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I was homeschooled through grade 12, and my mom has done pro bono legal work for HSLDA. Aemon Send a noteboard - 03/03/2010 02:20:38 AM
I'm not going to try to respond to every criticism in that article and in some of the comments above, but suffice to say that I support both homeschooling, and, to a lesser extent, HSLDA. If anyone feels like asking questions I'll be happy to answer, but I'll make a couple short comments to deal with the hot button issues.

1) Homeschoolers, as a group, are not socially inept. Some are, but most aren't. Growing up, I was involved with lots of sports, church clubs, community clubs (boy scouts, for example), and so on. If you're willing to put some miles on your car, it's not the slightest bit difficult to get your kid as socialized as any other kid out there. Most homeschoolers are involved with homeschool support groups too, to different extents. Such groups generally involve meeting with a bunch of other families several days a week, for various educational pursuits. I've seen everything from museum trips, to formal classes taught by parents that are industry professionals (for example, I took high school chemistry from someone with a Ph.D in the field. She was the head of some local drug research lab or something). Point is, most homeschoolers are very social, you just never hear about them on the news is all.

2) Homeschoolers are well educated. Test scores prove this (they're usually higher for homeschoolers) so I won't argue the point much, but some people still think homeschoolers are dumber than the rest of them for some reason. It's very true that homeschoolers don't always follow as broad a curriculum as the schools, but that's because they can pick and choose, and tailor to their strengths. For example, I was lucky enough to grow interested in (and capable at) reading, at a very young age. I picked up spelling and grammar very naturally, and, as a result, I've never done any formal work in those areas. People look at that from the outside and think, "ah ha! You deficient homeschooler, you," but the truth is, I didn't study it because I didn't need to. Schools would have forced me to go through that crap right along with everyone else, at the speed of the dumbest retard in the class.

Anyway, that's enough typing. There's a lot to be said on the subject, but I don't hardly know where to begin, so I'll leave it alone unless someone actually asks.
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Homeschooling: German Family Gets Political Asylum in U.S. - 02/03/2010 10:30:01 PM 1523 Views
Looks like a win-win situation to me. - 02/03/2010 11:01:22 PM 792 Views
Exactly - 03/03/2010 08:54:10 AM 749 Views
yah...but...but.... - 03/03/2010 01:13:31 PM 663 Views
Germany does have a history of getting rid of people it doesn't like *NM* - 03/03/2010 02:08:37 PM 485 Views
Yawn. At least beckstcw was joking when he invoked Godwin's law below. I hope. *NM* - 03/03/2010 02:10:18 PM 400 Views
That is a load of crap - 03/03/2010 02:53:02 PM 483 Views
uhm, how would Germany be offending the US? - 03/03/2010 02:56:52 PM 446 Views
I meant in general not in this specfic case - 03/03/2010 02:59:01 PM 397 Views
ahh mk *NM* - 03/03/2010 03:09:39 PM 429 Views
Um. - 03/03/2010 02:57:53 PM 331 Views
But our religious beliefs and belief in allowing religious freedom is fair game? - 03/03/2010 03:09:48 PM 337 Views
Yes? - 03/03/2010 03:40:30 PM 315 Views
If you made fun of the Native Americans I would be offended - 03/03/2010 03:46:05 PM 564 Views
It's actually quite the opposite. - 03/03/2010 03:57:19 PM 538 Views
and I would say they trying to fix intolerance with more intolerance - 03/03/2010 04:13:49 PM 321 Views
That was probably the stupidest thing I ever saw you write - 03/03/2010 03:28:39 PM 491 Views
You were the one who said good riddance - 03/03/2010 03:43:24 PM 347 Views
It's the usual story of American ideology and European pragmatism. - 03/03/2010 03:52:51 PM 507 Views
exactly. - 03/03/2010 03:56:11 PM 447 Views
Yes, because I won't miss them much. - 03/03/2010 03:55:29 PM 535 Views
well said - 03/03/2010 06:34:18 PM 524 Views
I think it's outrageous they'd fine people for that - 02/03/2010 11:07:57 PM 807 Views
Re: Homeschooling: German Family Gets Political Asylum in U.S. - 03/03/2010 01:09:23 AM 933 Views
The socialization thing is mostly garbage - 03/03/2010 02:32:19 AM 798 Views
Yep, exactly. - 03/03/2010 02:41:14 AM 594 Views
Re: Yep, exactly. - 03/03/2010 03:12:48 AM 574 Views
Re: Yep, exactly. - 03/03/2010 03:34:33 AM 823 Views
