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Homeschool View - Anti-homeschooling News Articles

07.02.09| Posted in: Homeschool View| 10 Comments| Rating: 0 Rate Positively Rate Negatively
Just when homeschooling parents think they've heard it all, another surge of anti-homeschooling comments appears in the news. Proving they don't understand the real reasons homeschoolers choose to teach their children at home, these recently published articles make uninformed, derogatory statements like the following:

New SOS Electives"If this home-school trend continues, we'll end up with adults who have learned we are each out for ourselves. How can a homeschooled child have compassion for his community when he isn't part of it?"
- Amy Platon, "Home-schoolers, don't quit system" (Orlando Sentinel, May 26, 2009)

"God hates homeschooling. From my side, to take your faithful children out of schools is to miss an opportunity to spread the grace, power, and beauty of the Lord to the common people."
- Jesse Scaccia, "The case against homeschooling"

What do you think? Are these people's arguments against homeschooling really worth taking the time to offer a rebuttal?
New SOS Electives

10 Comments on "Anti-homeschooling News Articles"

Kelli B
Of course these people's arguments are worth a rebuttal. HOWEVER, the one doing the "rebutting" needs to remember that each is entitled to their opinion and that God gave each of us freewill for a reason. If they elect not to homeschool that is their right - just as it is our right to homeschool (at least right now, it is) Each Christian ministers to the world in their unique and special way. To say that God hates homeschooling, to me, is like saying, God hates the way YOU show the world you are a Christian, but loves the way I do it. See what I'm getting at? We are all different and we will all showcase our faith in different ways, God loves ALL the ways we honor him.

The fact that the majority of homeschoolers are MORE involved in their community is something that needs to be brought to the public's attention. Yes, we see it - we know it - we live it. But don't we have a responsibility to educate those that do not live the homeschooling life? Think of it this way - until you live a certain lifestyle, you don't really understand all the "challenges and rewards" of that lifestyle. But once you have lived it, you finally "get it." Sorta like "walk a mile in my shoes before you condemn the choices I have made" comments. We all have to realize we all come from different walks and thus our outlook on things are different - makes this world a pretty awesome place to be, if you ask me. But hey, I'm just a homeschooling mom, what do I know? (and yes, that is sarcasm you hear in my "voice.")
Posted on: 7.2.09| Rating: 5 Rate Positively Rate Negatively
Eva S
Kelli B,

True but we also are not cast into the world with no direction. As such when we stand for homeschooling we must do so with the Word of God as our guide. The Bible is not silent on educating our children and neither should we be silent. Saying God hates homeschooling deserves a bold and loving response.

Arthur Sido
Posted on: 7.2.09| Rating: 1 Rate Positively Rate Negatively
Angela T
Both of these authors are assuming we, the homeschool parents, are locking our children up in a cage. My children have an active social life. They are generally interested in what their non-homeschooled friends are doing in their schools, and sometimes volunteer to help with various programs there.
I am particularly shocked at the opinion of Jesse Scaccia in "The case against homeschooling". I took my children out of public school to give them a more natural environment in which to affirm their faith in Christ. My children are being given the tools needed to teach others about Christ. They have shared Christ with a lot of kids and been an example to their parents.
Who are these "common people" Jesse Scaccia wrote about? I challenge the author to give out their addresses. The last time I checked, they did not just exist in ONE school and they were far from common. They are walking up and down my street, playing ball in the park, skating at the rink and living in my home. They are saved, unsaved and fallen and all needed the support of other believers.
Don't worry about me, my family is not missing any opportunaties.
Posted on: 7.2.09| Rating: 1 Rate Positively Rate Negatively
Claudine P
To Kelli, and all of us homeschooling parents,

I love your answer, but I agree with Arthur that there are absolutes... such as absolute and, I would say, sinful mistakes such as saying that God hates homeschooling.

This is the main reason: Bold negative comments against truth in the media do not come from people that simply have different opinions. They are rather coming from forces that work against God in a very active manner. There are people that have made this choice.

They make these statements to strategically influence the average person that does not have an opinion yet, and to eventually lead (in 10 - 20 years) lawmakers to outlaw what God desires most... a godly education for His children.

Hence, our voices need to be intelligent, public and very bold.

