Why Are Homeschooled Kids So Annoying?

[PhuturePriest]

Lol, believe it or not, not all of the extracurricular activities that we do are with other homeschoolers. I'm in a theater troupe and have played in a soccer league where I was the only homeschooler for most of my childhood. There's a difference between being sheltered and being unaware. I appreciate my bubble. But I also appreciate my parents who have not shielded me from what the real world is like.

And I've always hated that precedent that public highschool is an accurate representation of what the "real world" is like. Like, really?

 

Blame Winchester for stealing all of my props today.

 

Anyway, this. Exactly this. Not one thing in my entire life has been with a home-schooling or religious group. I do karate, I take singing lessons, I take dancing lessons (For now, anyway. He might kill me soon when he learns I lost my nine thousand notes he made me write), I did boy scouts for five years, etc. Just yesterday I did a private class for a student for an entire hour. He's forty, but I was able to teach him and answer his questions for an hour, which I would love to see the average high schooler do. I did most of the talking, and most high schooled kids I've seen are quiet and shy, and wouldn't teach you a class if you paid them (I'm a Saintly man, so my private lessons are free).

[CrossCuT]

Right, they are socialized with a pre-selected set of individuals and families who fall roughly within an approved ideological, socio-economic et cetera spectrum.  

 

Which is why people think home-schooled kids are weird.  Because it seems like they've grown up in a bubble.  Because they have grown up in a bubble.  That's not necessarily wrong and it doesn't make home schooled kids bad people or anything.  But you can often tell when somebody has been home schooled.  They're often really conservative and really religious, and seem to have trouble relating to people who don't fall within that category.  And that's fine.  If you want to try to ensure that your kids is really religious and conservative then that's fine.  But the idea that there isn't a tradeoff to that is just silly and kind of immature.  Which is the tone that often marks these articles.  "Oh no, home schooled kids aren't different, unless by different you mean 10 gagillion times better than all those non-homeschooled kids lol lol lol!!!"

 

And before anybody attacks me, no.  Public/regular Catholic schools aren't a normative model.  I'm not saying that anybody who wasn't home-schooled is better than anybody who was.  I'm saying that each leaves a kid with different strengths and different weaknesses.   

I think it really depends on each child and how long they have been home schooled during their life.

One could be home schooled all the way through high school and still maintain a  healthy social experience.

But I do agree that home schooling can definitely lead to bubble development.

 

Sometimes bubbles are good things. I've been homeschooled most of my life. I think being sheltered has protected me a lot. But on the other hand, I don't think that it stops me from relating to other people. One of my best friends is a public school kid. Its true that most of the rest of my friends are homeschooled but I think its more because those are the girls I have taken classes with than because I can only make friends with other homeschoolers. At public school kids make their friends with the kids in their classes too.

 

I think that everyone has a certain personality, and that being homeschooled or not doesn't really change your personality much. Maybe if you're homeschooled you will tend to be a little quieter. I know some really shy homeschoolers. However, I also know really shy public schoolers. Personally, I'm really outgoing and talk all the time. I'm homeschooled. I talk to everyone not just homeschoolers. I have a job, and I have made friends with the kids that I work with (who have HORRIBLE morals, but I can still relate to them and talk to them!)

 

But I agree with you. Being homeschooled does not define who you are as a person, and therefore does not make you any better or worse than any other kid on planet. Some homeschoolers are great, some are jerks, some are stupid and never learned anything, and some are brilliant. Same with public school kids. I think it mostly depends on your parents, and how much work they put into your education (for both homeschoolers and public schoolers)

I wouldnt ever want to consider myself "sheltered" as a home schooler and neither should you. It has a negative connotation and the whole idea ruffles my feathers.

 

I have a strong dislike for that mentality where people purposefully SEEK shelter from the world (I am not suggesting that you do). For example, a friend of mine went to Franciscan University so that she could "hide away". Or that town in Florida (Ave Maria?) that considered itself "Catholic Town".

Both ideas to me are awful. As Catholics we should NEVER willfully hide from the world. We need to reach out our arms to others, immerse them in what gives us our joy; our Catholic faith! We need to understand our world so that we are better equipped to defend our morals and our faith against any attacks going on.

We need to be IN this world, but not OF the world.

[GeorgiiMichael]

If you don't homeschool your kids, you're an immodest trollop.

