Every time there is a question about opions on homeschooling do u notice that the parent who homeschool are ..

Question

very defensive???? Why is that?

just to clarify i'm not against homeschooling, just wondering why those who choose to do it feel the need to be so defensive........I prefer to hear reasons it is good than to hear those who rant about how those of us who don't are so wrong, I suppose the answer about it being not the norm would explain alot.

Answer 1

People can get defensive when you challenge an important decision they've made when it comes to raising their child. It's natural. You'll find 'passionate' opinions on such subjects as breastfeeding vs. formula feeding, homeschooling vs. classrooms, spanking vs. timeout discipline, etc. It is in people's nature to defend what they think is right....and they also tend to get a bit 'over zelous' when they feel their position is being challenged OR if their position is contraversial.

Answer 2

Your details:

just to clarify i'm not against homeschooling, just wondering why those who choose to do it feel the need to be so defensive........I prefer to hear reasons it is good than to hear those who rant about how those of us who don't are so wrong, I suppose the answer about it being not the norm would explain alot.

Is this in the parenting section or the homeschooling section? I have NEVER seen a single parent in the homeschooling section tell public school parents that they are wrong for not homeschooling. It is said over and over and over again that homeschooling isn't for everyone. They do get defensive because they are attacked almost daily with the same types of frustrating ignorant comments.

I'd like to know why when there are questions about opinions on homeschooling, that so many share their misinformed, unresearched, at times disparaging, opinions against homeschooling and homeschoolers!


ADDED: There is also the aspect that people are reading words through their own viewpoints. What comes across as defensiveness might not be defensiveness at all. What comes across as homeschoolers telling you you are wrong in your choice may be your interpretation of the words and not the words themselves.

And frankly, how many people in the homeschooling section say that it's wrong to homeschool. Are you going to apply a double standard? It's okay for them to do that, but not for the occasional homeschooler to say public school is a bad idea? {shaking my head}

Answer 3

It's frustrating to no end when the people criticizing you are basing their criticism on things they thought of in their own little head, and not taking any time at all to research the countless methods and styles of homeschooling, the many stories of successful homeschoolers winning competitions (against public schoolers no less), scoring well above grade level on standardized tests, getting into the most selective colleges. They don't bother to find out what colleges ask of homeschoolers. Instead they assume that homeschoolers can't go to good universities.... only community colleges. They talk about socialization, but all this shows is that they are well trained into believing the only place in the world where you can find other people to interact with is a government school. They don't bother to read about homeschool support groups, co-ops, the field trips homeschoolers go on, the unique activities they participate in... They fail to see the countless extracurricular group activities available in their own communities. Homeschoolers actually have TIME for these activities because they tend to work so much faster than public schoolers (due to a lack of meaningless interuptions). I think HSers and HS parents wouldn't be nearly as defensive if people wouldn't just assume things. I'll discuss the differences between homeschool and public school with anyone, provided they are willing to LISTEN with an OPEN MIND and EDUCATE themselves on the topic beforehand.

Answer 4

Us home school parents tend to get defensive because many times questions or comments are a direct challenge on our decision and rights as parents to chose the education we feel is best for our child. The prejudice towards home schoolers by the public schools and the NEA doesn't help. Many of also see trends in other countries that could happen hear given the right political environment. Not to mention the U.N's rights for children that would ban homeschooling if congress passed it.
Home schooling is almost never reported as a viable alternative to the public school, and many people have opinions about home schooling based out of ignorance ( lack of knowledge). We spend a lot of time and money to do this, and still have to pay taxes for public education. Most of us don't mean to get defensive, but human nature tends to take over.

Answer 5

I'm not sure. My mom homeschooled me for a few years and she would always ge defensive when someone asked her why. i couldn't understand it then. I think it's just becasue homeschooling is still outside the norm and people feel they need to defend any action that is outside the norm.

Answer 6

I'm sure they deal with people putting them down all the time. Telling them that they can't do nearly as good as a job as a school can and such. Parents who homeschool put a lot of time and effort into teaching their kids and probably take big offense to those who don't believe in it.

Answer 7

Most likely because a true understanding of what home school is. My children would be home schooled if they didn't go to such a great school. In time I still might start homeschooling.

Most people who span off on homeschooling don't know a lick about it.

Answer 8

I think it has to come from them wanting all these ppl on here to agree with every single thing that they do. I personally have public school daughter, but if the chance came up for her to be homeschooled I would. I like her public school but I miss the time that I can spend with her.

Answer 9

Have you read the answers of those who don't like homeschooling? They aren't based in truth or fact. They are based on things people have never tried so they don't understand it.

I watch my kids who have more friends now then they ever had when they were in school, who are involved in more things now then they ever were in school and I have to laugh at people who say that hs kids are socially inept and will be stupid and weird.

I get tired of being told that I can't teach my children even though most parents are the ones who teach their kids even if they are in public school. Who sits down at the end of the day and has to explain all that homework to their kids? The parents. Most parents are already homeschooling their kids in one way or another whether they realize it or not.

If I can go through the public school system and be too stupid at the end of it all to teach my kids the same things I learned then what good is the public school system?

Answer 10

Probably because so many people have a negative opinion of them homeschooling their children.