Because my son and I share this blog I will need to keep my
colorful vocabulary to myself. However, over at Cracked Chronicles…it’s on like
Donkey Kong.
Last night, an old acquaintance posted a question on her
facebook page about online high school classes. At first I thought she truly
wanted feedback about the topic so I responded with my usual statement that
each family is different and with the variety of homeschool online classes her
daughter would have a range of educational lessons at the tips of her fingers.
Immediately her friends disregarded my statement and through
out statements of “kids need structure, they find that at school” After reading
that I soon discovered that SHE
wanted to show her daughter that HER friends
found online classes unproductive.
I disagreed with the structure comment because let’s think
about that word for a moment. People believe that structure means discipline or order. The definition is building
upon elements, arranging them in a way that is cohesive. In a sociology aspect
it’s about relationships, forming bonds with others. Of course, that pushes the
word socialization into the mix.
That word is a homeschoolers toilet paper. People say it us,
we wipe it, and flush it away because in most cases it's presented in a negative tone, “Aren’t you
concerned that your son won’t have that high school experience?” “What about
friends? Prom? Football games? Homecoming?”
I have to tell you the truth. You may want to sit down but…
Homeschool organizations have all of that and more!
GASP! I know, shocking. We also don't drive covered wagons.
After walking away from the conversation last night I
mistakenly looked at it this morning and this fabulous piece of ignorance
slapped me right in the face and fell into my coffee, “Home school is for quitters. It's important for kids to be in
the social environment even if they don't like it. It teaches them
responsibility. Buck up and get er done. Then go off to college…."
First,
he used the term “get er done.”
Do
I need to go further? Really?
I
would love to have him say those words to my child when he was bullied and
humiliated at school. You are right. We quit. We quit the joke that is called
the public school system in St. Lucie County, Florida five years ago. Last time I checked bullying
isn’t socialization and it sure didn’t teach responsibility as my son was left
behind from his class and wandered the outdoor halls alone for five minutes. Did I mention he was 8 at the time.
You
know who says statements like that above, people who don’t have a clue about education or
life. Their adult existence is stuck in high school. They are concerned about
social status, the family next door who purchased the new boat, snowmobile, and
four-wheeler and how can his family up that because no one can have more than him.
That is the same person who believes Autism is contagious and that my son is
hermit locked beneath the stairs, shunned by society for being different.
Ignorance
is contagious.
As
he spewed it on her page others praised him. It actually made my stomach turn
and I unfriended her because I can’t have that negativity anywhere near me.
I
wanted to respond to his comment. But I didn’t because it would have erupted
into a school yard brawl with me getting the punches and "my" friend would watch
near the swings because those people are popular, they are in her life and have
been since high school. What would it have accomplished? Nothing. His mind was
made up. So, I quit her page and her daughter’s page.
I
value others opinions—I do and I enjoy a good debate but with every opinion and every debate you must present facts. I have an opinion on many things but I also have some
kind of understanding or facts to back my opinion. I don’t frolic around the
land of Say-Whatever-I-Want-Without-Consequences. That’s ignorant.
All
right, I’ve spent enough time on this topic and gave that guy too much of my breath and time. Let me end my post with this...
When
my son has created a wormhole, travels through it, discovers the cure for some
disease from a planet, in a galaxy (far, far, away) brings it back to
earth and helps millions I will make sure Logan gives a shout to the man who
called him a quitter because that name is etched into my brain.
Just
as Linda, Logan's daycare provider said to me back in Sioux Falls when he was little, “Your son is lazy
that’s why he isn’t walking yet.”
That
wasn’t why. Logan was sick. Very sick and his illness deteriorated his muscle
tone. And by the grace of God and Logan’s determination he surprised his
doctors and took his first unaided steps one week after his two-year old
birthday.
Be
careful who you condemn because they maybe your savior one day.
