Communities that Don't Bowl in the Fog

Tesfay

I can only give you my perspective as a hooshceomling mom to three children. We homeschool for more than one reason. The first is that we live in a very bad school district. We have tried to do what we can to better our district, but it seems to be a lost cause and there is even talk of closing the schools in our district. There are other reasons, but they are minor compared to the first.Our children are only limited if we choose them to be. And I can tell you, they are not. My children actually get MORE socialization than public school kids. My kids are OUT in the world experiencing and doing things that other kids do not. Instead of being in a class with the SAME 30 or so kids every day, they are meeting new kids/people all the time. My kids are involved in many activities outside the home (and these ARE NOT limited to hooshceomling groups. We meet with our hooshceomling group once a week. Otherwise, my children are involved in activities with kids that are from public school and elsewhere. I do NOT pre select who my kids are with!) Not to mention, my kids probably know more of how the world works, because they see and live it all the time with me.I know there are some hooshceomling families that limit what their children do and that is their choice. But, do not let the term HOMEschooling fool you. Just because we do school at home does not mean that we just sit home all the time and don't interact. In fact, I joke with others that I don't think we could fit all of our activities in AND do public school.____________I reread your question and I ask you to please be careful not to stereotype hooshceomling families in your paper. You mention that some parents homeschool because of paranoia. I hope you do realize that is just some and not all. In fact, out of all the parents I have met in our hooshceomling group none have mentioned paranoia as a reason. There are a lot of stereotypes that float around about hooshceomling and homeschoolers. Remember that they are just stereotypes and do not represent the real homeschoolers. Just as I am careful to never stereotype public school kids and their families.Thank you for you reply. It was the last question you posed that mentioned paranoia. I hope you understand that as a hooshceomling mom I am constantly attacked for my decision and I feel like I must always prove' that we are normal, well adjusted, happy and sociable family. I certainly did not mean any disrespect to you in any way and I really do appreciate you clearing up your question for me!! I try not to get defensive when it comes to stating our position on hooshceomling. I do acknowledge that my irriation with those (in general, not referring to you) who do not understand hooshceomling and what it really is, does tend to show.