SURVEY OF THE DECADES - CHILDREN & FAMILY
The Homeschooling Trend
Believe it or not, I consider myself to be pretty mainstream - I live in
California, have two children - one in public high school, the other just
graduated from private school (Off to Columbia in the Fall, brag, brag, brag).
I have the heart of a democrat but the mind of a republican and have been
known to vote for both in the same election. I am all over the middle. So by the
time something hits my radar, it has usually been around for awhile and is most
likely increasing in popularity.
Such has been the case with Homeschooling. I keep bumping into Homeschooling
wherever I turn. To be honest, I have always thought of homeschooling as the
territory of right-wing Christian extremists, as they are commonly referred to
in my home state.
Then I noticed that many of those so-called extremists were just ordinary
Americans with religion and what made them seem so extreme to me was my vantage
point. Apparently, one of our earthquakes moved California just left of
Wackosville, and nobody seemed to notice.
So, having gotten off my high horse, taken off my jaded lenses and just
opened my eyes to have a look-see, it appears that homeschooling is here,
complete with professionally produced curricula, support networks, standardized
tests and annual conventions. Like online dating, homeschooling has hit the
mainstream and is raising fewer and fewer eyebrows.
Perhaps because it is one of the few viable alternatives for parents loathe
to subject their children to the cesspool that the public school system has
become.
Retro Housewife, June 6th, 2009 |
Children