[CrossCuT]

:hehe2:

[Basilisa Marie]

I went to public school all the way through, and am glad of it, because my parish had quality faith formation and youth group, and my high school gave me a lot more opportunities than I would have gotten through homeschooling or attending Catholic schools in my area (band and music education, foreign languages, AP courses, sports, clubs, etc).  As I said, FOR MY AREA.  That's what matters to me - my parents did what they could to make sure I had all the opportunities I needed to succeed. 

 

I know homeschool kids who are Christian and non-Christian.  I know homeschool kids who are unsocialized and perfectly socialized.  I know homeschool kids who are elitist jerks and ones that are kind to others. I know Catholic school kids who are socialized and unsocialized, practicing their faith and not, elitist jerks and kind.  I know public school kids who are properly and improperly socialized, practicing and not practicing a faith, kind and unkind.  What matters is doing what's best for your kids in whatever your individual situation is.  It's totally possible to do all three options the right way and the wrong way, so it's wrong to make assumptions based on what kind of school a kid had.  

 

Do I think Catholic parents have a greater responsibility to make sure their kids aren't little snits, no matter what kind of school they attend?  Yeah. I can't tell you how frustrating it is to go to public school and be treated like a weirdo because you're Catholic, then get treated like second class by your peers at Church because you don't attend Catholic school because THEIR parents go on and on about how Catholic school and homeschool is so much better.  

So TLDR: Do what's best for your situation and your kids, don't assume another's decision is wrong because every situation is unique, and make sure no matter how you're having your kids educated that you teach them to treat everyone kindly. 

Edited May 31, 2013 by Basilisa Marie

[CrossCuT]

Haha funny story...I went to a private catholic high school and 90% of my graduating class were little snits.

 

Doesnt matter where you send them too...if you dont bring them up right they are gonna be snits. I like that word hahahahahah

[BostonMarine]

Whether or not you support homeschooling, whether or not you were homeschooled, the article linked to in the original post is bursting at the seams full of snide, snotty, we're-better-than-you remarks about other forms of education.  The author takes all the worst stereotypes about public or private educational institutions and uses them as a snide ad hominem attack to justify why homeschool education is above reproach.  In fact, the author is villianizing public education in the exact same way she critizes people for villianizing homeschooling.

 

Better they learn what?  That the crowd knows best?  That their interests are boring and a waste of time?  That they need to wear a certain thing and buy a certain thing in order to be worth people’s time?  Better they learn now not to stand up for themselves?

 The suggestion here is that the schools are managed by "the crowd" (implying uninformed, group-think outbursts shape public educational curriculum), that student interests are never catered to (because we all know no school in America has clubs for students to choose from, electives and AP courses, choices of languages, opportunities for student questions or inquiry, or variety of sports), and that the only take-away students get at schools is judgemental cliques which look down on students for their branding of clothing purchases and how to be submissive. 

 

Again, these types of snide remarks by the author that are lathered all over her article are the exact same category of ill-informed generalizations and stereotypes about the school system that she's criticizing people for making about homeschooling.   Not exactly a compelling means to make an argument.

 

 

[Brother Adam]

Right, they are socialized with a pre-selected set of individuals and families who fall roughly within an approved ideological, socio-economic et cetera spectrum.  

 

As opposed to the approved ideology. Which is why home schooling is banned. It doesn't make for good patriots/robots.
 

[Papist]

Whether or not you support homeschooling, whether or not you were homeschooled, the article linked to in the original post is bursting at the seams full of snide, snotty, we're-better-than-you remarks about other forms of education.  The author takes all the worst stereotypes about public or private educational institutions and uses them as a snide ad hominem attack to justify why homeschool education is above reproach.  In fact, the author is villianizing public education in the exact same way she critizes people for villianizing homeschooling.

 

 The suggestion here is that the schools are managed by "the crowd" (implying uninformed, group-think outbursts shape public educational curriculum), that student interests are never catered to (because we all know no school in America has clubs for students to choose from, electives and AP courses, choices of languages, opportunities for student questions or inquiry, or variety of sports), and that the only take-away students get at schools is judgemental cliques which look down on students for their branding of clothing purchases and how to be submissive. 

 

Again, these types of snide remarks by the author that are lathered all over her article are the exact same category of ill-informed generalizations and stereotypes about the school system that she's criticizing people for making about homeschooling.   Not exactly a compelling means to make an argument.

 

I don't see how you got that. She is commenting on the questions she received from others when she started considering pulling her kids out of public school.

[Tufsoles]

I think the homeschool/ socialization issue really depends on the situation. I have found that many HS kids are fine socially.

