Re: [Unschooling-dotcom] homeschool kids being different
Kerry Kibort
Did you even notice how people are always so concerned
that our kids will be "different" because they are
homeschooled? Yep, they might not be into the latest
clothing fad. Oh NO! What will we do? LOL
It's funny how the same things that people complain
about kids in ps are the same things we should WANT
for our kids? They should be lacking if they don't
quite "fit in" with the juvenile delinquents who are
hanging out downtown?
I've come to the realization that, no matter how much
explaining I do, people are still going to be
closed-minded about something they don't understand.
Heck, I'll never accept the KKK, so I dont really care
if anyone agrees with my choice to homeschool my kids.
Socialization?! Who on earth wants their kids to be
just like everyone else, anyway?!
My point is (do I actually have one here?lol), on my
sons hockey team there are 12 kids. Twelve hockey
players, not 11 public school kids and one
homeschooled kid. The only time my son is singled out,
its by adults , ignorant, rude adults. When hes grown,
in whatever job he chooses, I sincerely doubt that his
coworkers will know, or care if he was homeschooled.
The big picture for me is his happiness and security,
2 things he never felt during the 2 years I allowed ps
to undermine everything I believe in. Never again.
Jeez, did I make any sense? Keep in mind I've only
just begun to sip my first cup of joe!
:)Kerry
that our kids will be "different" because they are
homeschooled? Yep, they might not be into the latest
clothing fad. Oh NO! What will we do? LOL
It's funny how the same things that people complain
about kids in ps are the same things we should WANT
for our kids? They should be lacking if they don't
quite "fit in" with the juvenile delinquents who are
hanging out downtown?
I've come to the realization that, no matter how much
explaining I do, people are still going to be
closed-minded about something they don't understand.
Heck, I'll never accept the KKK, so I dont really care
if anyone agrees with my choice to homeschool my kids.
Socialization?! Who on earth wants their kids to be
just like everyone else, anyway?!
My point is (do I actually have one here?lol), on my
sons hockey team there are 12 kids. Twelve hockey
players, not 11 public school kids and one
homeschooled kid. The only time my son is singled out,
its by adults , ignorant, rude adults. When hes grown,
in whatever job he chooses, I sincerely doubt that his
coworkers will know, or care if he was homeschooled.
The big picture for me is his happiness and security,
2 things he never felt during the 2 years I allowed ps
to undermine everything I believe in. Never again.
Jeez, did I make any sense? Keep in mind I've only
just begun to sip my first cup of joe!
:)Kerry
[email protected]
In a message dated 1/18/2001 5:11:19 AM Pacific Standard Time,
kkibort@... writes:
Make sense? Kerry - you just explained word for word, exactly my feeling and
my experience. My son had just completed 2 months of 3rd grade though when I
whipped him out of ps. I wish I did it sooner. His happiness (I have never
seen him as happy as he is now) is all I care about too - and all the critics
can go fly a kite!
I am just finishing my first cup of coffee too. You are seeing things
crystal clear to me - Dawn
kkibort@... writes:
The big picture for me is his happiness and security,
2 things he never felt during the 2 years I allowed ps
to undermine everything I believe in. Never again.
Jeez, did I make any sense? Keep in mind I've only
just begun to sip my first cup of joe!
:)Kerry
Make sense? Kerry - you just explained word for word, exactly my feeling and
my experience. My son had just completed 2 months of 3rd grade though when I
whipped him out of ps. I wish I did it sooner. His happiness (I have never
seen him as happy as he is now) is all I care about too - and all the critics
can go fly a kite!
I am just finishing my first cup of coffee too. You are seeing things
crystal clear to me - Dawn
Sandi & Scott Spaeth
At 10:03 AM 1/18/01 -0500, you wrote:
negative things in school: racism, lying, fear, peer pressure,
manipulation, the list goes on and on.
I still do not get where people think that putting children of the same age
in a box of a classroom where they are not ALLOWED to interact, help each
other, or work together is socialization. Here in St Louis city all of
the school grounds are these big slabs of asphalt, most have no play
equipment, grass to sit on or anything. High schoolers are not even
allowed outside during the day. When is there time to socialize? If you
help the kid in the neighboring desk, you are cheating. If you ask too
many questions you are being selfish and wasting the classes time. If you
try to be any different than the 'cookie cutter' mold they try to stuff you
in, you are ridiculed.
My kids do not get exposure to other kids every day (though we are working
on that). But once they grow up it is adults they have to deal with, not
really kids. To me, a child's ability to socialize with adults is just as
important being able to run screaming with other kids. Schools do not give
a good balance of that. You have ONE teacher (sometimes one per subject,
but that is still ONE authority on a topic) that you deal with. Going to
ask for help from other teachers is looked down upon. Heck, in most
schools asking too many QUESTIONS period is frowned upon (one of the
problems we had with our kids in school, how lame is that?!?!).