Re: Yep, exactly. - 03/03/2010 04:34:30 AM 809 Views
*shrugs* I said it was anecdotal. I have no hard figures, only experiences. - 03/03/2010 03:28:29 AM 567 Views
The operative word IS mostly - 03/03/2010 04:33:20 AM 763 Views
'Mostly' is all that matters - 03/03/2010 05:46:01 AM 805 Views
Uhm, socialization is incredibly important. - 03/03/2010 06:03:30 AM 771 Views
Yes, but you don't need to be taught to do it - 03/03/2010 06:47:06 AM 741 Views
cats aren't pack or herd animals - 03/03/2010 06:53:02 AM 721 Views
Something of an inside joke, sorry - 03/03/2010 07:41:50 AM 754 Views
I'm a homeschooling parent. - 03/03/2010 07:09:03 PM 746 Views
LOL, we seem well represented on this site - 03/03/2010 10:02:16 PM 838 Views
to jump on the "I was homeschooled and I have social skills" bandwagon... - 03/03/2010 06:27:05 AM 1145 Views
I think you may be missing some things - 03/03/2010 02:48:27 PM 859 Views
Re: I think you may be missing some things - 05/03/2010 12:16:37 AM 936 Views
I was homeschooled through grade 12, and my mom has done pro bono legal work for HSLDA. - 03/03/2010 02:20:38 AM 728 Views
I agree that it can be a very good option for some families - 03/03/2010 04:42:21 AM 846 Views
Re: I agree that it can be a very good option for some families - 03/03/2010 05:16:17 AM 689 Views
It depends on the public school. - 03/03/2010 05:23:09 AM 734 Views
Re: It depends on the public school. - 03/03/2010 05:45:07 AM 736 Views
"done right" is not always the case - 03/03/2010 05:58:26 AM 551 Views
Re: "done right" is not always the case - 03/03/2010 06:14:43 AM 882 Views
Re: "done right" is not always the case - 03/03/2010 06:31:04 AM 790 Views
Well let's talk stats then. - 03/03/2010 06:55:14 AM 743 Views
please do not get me started on statistis. - 03/03/2010 07:11:19 AM 658 Views
Re: please do not get me started on statistis. - 03/03/2010 07:28:41 AM 712 Views
you missed my point. - 03/03/2010 01:10:26 PM 732 Views
You seem to be ignoring the matter of qualified teachers. - 03/03/2010 01:29:01 PM 693 Views
Your comments on public school educations have rather limited relevance to other countries, though. - 03/03/2010 09:53:30 AM 791 Views
+ ^ *NM* - 03/03/2010 01:11:04 PM 401 Views
While I support homeschooling, this is ridiculous. - 03/03/2010 04:48:40 AM 847 Views
Meh. - 03/03/2010 05:20:50 AM 782 Views
one year in a public school - 03/03/2010 05:32:13 AM 829 Views
Re: one year in a public school - 03/03/2010 05:58:48 AM 592 Views
No, I think i will nitpick. - 03/03/2010 06:11:44 AM 726 Views
This is getting off track and wasting time. - 03/03/2010 06:26:36 AM 761 Views
I'm not even certain it's 100% legal. - 03/03/2010 06:34:44 AM 546 Views
Yes, but we can't argue abuse of law. - 03/03/2010 06:51:23 AM 670 Views
I only used Mexicans because I'm from Arizona - 03/03/2010 07:04:29 AM 786 Views
I think I have the gist of it, - 03/03/2010 07:17:40 AM 679 Views
we haven't heard anything about their beliefs for me to think they're stupid. - 03/03/2010 02:54:25 PM 771 Views
According to the Süddeutsche Zeitung... - 03/03/2010 03:38:13 PM 689 Views
they don't have private christian schools in germany? - 03/03/2010 03:54:07 PM 648 Views
Not many, I dare say, but a few probably. *NM* - 03/03/2010 03:59:11 PM 424 Views
Say what? - 03/03/2010 09:38:40 AM 638 Views
Being able raise your kids by your beliefs is a frivolous matter? - 03/03/2010 03:21:23 PM 570 Views
Germany is not saying "you can't raise your kids by your beliefs" - 03/03/2010 03:31:01 PM 691 Views
It's not a recent law, and supposedly other German families have moved to France and the UK. - 03/03/2010 03:45:56 PM 786 Views
figured that. - 03/03/2010 03:58:57 PM 668 Views
I think that would fly in very face of political assylum - 03/03/2010 04:12:48 PM 740 Views
Yes, but they did not need political asylum. - 03/03/2010 04:28:16 PM 755 Views
how is that different then other political refuges we allow in? - 03/03/2010 04:55:14 PM 673 Views
I believe Legolas linked an article - 03/03/2010 04:57:09 PM 639 Views
I never saw the link - 03/03/2010 05:08:21 PM 556 Views
I'm not sure if they offered "formal" assurances or some such - 03/03/2010 05:21:54 PM 477 Views
Compared to not being able to feed your kids, yes, it is. - 03/03/2010 03:42:58 PM 569 Views
yes but we don't grant political assylum for being hungry - 03/03/2010 04:34:23 PM 649 Views
no we don't. - 03/03/2010 04:50:31 PM 526 Views
Do you have a better system? - 03/03/2010 05:05:42 PM 813 Views
Immigration processes could certainly use some reform - 03/03/2010 05:32:22 PM 619 Views