Sincerely,

Claudine Pierre-Antoine
Posted on: 7.2.09| Rating: 1 Rate Positively Rate Negatively
Cathy M
Cathy M

I am a homeschooling Grandma. When my two children were in school, I was always distraught, knowing that I had to teach my children to obey their teachers, but also knowing that the teachers were teaching them through a humanistic mindset that opposed my Christian faith.

My granddaughters attend a school where there are lock-downs regularly for intruders or disturbances. The entire moral structure is based on the assumption that kids see and hear everything at home anyway.

By eliminating God from our schools, there has been a "religion" adopted that says "God is not important or worthy of being included in education." This would have to be called atheism or at least agnosticism.

There is a big difference in being the light and the salt in the world and submitting our children to the authority and tutelage of those who believe we came from monkeys.
Posted on: 7.2.09| Rating: 4 Rate Positively Rate Negatively
Maritza Z
IT ALL COMES TO FREEDOM OF CHOICE. I HOMESCHOOL MY THREE KIDS DUE TO LABELING ISSUE IN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SCHOOL. TEACHER NOW A DAY CAN NOT HANDLE KIDS WITH ADHD OR ANY DISABILITY . ALL THEY WANTED TO DO WAS MEDICATE MY CHILDREN AND THEY GOT WORSE AND WERE VERY BEHIND DUE TO ALL THE TREATMENT THEY HAD GOTTEN ,THEY WERE 3-4 YEARS BEHIND. I STOPPED ALL RX ,AND HAVE BEEN HOMESCHOOLING FOR 4 YEARS , THEY ARE ONLY ONE YEAR BEHIND , AJUSTING VERY WELL AND THEY HAVE LOTS OF FRIENDS TO PLAY WITH. THEY ARE HAPPIER THAN EVER. THEY TELL ME ALL THE TIME HOW THEY ENJOY BEING HOMESCHOOL AND THEIR FRIEND WOULD LIKE FOR THEIR PARENT TO HOMESCHOOL THEM TOO. IT'S A CHOICE WITH GOD OR WITHOUT THOSE WHO HAVE THE TIME AND DEDICATION. KIDS THEY ARE THE FUTURE AND WITH COMPUTERS THEY ARE LEARNING SO MUCH . THERE IS A LOT OF MORE OPTIONS AND MORE AVAILABLE NOW FOR HOMESCHOOLERS. CHILDREN CAN EVEN LEARN MORE AND FASTER. I ENJOY TEACHING THEM FROM MANNERS, COOKING, POLITICS YOU NAME IT WE DO LOTS OF THING REGULAR SCHOOL DOES NOT OFFER . YES IT MAY COST MORE BUT MY KIDS ARE THE FUTURE KIDS FOR A BETTER TOMMORROW.

THANK YOU
MRS. ZAPATA
Posted on: 7.2.09| Rating: 1 Rate Positively Rate Negatively
Joanna L
In reference to Amy Platon's comment, the only way the homeschooled children will become adults "only out for themselves" is if the parents or guardians teach their children to think and live that way. Unfortunately, she is very quick to forget that our society ALREADY is that way. You can see this on the nightly news with robberies, murders, extortion, and the like. Where has she been for the last few decades? A child being in public school, especially the modern version we have that promotes atheism, secularism, and humanism, is completely devoid of the element she mentions--compassion for the community. The public school does not encompass the entire community where the children reside anyway. I was in public school my whole life and did not learn compassion through that system; it's not a required course of study to graduate the last time I checked. Her statement is very easy to dismiss.

As far as Jesse Scaccia's comment, I do not recall a Scripture stating that homeschool was an abomination (aka something God hates). Sin, is what God hates (that's in Scripture). Homeschooling is not a sin. For the few years my children where in public school before homeschooling, there were actually fewer opportunities than we experience now to show God's grace, power, and beauty to the common people. Again, the public school is not the only place where people are! Not only that, but I had to actually constantly refute the things my children came home saying they learned; not from the teachers so much as from their peers. (And trust me, it wasn't about compassion.)

