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I sometimes like to read over at the Momania blog, although it can get a bit mean-spirited at times. I don't understand why the comments aren't moderated, especially since a lot of comments are simply insults about the author.
The other day homeschooling tangently came up, and one of the regulars made a few derisive comments about homeschoolers she's seen in Wal-Mart and the mall, mockingly wondering what "subject" they were studying there.
In retrospect, I probably shouldn't have bothered, but I was curious, really, why this bothered people, so I said something along the lines of, "I don't understand why this is a problem. Are homeschooled families not allowed to go to the store? Or are they only allowed to go after 3:00 pm, and if so, what difference does it make?"
I also pointed out that, if you see a homeschooled family at the mall, for all you know they finished four hours of schoolwork and were taking a break before they went home and did four more hours.
I was told:
1) If I couldn't understand it, I was too stupid to be homeschooling my kids;
2) Homeschooled kids are supposed to be home at noon, not at the mall
3) "I fear for the future of your children."
Well, it was disappointing that the conversation was so shallow, but it did make me think.
What, exactly, were those people's complaints? Why does it bother them if a homeschooled family is at Wal-Mart?
Because I got the impression that a) it pisses people off to see kids in places they "shouldn't be," ie the mall at noon on a weekday; and b) they're jealous, quite frankly, to see kids with that kind of freedom.
Am I crazy for thinking that?
I really do think that some adults -- and yes, at times myself -- have an attitude of, "Well, I had to suffer, so you had to suffer." Or, "Well, I have to work at a job I hate, so why should you be spending your days doing enjoyable things?"
Any thoughts?
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2 comments:
I just read through the post at Momania. Wow! I can't believe how rude everyone was. I'm sure they don't talk to people that way in RL, why talk virtually that way? So they don't have to be accountable? I wanted to make a comment, but it would have been just like theirs so I thought I'd comment here! LOL. I think it's the box thing. People CAN NOT think outside of the box. It's shocking to me that the "expert" made some of the statements she did. I think one thing that makes a person "smart" (if I have to use that word) is to be willing to challenge their own beliefs. She seemed open-minded to homeschooling as long as it was done within certain circumstances and in a certain way. Wow! I am still so shocked by what everyone said. It makes me sad. And I'm not saying this in a mean way, it makes me "really" sad, not sad like "I fear for the future of your kids". I feel so free as a homeschooler and when I don't feel free it's when those old school tapes start playing. KWIM?
The fact someone chooses to not practice impeccable speach is that individual's responsibility. Until and if it is taken up by choice by another.
A goal of mine is to make no assumption of the motive behind people's words.
I am still " A work in progress!!!"
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