The system sucks, big government typically does not function well - 03/03/2010 05:48:25 PM 560 Views
we probably would all be better off... - 03/03/2010 07:27:28 PM 670 Views
good because Texas is taken - 03/03/2010 07:47:46 PM 675 Views
No, true, that was about the illegal immigrants. - 03/03/2010 09:53:18 PM 773 Views
Absolutely. - 03/03/2010 09:32:41 AM 754 Views
Doesn't matter why, but all parents should have the right to homeschool..... - 03/03/2010 04:48:57 AM 601 Views
there are far worse faults for a country to have *NM* - 03/03/2010 05:14:11 AM 397 Views
That whole thing is pretty silly - 03/03/2010 12:18:45 PM 828 Views
Re: socialising. - 03/03/2010 06:13:49 PM 787 Views
And then there are secular people like myself, who - 03/03/2010 06:44:13 PM 735 Views
I think I'd do that too, if I had the patience. - 03/03/2010 06:45:20 PM 604 Views
*agree* - 03/03/2010 07:41:56 PM 785 Views
That is the catagory I'm in. - 03/03/2010 07:46:12 PM 667 Views
Re: probably more likely - 04/03/2010 12:19:37 AM 795 Views
I am opposed to homeschooling but believe it should be a legal option. - 03/03/2010 02:32:34 PM 760 Views
I think you make a good point here - 03/03/2010 05:22:59 PM 775 Views
but...but...parents can't educate their children outside of school!! - 03/03/2010 05:40:30 PM 706 Views
I don't agree with them I just support their right to be wrong - 03/03/2010 06:04:11 PM 749 Views
The statistics are flawed, as I've noted above - 03/03/2010 07:07:11 PM 613 Views
Your views on this are not fact-driven - 03/03/2010 09:13:07 PM 792 Views
No, what you're saying is that my answer isn't driven by STATISTICS. - 03/03/2010 10:36:50 PM 721 Views
Granted, but there is no obvious source for bias - 03/03/2010 10:57:19 PM 652 Views
Again, I'm not saying it applies to everyone - 03/03/2010 11:51:17 PM 566 Views
Re: Again, I'm not saying it applies to everyone - 04/03/2010 12:16:29 AM 800 Views
You mean aside from the fact that you are already arguing about it? - 04/03/2010 12:14:02 AM 553 Views
Yes, I mentioned this in my reply to Tom, see below... - 04/03/2010 12:19:42 AM 688 Views
Fair enough - 04/03/2010 12:21:41 AM 603 Views
Re: Fair enough - 04/03/2010 12:37:06 AM 1023 Views
Re: Fair enough - 04/03/2010 09:39:38 AM 725 Views
Umm Massachusetts did have slavery in 1717 - 03/03/2010 02:55:25 PM 653 Views
Wow....so this got the board going. A question for everyone... - 03/03/2010 06:02:57 PM 840 Views
I think it is incumbent on the state to show that kids are being in some way harmed - 03/03/2010 06:07:13 PM 763 Views
Interesting - 03/03/2010 06:25:43 PM 861 Views
I never said there should be no limits on what parents should be able to do - 03/03/2010 06:38:53 PM 808 Views
What you said was: - 03/03/2010 06:51:26 PM 818 Views
I think it's safe to say teaching your kids to be little sociopaths qualifies as harm. - 03/03/2010 09:17:48 PM 582 Views
I think so too - 03/03/2010 10:46:41 PM 809 Views
Yes they do. Provided... - 03/03/2010 07:04:46 PM 678 Views
One of the reasons... - 03/03/2010 07:40:54 PM 766 Views
that is fair enough - 03/03/2010 07:51:31 PM 646 Views
Hmmph. Inappropriate action on the part of the judge who allowed them to stay. - 03/03/2010 06:22:08 PM 704 Views
I agree completely with this. *NM* - 03/03/2010 06:42:01 PM 430 Views
agree. *NM* - 03/03/2010 06:49:01 PM 285 Views
You just skip the part where they have to show they are being persecuted - 03/03/2010 06:54:20 PM 825 Views
"Persecution" can be a matter of opinion, though. - 03/03/2010 07:04:46 PM 808 Views
officers will track down kids ditching school here. - 03/03/2010 07:17:57 PM 842 Views
I'm not sure what they do in Canada - 03/03/2010 10:49:00 PM 734 Views
Agrees - 03/03/2010 06:54:59 PM 672 Views
New Cosmic Powers of the admins - 03/03/2010 06:52:57 PM 580 Views
It is the Power of the Ben™ *NM* - 03/03/2010 08:48:11 PM 414 Views
*walks in, looks around* - 03/03/2010 07:52:09 PM 782 Views
Re: *walks in, looks around* - 03/03/2010 09:25:46 PM 558 Views
What, no defending Germany today? *NM* - 03/03/2010 10:03:01 PM 423 Views
Even I need a day off *NM* - 04/03/2010 01:02:17 AM 408 Views
Re: *walks in, looks around* - 03/03/2010 10:33:24 PM 606 Views
Interesting - 03/03/2010 11:02:27 PM 777 Views
Am I recalling correctly that you know some German? - 03/03/2010 11:07:00 PM 727 Views
Sorry, nope. - 04/03/2010 09:14:49 PM 532 Views
Oh. Ah well. - 04/03/2010 09:23:11 PM 694 Views
One thing all of us homeschooled kids are missing is... - 04/03/2010 01:53:22 AM 654 Views

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