[4588686]

As opposed to the approved ideology. Which is why home schooling is banned. It doesn't make for good patriots/robots.
 

 

 

Homeschooling isn't banned.  But your contemptuous disposition of kids who aren't homeschooled is a good example of the attitude that BostonMarine identified.  I did NOT say that sending your kids to public school is right and homeschooling is wrong.  I don't think that it is wrong to homeschool your kids.  I don't think that my parents made the wrong decision in sending me to Catholic school.  What I said was that the insecurity which leads some defenders of homeschooling to proclaim that there are no negative side-effects to homeschooling is immature.  There are negative side effects to not homeschooling as well.  It's a tradeoff.  

 

I love how all the right wingers of this board are now trying to imply that I'm the jingoist.  Unlike many of the newly minted libertarians on the right I didn't just start opposing US chauvinism and nationalism once a black man with a Muslimy name got into power.  

[4588686]

As opposed to the approved ideology. Which is why home schooling is banned. It doesn't make for good patriots/robots.
 

 

 

Homeschooling isn't banned.  But your contemptuous disposition of kids who aren't homeschooled is a good example of the attitude that BostonMarine identified.  I did NOT say that sending your kids to public school is right and homeschooling is wrong.  I don't think that it is wrong to homeschool your kids.  I don't think that my parents made the wrong decision in sending me to Catholic school.  What I said was that the insecurity which leads some defenders of homeschooling to proclaim that there are no negative side-effects to homeschooling is immature.  There are negative side effects to not homeschooling as well.  It's a tradeoff.  

 

I love how all the right wingers of this board are now trying to imply that I'm the jingoist.  Unlike many of the newly minted libertarians on the right I didn't just start opposing US chauvinism and nationalism once a black man with a Muslimy name got into power.  

[Guest Allie]

I was homeschooled until 9th grade and it worked for me. There were times it was quite interesting to be the only girl with 3 brothers. I have a great pitching arm.

[missionseeker]

Oh my word. The comments are horrendous. As a former homeschool, i am ashamed

[missionseeker]

I'm not homeschooled, but I did go to events as a kid where I was a PS kid and encountered homeschool kids in life and in college.    They can be annoying but not for why this mom is saying...perhaps for the reason this mom is saying.  

 

They are annoying because they don't know how to be board...going to a concert event they don't know how to sit and wait without complaining or hoping mommy will make it go faster or pulls some magic math flashcards out of her purse.

 

They are annoying because they think that they are better educated than public school kids (and even private school kids).  My family cared about education.  I doubt I could of gotten a better one.  Yet, I went to a "mainstream" school and learned from regular school books, I wound up in AP classes and worked hard.  We went on historical or science vacations.  I did well in college (though I didn't read the paper about the extra long sheets and a few other things) but that's average.

 

 

They are annoying because their interests supersede the needs of others.  I learned SO much from my classmates.  I learned to be interested in their interests.  Yes, I had my own interests and that was what non-school hours were for when I was young (besides art and those types of classes) and in highschool when I could do a bit more on my own.  I learned about so many things that I wouldn't of even if I had a few siblings to mix my interest.  

The fact that you say could of is proof that you could have gotten a better education. 

 

I think it really depends on each child and how long they have been home schooled during their life.

One could be home schooled all the way through high school and still maintain a  healthy social experience.

But I do agree that home schooling can definitely lead to bubble development.

 

I wouldnt ever want to consider myself "sheltered" as a home schooler and neither should you. It has a negative connotation and the whole idea ruffles my feathers.

 

I have a strong dislike for that mentality where people purposefully SEEK shelter from the world (I am not suggesting that you do). For example, a friend of mine went to Franciscan University so that she could "hide away". Or that town in Florida (Ave Maria?) that considered itself "Catholic Town".

Both ideas to me are awful. As Catholics we should NEVER willfully hide from the world. We need to reach out our arms to others, immerse them in what gives us our joy; our Catholic faith! We need to understand our world so that we are better equipped to defend our morals and our faith against any attacks going on.

We need to be IN this world, but not OF the world.

 

 

Ave Maria is a town. There are lots of non-Catholics living in it. It has its quirks (especially since most of the people are pretty wealthy, so they come of as pretentious snobs) but it's not hiding from the world. There's lots of world right there in it. It has pot farmers and alcoholics and good people and horrendous people, just like anywhere else. It also has an intense University and a massive church at the center of the town. Also like a lot of other places. Mostly renaissance ones, though.