How Will You Deal With The Backlash From Religious Homeschooling?

Question

This is NOT directed at homeschooling in GENERAL. You have every right to provide a better education for your kids if the school is not doing it up to standard.

This question is about those who HAVE good schools in their area but still homeschool because they are frightened their kids will be exposed to scientific teachings and social situations that may challenge their religious beliefs.

Throughout human history, we do NOT respond well to this kind of thing. Curiosity, doubt and a willingness to learn are natural to all of us. One sided indoctrination and strict controls over personal freedom and information only works for so long. They create a BURNING desire to break free.

How will you answer when they ask, “Why did you need to keep me ignorant in order to keep me obedient?”

Also, will the COUNTRY's scientific professions suffer?

Will we have to start sourcing scientists with a sound foundation in evolutionary science from Asia and Europe?

Just so you know, I am not against wanting to protect your kids or instilling good values in them and raising them in your religious traditions.

I do that with my kids. But they will NEVER see me condemning other religions or groups. They will NEVER hear me telling them, "You CANNOT read about a different opinion".

They can read other religious books, we have bibles, koran, bhagvand gita in our home library. They can attend church, synagogue etc. After all, they have to exist in this world among a diverse set of people and need to be equipped to handle all the complexities of life, be tolerant, non-judgemental and develop an intellectual ability to discern things on their own.

I just feel that if you fear that your kids will question the beliefs you instilled in them and fear what will happen if they know more about the world around them your kids WILL smell that fear eventually and it will not make your beliefs seem very strong to them as a result.

Answer 1

Kids will always challenge their parents beliefs. Two Friends of mine educated their child at home. They were total pacifists and peaceniks and attempted to bring their son up completely without exposure to the violence of any kind...he is now a Sargent in the S.A.S!
They are just bringing up the next generation of militant atheists.

Answer 2

I think most people choose the above when their political and religious beliefs are threatened. When a parent has to sign a waiver for their child to say the Pledge of Allegiance, yet their child can be given condoms at school and told about the fallacy of safe sex, without parental consent. When the prospect of sex education being taught to our kindergartners, in the name of preventing child molestation, a knee up to the government getting involved in the way Americans choose to raise their children. A child is told at a young age not to talk to strangers or that inappropriate touching is wrong. This is taught by the parents not by a stranger that a young child spends a year of their life with. You have the right to impose your scientific values on your child, why should I not have the same right to place our Christian values on our children. Why should my rights be usurped when the government tells my child that sex is okay outside of marriage as long as your careful. Taking away my rights as a parent. Those are the things that bother the parents of impressionable youth. The world's a cruel place why rush adulthood on our kids.

Answer 3

The "social situations" that people are trying to avoid include gang involvement, pre-teen sex, drugs, and, oh, I don't know...getting shot in study hall.
It might be OK with you to expose your kids to that sort of thing, but some parents would really rather that their kids learn in a safer environment.
Before you decide that all parents who opt to homeschool are rabid fundies, you might want to consider your sources.
Homeschooling is not the equivalent of keeping our children ignorant in order to keep them obedient, or even to keep from exposing them to other religious ideas, although the climate in our schools for Christian children is getting a bit dangerous...

Your question is condescending and odious in tone, making me believe that you most likely have absolutely NO idea what you are talking about, whatsoever.
Perhaps, when you have children, you would appreciate it if other people did not try to tell you how to raise them.
Till then, it might be good advice to afford other parents the same courtesy.

Answer 4

Since the beginning of the Education system in this country...GOD was an instrumental part. Ever heard of the Old Deluder Satan Law? It was the US 1647 legislation that specifically framed ignorance as a Satanic ill to be circumvented through the education of the country's young people. It is commonly regarded as the historical FIRST STEP toward compulsory government-directed public education in the United States of America. The first English reader in this country was an ABC Reader with Biblical examples for the letter recognition.

So when the system originally set up to protect children from the ills of Satan, is now prohibited from speaking about the very principles that formed its very FOUNDATION of being... what does that tell you about the direction that system is headed in?

And homeschooling doesnt keep a child ignorant of anything except the ungodly influences of kids whose parents drop them in front of MTV, know every curse word in the book, and are so defiled by popular culture they think they are supposed to start having boyfriends and sex at 12 years old.

I dont home school my kids but my 5 year old came home saying that she was told she wasnt one of the 'popular girls' because she doesnt get manicures and pedicures...in the FIRST GRADE. Dont make public schools out like they are just overflowing oasis' of higher learning...you have to fight to keep your children from being consumed by this worldly crap.

Answer 5

Definitely. I've personally known people who missed out on a lot because of homeschooling brought on for religious purposes.

Answer 6

Home school is really beneficial, don't diss it completely. I was homeschooled about 9 years and it put me about 3 years ahead of people....maybe more that were in my same grade/age group when I came to public school. Sheltered kids will get exposed eventually anyways. Plus home schooling can be good for safety with today's increasing violence.....I dont even need to mention guns and knives in school, bullys, ...drugs. As far as faith goes, I think you should know about other cultures and religions,....thats fine, parents shouldnt be scared of informing their children but it should be also to teach your kids a certain way, they will then take it from there.

Answer 7

I don't think the reason so many parents decide to home school their children is because of whats being taught, but rather whats not being taught. Reading, writing, and arithmetic. The public school system is in a shambles. Teachers are paid less than garbage men in most major cities. Here in Florida, if a teacher is single with one child , that child qualifies for the free lunch program. It's a disgrace.

Answer 8

LoL good question. How would the children react to their "supreme being" existing as no more than a scary tale to keep them in line. Just like Santa keeping them "nice" so that they get presents.

I think you make a good point with, "How will you answer when they ask, “Why did you need to keep me ignorant in order to keep me obedient?” That is quotable material there.

Yes, this type of brainwashing DOES hurt us as a species. Imagine the potential of those kids if they had their eager young minds set on space travel or quantum physics. Instead they have to shake off the superstitious nonsense that was preached at them all their lives, which could take decades. Their efforts are spent trying to determine who is telling what lie, and what really composes reality. It is an utter waste of time and the waste of thought processes that could be used for something productive.

Answer 9

I know a bunch of people who were homeschooled. Most turned out just fine, however I do think it is hard on the kids and hinders them socially. They will be out in the 'real world' eventually and I think it is a bigger shock then to gradually get into it through the schools.

Answer 10

The US already has to import engineers and scientists. Many of my colleagues are from Asia, especially India.

One thing to consider about religious homeschooling is that a tendency to be narrow minded often seems to have a genetic component to it. Its quite possible that the kids of parents that home-school for that reason will actually be ok with it. (However, their isolation may eventually result in them becoming a divergent genetic strain that will split off from the rest of humanity and form a new species. It will probably be some sort of vaguely human-like slug that is especially fond of flower print dresses).