WHY is everyone so quick to stereotype homeschoolers?!?

Question

Why do you think?! I've been homeschooled since 3rd grade (I skipped second cuz all the work was way too easy) but last year I went to public school. Everyone who found out that I was homeschooled was like "really?!" They never would have guessed it had I not told them. Unless they guessed by my 4.0 GPA and the fact that I'm a Christian. but there were a ton of other people just like me at school who had gone to public school siunce prekindergarten.

So what's the deal? How can people judge homeschooler's like all of them are alike? Is it because we spend more time around our parents? I don't. After school (which my mom just supervises, I pretty much teach myself) I'm out at classes, working, Junior Achievement, with friends, singing somewhere, shopping....everything. I probably spend more time out places than people who go to public school, because I only spend 3.5 hours on school every day and not 6 plus hours in a classroom.

WHY the stereotype?

Answer 1

Stereotypes are always from the same root: ignorance. It is a way for people to explain something they do not understand; that is different from their way of doing things, or different from themselves.

Some common stereotypes debunked:

Black people love eating fried chicken and watermelon. Well, I'm white and love both. I bet a lot of people on here are white and like them too!

Latinoes are lazy. I believe that stereotype is a reaction to a sense that jobs are being stolen by this particular group of people. If they were really so lazy, why would an employer hire them? In my experience working with people of various races, Latinoes work just as well as anyone else. It is a matter of individual merit.

German women are excellent housekeepers. Not if you look at my best friend's house! hehehe

Stereotypes are foolish ideas, created by foolish people.

Sue

Answer 2

I know what you mean. I was homeschooled in grade school and then I went to a private christian school. even there I was stereotyped! sometimes though I think some people suppose that because someone is homeschooled they must be snobbish. and I have met people that stuck their nose up at me because they were homeschooled and were quite shocked when i said I had been too..I can't help laughing remembering their faces! =) it's just the way people are...it's sad but people are sinful and there's no helping it til we get to heaven. just try to be as humble as possible when mentioning this fact to other people so that you limit the possiblity of seeming prideful. it is a mark of accomplishment to do well in homeschool where there are so many distractions but there are still things that you will not have experienced by being in a public school. I experienced this lack when I went to college because (thank God!) my school was christian in name AND teachings and I didn't have many of the negative experiences that come with public schools. just make sure that you learn the values that your parents teach you and keep the sweet and humble spirit that comes from being born again! don't let yourself hold someone's ignorance against them..instead find joy in proving their prejudices wrong!

Answer 3

I am homeschooled and it is true that people do stereotype us... They think that we are ALL people that live in the perfect home, with great grades, nerds, and religious.

For me the only one that is true is being religious. It normally is a common factor because alot of religious parents dont want to send there children to a school that teaches things they don't believe in and bashes thing that they do such as prayer and Bible reading.

Honestly I am not a nerd, I'm not very smart, and my family has it's share of problems.

So why the stereotype? Because they don't know what they are talking about and don't give us a chance to prove differently.

Us homeschoolers have our share of normal teen age problems. We are normal... we just don't go to school in a big building with other kids our age.

Answer 4

The only stereotype I can think of with SOME people who choose homeschooling is that they can fall a little behind others in public school if the schooling is not done properly. Also, their social skills can be a little stagnated. At times, some choose anger over discussion. They don't always seem to handle peer pressure well, either, because they've never had to stand up for themselves and their beliefs. If someone in public school challenged what you believe as a Christian, would you be able to defend your beliefs in a logical way without getting angry or feeling guilty about what you believe? If they offered you a cigarette or drugs, would you be able to say no, even if it's somebody you think is cool, or maybe who thinks YOU'RE real cool? Some can, and that's great! But some others only stay out of trouble and/or do very well in their schooling because they don't have any pressure to do otherwise. I, personally, have nothing against homeschooling, especially since I know several people who do it, or have done it, and they've turned out well. (I didn't know homeschooled children were stereotyped until you posted this question, and I had to think of what a few people have said.)

Answer 5

Well, Not Everyone feels this way, first of all, but I will give you that it is a common misconception. Watch "Mean Girls"!!! Either your a "born-again christian red-neck talking bout how god invented the rifle to kill dinosaurs and gays" or your a brainiac with hippie parents like in "Bridge to Terabithia". In any case, I used to live in Northen Minnesota (lots of homeschooling). The had a campaign..."Did You know all the Presidents on Mount Rushmore were Homeschooled?" and then had numbers for government assitance with course work and additional in-home matierals.

I can't blame any parent for homeschoolin, even though I wasn't. I am still trying to unlearn all the B.S. lies I learned in school about history(Roanoke), science(Classification of animals is quite imperfect), and even math (In geometry you can add 2+2=5, try it with squares/diamonds on a piece of paper). Not to mention all the wasted time doing busy work at the slowest possible pace.

But seriously, you should just make a pamphlet to hand to people and save time.

Answer 6

Kids in public (elementary and secondary) schools are probably envious and want to be home-schooled but can't since the family may not be able to afforid the money. They start to be mean, jeolousy and envy take over them. I'm sure the don't mean to

Answer 7

Well it is evident that you have had an excellent up bringing.You are a very mature young lady.You do your parents proud.

Now with that out of the way,to answer your question.People are quick to judge what they don't understand.It must be weird or wrong just because it is out of their scope of understanding.People need to be taught at an early age to be expecting of others.Unfortunately,this isn't the case most of the time.

Good luck to you on the rest of your life,with your attitude you will go far.

Answer 8

Homeschooling has become a condensed soup fad. Open a can, add water and you have education.

Originally homeschool was done by parents who had MS and PHD degrees and they felt they could better teach their kids.

Today we have cute web sites and package programs you buy for $100 - $200 and it isn't all that much better than what you get in a public school.

It's not an education like you get in a top level Catholic private school, for example, or a very good private "prep" school.

When I went to private school they had learened French in the 4th grade and I was in their 5th grade and learned Spanish well enough to get an A in Middle School Spanish when I took it in 8th grade, which is when the public schools start teaching language.

My mother was a professional musician and worked in the computer field and she taught me a lot (I learned to type by the age of 7 and that got me another A in middle school tying 1). She also sent me to electronics school concurrent with regular school when I was 12 and while it didn't have an impact on me back then, today I can look inside of a simple device like an electronic metronome and I know exactly how it works and what they did to make it keep time.

That's the best explaination I can give you. You obviously either worked with a better "pre-packaged" program system or your parents are smarter than the average parents.

In those situations homeschooling works well.

Most people view homeschooling as working in a work book for an hour and watching the Discovery Channel for an hour, then going to the mall to have fun!

Answer 9

For me personally the stereotype is from experience or limited exposure whichever way you would like to look at it....without fail every child/parent that I've met that were or are homeschooling were extreme religious people that felt/portrayed that the world we live in is a horrible place and we were less because we participated in it and/or they were better because they didn't. There is no common ground when someone has removed themselves from the main stream....as we all know anything different is suspect (whether it should or shouldn't be). I would be more comfortable/open to home schooling if it weren't so steeped in religion.

Answer 10

i have no clue-like seriously im homeschooled 2 and people think im some prude person who is shocked at low necklines, bf and gfs and one who always wears long skirts and mary janes.