The only thing to fear
I have been a big fan of The Pioneer Woman ever since Annika posted a link to one of her recipes.
Today, I found myself reading the replies to this post in her Homeschooling section. Although I don't often read many of the homeschooling posts completely, I check it out from time to time; mainly to get new resources. But this post caught my eye and I ended up reading (well, skimming) all 259 of the replies.
The commenters varied from homeschoolers, public schoolers, private schoolers, a little bit of everything schoolers and even a couple of unschoolers. It was interesting reading and I found it fascinating to hear how different people made different decisions about what was right for their children, many of them choosing different options for different children in their own families. There were stories of great schools and terrible schools; of public schools being the best place for a child with special needs or the worst place for a child with special needs. There were charter schools, both on location and online. The variety of options and the variety of reasons for the schooling decision were incredibly varied and always interesting.
But I was particularly struck with one thing. It is perhaps not surprising that a fair number of the homeschoolers identified as strongly Christian; what shocked me was how afraid many of these parents seemed to be of how their children were influenced by the outside world. I am not talking of drugs, sex and bullying. No, they spoke of being forced to accept politically correct thinking and learning values that they could not support; they mourned the failure to pray at school and the importance of their Christian values being reinforced by teachers. They seemed terrified that their children might be exposed to opinions and ideas that did not meet their narrow expectations. They seemed to me to be afraid of the world.
Of course, I am familiar with the rantings of the Christian Right and their ilk, as anyone who supports womens' rights and gay rights and civil rights would be. I was just sadly surprised to see such normal-seeming people be so afraid. Of people like me. Of people like you.
Today, I found myself reading the replies to this post in her Homeschooling section. Although I don't often read many of the homeschooling posts completely, I check it out from time to time; mainly to get new resources. But this post caught my eye and I ended up reading (well, skimming) all 259 of the replies.
The commenters varied from homeschoolers, public schoolers, private schoolers, a little bit of everything schoolers and even a couple of unschoolers. It was interesting reading and I found it fascinating to hear how different people made different decisions about what was right for their children, many of them choosing different options for different children in their own families. There were stories of great schools and terrible schools; of public schools being the best place for a child with special needs or the worst place for a child with special needs. There were charter schools, both on location and online. The variety of options and the variety of reasons for the schooling decision were incredibly varied and always interesting.
But I was particularly struck with one thing. It is perhaps not surprising that a fair number of the homeschoolers identified as strongly Christian; what shocked me was how afraid many of these parents seemed to be of how their children were influenced by the outside world. I am not talking of drugs, sex and bullying. No, they spoke of being forced to accept politically correct thinking and learning values that they could not support; they mourned the failure to pray at school and the importance of their Christian values being reinforced by teachers. They seemed terrified that their children might be exposed to opinions and ideas that did not meet their narrow expectations. They seemed to me to be afraid of the world.
Of course, I am familiar with the rantings of the Christian Right and their ilk, as anyone who supports womens' rights and gay rights and civil rights would be. I was just sadly surprised to see such normal-seeming people be so afraid. Of people like me. Of people like you.
posted by allison | 5:56 PM
4 Comments:
I think I am going to astart telling people that we are homeschooling to protect Sam from Christians. It couldn't be farther from the truth, but it would amuse me!
Me too!!
I am going to have to start exploiting the fear they have of my queer feminist self. Perhaps when they get all self-righteous all I need to do is say, "BOO."
What cho talkin bout willis? The Christian Right LOVES me!!!
Well, until I talk.
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