The sad fact is that these people get to state these ridiculous comments without verifiable stats or proof or evidence. Perhaps they should research, interview, and read more before putting pen to paper (or hands to keyboard).
Posted on: 7.2.09| Rating: 1 Rate Positively Rate Negatively
Amanda W
A rebuttal yes, but with tact and poise for the greater good of all home schoolers. My children did their "time" in public school for many years and what we ended up with was a far cry from compassion and humanitarianism. My days were spent with worry about what would go wrong next and my nights were filled with dispair because my children struggled daily. The pressures they felt from not just the teachers but mostly from their peers was awful! The mass of sin that revolves in the public school system can be heard through out the halls and shows itself from every view point within our communities. Children involved in the public school system are just a number (this is coming from experience) and parents are to busy trying to provide for their children to be truly involved with what is going on with their child at school unless it is an absolute must.
Since home schooling my children have done a complete turn around. They are involved in many activities within the community and within our church. We go out in public and my husband and I are often complemented upon our childrens' behavior. They usually ask are they homeschooled? When we reply yes, they usually say I thought so because they are so well mannered. My children are quick to lend a helping hand and can carry on a conversation with the young and old alike. They hold their own and have outsmarted children their own age. It is a no brainer for our family. Just because the choice hasn't been made by someone else doesn't make it a sin. It only makes it my choice and not yours. I wouldn't have it any other way. Is it a challenge? Has it been hard? Did I feel inadequate? Yes! Of course because of uneducated people such as this. I prayed and prayed and spent many nights upon my knees. The Lord provided me with the necessary rewards of my labors. I was bearing fruit and continue to bear fruit. Each day becomes a little sweeter than the last and it shows in the faces and minds of my three beautiful, compassionate, and loving children. I know my children and I understand each one of their needs. Maybe these two authors are feeling inadequate within their own family that they have to make attacks upon home schoolers because they have a much more intact family unit. We as parents have a better understanding of our children and can head off trouble before it starts. We actually enjoy our childrens company and they enjoy ours, whereas can these people honestly say this and mean it? I agree with the many comments posted before mine lack of education upon the subject of homeschooling is a problem. Research and educate yourself upon what homeschoolers do before making judgments upon us that are unwarranted!
Posted on: 7.2.09| Rating: 1 Rate Positively Rate Negatively
Tammy F
God hates homeschool??!!

That's funny, last time I read my Bible it told me I was resposible for the teaching of my children. Also, if God was so pro public schooling why didn't he institute the public school when he created everything else? Most people forget that the "public school" concept is relatively new. For all but the last few hundred years homeschool was it. The elite began sending their kids off to boarding schools but that was only for those who could pay for it and it certianly didn't promote family togetherness. For a long time here in America a community might get together to build a school and pitch in for a teacher but that would be like our homeschooling co-ops today. The public school concept and the way they generally teach fails to preform even half as good as homeschooling in every area and subject.

Where I live the public school drop out rate is 75%, 5th-7th graders proficient in reading is 25%, 5th-7th graders proficient in math is 11%. So as far as I can see, I could do absolutely nothing with my kids with no curriculm or teaching whatsoever and they would still be farther ahead just by learning through life experiences then their public school counter parts.

What's wrong is right, what's right is wrong, up is down and down is up. I have a freind who's 10 year old son practically tries to climb back into her womb if a cloud appears in the sky because he is so afraid of storms and many other things. I've never seen her children truely engage in a conversation with an adult or even with people you would meet in stores and such. Her kids are public schooled and she is adament that my kids will not be socialized properly. Go figure!

Tammy in Michigan
Posted on: 7.2.09| Rating: 1 Rate Positively Rate Negatively
Melissa W
Of course we should speak out.As a homeschool mom,it was in the best interest of my children to school them at home.I sent my kids to a Christian school in the beginning.Come to find out this school wasn't much better than the public schools.The bullying,the lack of concern by the teachers,the favoritism of those children whose parents either worked for the school or attended the church that primarily supported the school ,it just goes on and on.The public school systems are contiuously asking for more money.That's all well and good if the actual education that was given could show that the extra money actually improved the education our children received,but unfortunately it doesn't.And as far as getting our children involved in the community and having compassion for it,my children have more concern for what happens to the people and wilderness in our area now than they had in school.The people that are making these statements against us that do choose to homeschool are very uminformed and some may be somewhat selfish.There is a woman in my area that tried homescooling for a month,literally.She put her kids back into public school for what I see is a selfish reason.She said she could not deaql with not having her own free time and being able to do what she wanted to when she wanted to. Yes there are times I miss all that free time but the education and physical and mental well being is more important to me than my "free time".My kids are learning to be responsible for their home,themselves and their community by having more one on one interaction and instruction.Homeschooling was one of the best decisions I have ever made. Melissa in New York
Posted on: 7.6.09| Rating: 1 Rate Positively Rate Negatively

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