So, yes, my kids will be different. They will probably not fall easily
into the trappings of peer pressure (which I think teachers and schools
really start because of all of the competitiveness of it all). They will
not have to deal with self esteem crushing failure, but rather will learn
how to deal with their mistakes and how to fix their own problems. They
will know kindness instead of hatred and bigotry. They will care about
other humans and not just be suspicious of others. They will be self
reliant and not co-dependent. They will know how to trust themselves, and
not just take directions from some nameless authority. Most of all, they
will know how to be themselves, and not just some carbon copy of the kid
sitting next to them in a desk.
If you want to socialize your kid, EXPOSE THEM TO THE WORLD, do not trap
them in a box.
Just my opinion!
Sandi in STL
--------------------------------------------------------------
"What we want to see is the child in pursuit of knowledge, not knowledge in
pursuit of the child."
-- George Bernard Shaw
Piston Ported Vespas:
http://members.nbci.com/piston_ported/index.html
words
http://www.geocities.com/vespass/words.html
ST Louis Secular Homeschooler's Co-Op
http://www.stlsecularhomeschool.org
-------------------------------------------------------------
>In a message dated 1/18/2001 5:11:19 AM Pacific Standard Time,I would like to second that! I know our son was learning some really
>kkibort@... writes:
>
>
>>The big picture for me is his happiness and security,
>>2 things he never felt during the 2 years I allowed ps
>>to undermine everything I believe in. Never again.
>>Jeez, did I make any sense? Keep in mind I've only
>>just begun to sip my first cup of joe!
>>:)Kerry
>
>
>Make sense? Kerry - you just explained word for word, exactly my feeling and
>my experience. My son had just completed 2 months of 3rd grade though when I
>whipped him out of ps. I wish I did it sooner. His happiness (I have never
>seen him as happy as he is now) is all I care about too - and all the critics
>can go fly a kite!
negative things in school: racism, lying, fear, peer pressure,
manipulation, the list goes on and on.
I still do not get where people think that putting children of the same age
in a box of a classroom where they are not ALLOWED to interact, help each
other, or work together is socialization. Here in St Louis city all of
the school grounds are these big slabs of asphalt, most have no play
equipment, grass to sit on or anything. High schoolers are not even
allowed outside during the day. When is there time to socialize? If you
help the kid in the neighboring desk, you are cheating. If you ask too
many questions you are being selfish and wasting the classes time. If you
try to be any different than the 'cookie cutter' mold they try to stuff you
in, you are ridiculed.
My kids do not get exposure to other kids every day (though we are working
on that). But once they grow up it is adults they have to deal with, not
really kids. To me, a child's ability to socialize with adults is just as
important being able to run screaming with other kids. Schools do not give
a good balance of that. You have ONE teacher (sometimes one per subject,
but that is still ONE authority on a topic) that you deal with. Going to
ask for help from other teachers is looked down upon. Heck, in most
schools asking too many QUESTIONS period is frowned upon (one of the
problems we had with our kids in school, how lame is that?!?!).
So, yes, my kids will be different. They will probably not fall easily
into the trappings of peer pressure (which I think teachers and schools
really start because of all of the competitiveness of it all). They will
not have to deal with self esteem crushing failure, but rather will learn
how to deal with their mistakes and how to fix their own problems. They
will know kindness instead of hatred and bigotry. They will care about
other humans and not just be suspicious of others. They will be self
reliant and not co-dependent. They will know how to trust themselves, and
not just take directions from some nameless authority. Most of all, they
will know how to be themselves, and not just some carbon copy of the kid
sitting next to them in a desk.
If you want to socialize your kid, EXPOSE THEM TO THE WORLD, do not trap
them in a box.
Just my opinion!
Sandi in STL
--------------------------------------------------------------
"What we want to see is the child in pursuit of knowledge, not knowledge in
pursuit of the child."
-- George Bernard Shaw
Piston Ported Vespas:
http://members.nbci.com/piston_ported/index.html
words
http://www.geocities.com/vespass/words.html
ST Louis Secular Homeschooler's Co-Op
http://www.stlsecularhomeschool.org
-------------------------------------------------------------
Olivia
Kerry and Sandi, I heartily agree!
Olivia
Olivia
> Date: Thu, 18 Jan 2001 09:36:15 -0600
> From: Sandi & Scott Spaeth <vespass@...>
>Subject: Re: homeschool kids being different
>
>At 10:03 AM 1/18/01 -0500, you wrote:
> >In a message dated 1/18/2001 5:11:19 AM Pacific Standard Time,
> >kkibort@... writes:
> >
> >
> >>The big picture for me is his happiness and security,
> >>2 things he never felt during the 2 years I allowed ps
> >>to undermine everything I believe in. Never again.
> >>Jeez, did I make any sense? Keep in mind I've only
> >>just begun to sip my first cup of joe!
