cause homeschoolers have values, expect their children to learn, and are generally conservative

Yep.

[MikeyA5150]

For an article that was supposed to have a sense of humor, why did the last entry resort have to take a swipe at homeschoolers?

Having worked with and had roommates with home schoolers, I would never home school my son. They are social misfits. I don't like our public school system(especially in UT where we rank last or next to last in the nation on public spending) but to shelter you child from a social experience is just abuse

[L.N. Smithee]

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."

The moron who wrote that didn't bother to think about how vastly outnumbered homeschooled kids are in the United States. Yet, they are there at the end of Spelling Bees, competing for the title. And if school children -- whom I haven't a thing against, as a former one myself -- have won three out of the last four bees, they are just catching up with the homeschooled kids, who won three out of four 1997-2000.

Whoever wrote this has "issues."

[dandelion]

I hate to burst your bubble, but perhaps you haven't noticed...

(/whisper)...there are social misfits at public schools too. They are called "nerds", "dorks" or even "geeks". And ther are MILLIONS of them!(/whisper OFF)

Perhaps you were just too sheltered to notice the public school misfits - just like you might have been to sheltered to notice the well socialized homeschoolers that roam the halls all around you? It's not really something to rag on you about - after all, it's easy to tag "misfits" but it's much harder to notice the well-adjusted peoples of the world. It's just more obvious when a person "doesn't fit in"...

If percentages are what you're going on, then I'm willing to bet hard cash that there are millions more public school "misfits" then there are homeschool "misfits". Having taught in public schools and with homeschoolers, I can tell you from experience - misfits and "unsocialized" public school students exist in FAR greater numbers and percentages than do homeschoolers.

My daughter is a proud graduate of a public "magnet" school, and my son is homeschooled, so I have both sides of the fence to play here!

[Paleo Conservative]

used to work for ESPN. Need I say more?

[Coldwater Creek]

We have seven grandchildren that are or have been home schooled of which non are social misfits. They all have friends from all areas, church, neighbors and other home schooled children.

Social interaction is only one of the areas that children must be prepared for having a full and rewarding life.

Home schoolers have many advantages that others, including private schooled children do not.

My two oldest were able to take collage credit courses during their last two years of high school, and are now on full scholarships to the university. Both have been to Europe (with friends), and have such a busy life that I hardly ever get to see them.

When the parent is the instructor, everything becomes a lesson, even to the 2 yo who wants to know why you are putting chemicals in the pool. Science lesson. And it goes on and on. The children that are being abused are the ones that are in government schools.

[MikeyA5150]

As I stated I am not a fan of public schools. But, in my choice of the lesser of the evils(public or home) I choose public. I can show values at home and from church. I agree that you should teach at every chance at home but children need the social interaction with others of different faiths and different backgrounds.

[L.N. Smithee]

Having worked with and had roommates with home schoolers, I would never home school my son. They are social misfits.

What does that mean, exactly? That they don't hold their tongue when situations call for political correctness? That they don't hang out and drink after work the way other kids their age did after school? That they have trouble putting on a condom because of their lack of cucumber experience?

I don't like our public school system(especially in UT where we rank last or next to last in the nation on public spending) but to shelter you (sic) child from a social experience is just abuse

Here's a news flash: spending more on schools won't necessarily improve results. I notice that you didn't say anything about Utah's test scores or graduation rates, you just referred to state money sunk into the system.

[familyop]

"but to shelter you child from a social experience is just abuse"

To socialize your child with too many young felons and other descendents of collectivism is abuse. And to allow others to waste your child's time on too much fiction and counter-culture indoctrination is neglect.

[MikeyA5150]

Those social misfits you mention in public schools almost always have self-esteem problems. Teaching in the home is important. Building up children is important. I don't think "It takes a village" I believe it takes a family!!! But I do believe that children need outside influences other than church and family and "people like me." DemoRATs want only their views allowed I want my child to see others beliefs and cultures and if I do my job as a parent at home it will be beneficial for all everyone involved

[Paleo Conservative]

Here's a news flash: spending more on schools won't necessarily improve results. I notice that you didn't say anything about Utah's test scores or graduation rates, you just referred to state money sunk into the system.

Washington DC spends over $10,000 per child per year, but they rank pretty close to the bottom in acheivement. For that kind of money, you could rent a pretty good room and hire a teacher for $100,000 per year and have a 1:15 student:teacher ratio. I wonder where the money goes.

[judgeandjury]

Having worked with and had roommates with home schoolers, I would never home school my son. They are social misfits. I don't like our public school system(especially in UT where we rank last or next to last in the nation on public spending) but to shelter you child from a social experience is just abuse.

I don't know which homeschooled kids you're talking about, but my neighbor homeschools her two kids and they are about as normal and well-mannered as any kids you'd ever want to meet. These two kids each have many friends, both participate in organized sports leagues, both love to hang out at the mall, and do all the other typical activities that kids their age like to do. My neighbor's two kids are having a wonderful social experience and are enjoying life to the fullest.

[MikeyA5150]

Wow somebody has misjudged me!!! By not fitting in, I mean they don't socialize well. Have a hard time with the opposite sex, different cultures or religions. About the spending more on schools Comment. As I stated I don't like public schools I am in favor or vouchers. I simply believe that we need to interact with others of different from ourselves. Not the Tali ban way of but The American way differences are good learning tools.

[Mobilemitter]

"...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."

Interact? Is that what they are calling it these days?

Our local paper publishes the police dispatch of which over 50% are to public schools. Why? Obviously to address the need for students to achieve even greater levels of interaction. Who knows, one day they may even get to interact with a lawyer and a judge!

[repubpub]

It has to with the kids’ upbringing. My 5 year old son has a friend who's mother is home schooling him, they went to pre-school together. She sets up play dates with a bunch of kids he knows from pre-school and in her neighborhood, here in NorCal, every week. Oh by the way, she's not a hippie and she doesn't live in a commune.

[MikeyA5150]

Well I don't think it is the schools whole responsibility to teach. 90% should be in the home but going to school and interacting with others is needed.

To socialize your child with too many young felons and other descendents of collectivism is abuse.
Well isn't that just preparation for the future? Felons? Don't you see them every day? Shouldn't we teach our children how to handle these circumstances before they get thrown into the world?

[Coldwater Creek]

Why do children have to be exposed to the evils of this world? If your child is not an adult, then what personal experience do you have to draw on.

My guess is that your experience with home schoolers is very limited.

If a child has a good solid foundation they will be able to function just fine in this world.

[dandelion]

I too have always believed that a full immersion into all different kinds of cultures is important, and I have always taught respect for cultural differences in my homeschool classrooms and public school classrooms. My longing for a rich cultural and educational environment is drove my choice to homeschool my son - because I knew from first-hand experience that he was going to get a very narrow educational viewpoint at his local public school.

I find it abhorrent that many teachers now only have permission to "teach the test" - it leaves no room for deeper learning, especially when it comes to the tapestry of cultural experiences that can be found outside the classroom.

Homeschoolers are a very diverse bunch, and they are not all just about "social isolation". Dig a little deeper - I think you might be surprised by what you find!