> >>:)Kerry
> >
> >
> >Make sense? Kerry - you just explained word for word, exactly my
> feeling and
> >my experience. My son had just completed 2 months of 3rd grade though
> when I
> >whipped him out of ps. I wish I did it sooner. His happiness (I have never
> >seen him as happy as he is now) is all I care about too - and all the
> critics
> >can go fly a kite!
>
>
>I would like to second that! I know our son was learning some really
>negative things in school: racism, lying, fear, peer pressure,
>manipulation, the list goes on and on.
>
>I still do not get where people think that putting children of the same age
>in a box of a classroom where they are not ALLOWED to interact, help each
>other, or work together is socialization. Here in St Louis city all of
>the school grounds are these big slabs of asphalt, most have no play
>equipment, grass to sit on or anything. High schoolers are not even
>allowed outside during the day. When is there time to socialize? If you
>help the kid in the neighboring desk, you are cheating. If you ask too
>many questions you are being selfish and wasting the classes time. If you
>try to be any different than the 'cookie cutter' mold they try to stuff you
>in, you are ridiculed.
>
>My kids do not get exposure to other kids every day (though we are working
>on that). But once they grow up it is adults they have to deal with, not
>really kids. To me, a child's ability to socialize with adults is just as
>important being able to run screaming with other kids. Schools do not give
>a good balance of that. You have ONE teacher (sometimes one per subject,
>but that is still ONE authority on a topic) that you deal with. Going to
>ask for help from other teachers is looked down upon. Heck, in most
>schools asking too many QUESTIONS period is frowned upon (one of the
>problems we had with our kids in school, how lame is that?!?!).
>
>So, yes, my kids will be different. They will probably not fall easily
>into the trappings of peer pressure (which I think teachers and schools
>really start because of all of the competitiveness of it all). They will
>not have to deal with self esteem crushing failure, but rather will learn
>how to deal with their mistakes and how to fix their own problems. They
>will know kindness instead of hatred and bigotry. They will care about
>other humans and not just be suspicious of others. They will be self
>reliant and not co-dependent. They will know how to trust themselves, and
>not just take directions from some nameless authority. Most of all, they
>will know how to be themselves, and not just some carbon copy of the kid
>sitting next to them in a desk.
>
>If you want to socialize your kid, EXPOSE THEM TO THE WORLD, do not trap
>them in a box.
>
>Just my opinion!
>
>Sandi in STL
Kerry Kibort
To everyone who made my early morning babble seem like
intelligent conversation, THANK YOU.
I love you all.
:)Kerry
intelligent conversation, THANK YOU.
I love you all.
:)Kerry
[email protected]
In a message dated 1/18/01 5:05:56 AM Pacific Standard Time,
kkibort@... writes:
<< Did you even notice how people are always so concerned
that our kids will be "different" because they are
homeschooled? >>
First of all I don't believe most of the people who say they know home
schooled kids who are weird. If it was true my first question would be
"Weird HOW?" I think the term, for them, applies to anyone who isn't
particularly concerned with externals or the popular view of success.
Following your passions and ethics will always earn you the "different"
label, I'm proud of mine.
Kris
kkibort@... writes:
<< Did you even notice how people are always so concerned
that our kids will be "different" because they are
homeschooled? >>
First of all I don't believe most of the people who say they know home
schooled kids who are weird. If it was true my first question would be
"Weird HOW?" I think the term, for them, applies to anyone who isn't
particularly concerned with externals or the popular view of success.
Following your passions and ethics will always earn you the "different"
label, I'm proud of mine.
Kris
Tracy Oldfield
DH asked me this, if I was trying to make them
different on purpose, (cos I'm definitely 'different')
and I said 'what's wrong with being different??' If
I've said this already, I'm sorry, but, hey, it's worth
repeating *grin*
Tracy
In a message dated 1/18/01 5:05:56 AM Pacific Standard
Time,
kkibort@... writes:
<< Did you even notice how people are always so
concerned
that our kids will be "different" because they are
homeschooled? >>
First of all I don't believe most of the people who say
they know home
schooled kids who are weird. If it was true my first
question would be
"Weird HOW?" I think the term, for them, applies to
anyone who isn't
particularly concerned with externals or the popular
view of success.
Following your passions and ethics will always earn you
the "different"
label, I'm proud of mine.
Kris
different on purpose, (cos I'm definitely 'different')
and I said 'what's wrong with being different??' If
I've said this already, I'm sorry, but, hey, it's worth
repeating *grin*
Tracy
In a message dated 1/18/01 5:05:56 AM Pacific Standard
Time,
kkibort@... writes:
<< Did you even notice how people are always so
concerned
that our kids will be "different" because they are
homeschooled? >>
First of all I don't believe most of the people who say
they know home
schooled kids who are weird. If it was true my first
question would be
"Weird HOW?" I think the term, for them, applies to
anyone who isn't
particularly concerned with externals or the popular
view of success.
Following your passions and ethics will always earn you
the "different"
label, I'm proud of mine.
Kris