Are homeschoolers raising close-minded, bigoted children?

Question

I was recently accused of doing such a thing. I was shocked.

I see the current PS system promoting ageism and a type of "caste system" where children are segreated according to exact age and socio-economic background.

This period of time is the ONLY time in our lives that we are expected to function within a group of 20-30+ people from the same exact age, social and economic background.

My children couldn't care less what grade/age their friends are, brand of clothing they wear, color of skin, what type of 'gadgetry' they own or what house or car their parents have.

I have personally witnessed a multitude of friendships between homeschooled children with an incrediblely diverse background -- whether that is age, race, physical ability, social/economic, or religious.

Do you feel that as homeschoolers, in general, we are raising close-minded, bigoted children? It seems to me they are more likely to come from within the public school system.

Any research on this?

Answer 1

If it wasn't so insulting it would almost be funny because isn't it rather closed-minded and bigoted to make such an accusation with no evidence at all?

Answer 2

I think public school students seem to be more close minded.  My children don't even seem to consider age, race or economic status when playing with other children.  Public school socialization can be extremely negative and seems to create a mindset where children can only associate with those who are exactly like them, right down to clothing style and mannerisms.  It is sad.

Here's more info on the subject:

http://www.successful-homeschooling.com/...

It doesn't sound to me like you're doing anything wrong.

Answer 3

No I would say they r raising children who aren't able to experience as much diversity.  Some probably are narrow minded but there r many of narrow minded public schoolers as well.  The thing i like about public school is usually u are forced into an environment with people from the same region but different levels of income and different political views.

I think it's beneficial for children to experience diversity!  It helps them grow as a person! I know every1 is going to hate me for saying it but my public school education was better than any homeschoolers education! =)  My dad is a lobbyist and when I have brought up this topic with him on past occasions and he always tells me this "who has ever heard of a homeschooled politician or CEO?"

Learning to deal with people is key to success in life!  U need to be flexible enough to express your opinion in a way that is acceptable! Either that or hide it!  Not every1 believes the way u do!  Oh by the way don't go critiquing something trivial like grammar or spelling in my post!  My dad lobbys in sacramento and DC yet he probably can't write a 12th grade paper or do algebra!  YET HE HAS A BA DEGREE??? IMAGINE THAT!  books can't teach u very much!  The real world experience is wat teaches u! that is everything in nlife!

Oh don't tell me about famous homeschoolers that died 200 years ago either!

Answer 4

No, I think it is the exact oppisite. My children are more open-minded then the children we know.

Answer 5

Many (not all) homeschoolers are Christian.  The secular humanists who run the public school system are threatened by this since they can't brainwash those children.  Actually, an educational "thought leader" by the name of Reich actually opposes homeschooling because the children won't learn the values/morals/ethics of people other than their parents.  As if parents are incapable of conveying these to their own children.  It's frightening that it was once presumed that parents would convey such info to their children.  Now this is something  for society to be concerned about.

Answer 6

this brought up something kind of funny in my life (more my brothers) this public school my brother goes to is about 40% Asian and in his school the Asians and whites do not sit together except for my brother (he has mostly Asian friends). he as even been called the whites Asian in the school (he has no Asian in him), because he hangs with all the Asians.

Answer 7

well

Im homeschooled

and I can say personally that its rediculous to think i have an issue with what a person wears or looks like.

I think that you are right in saying that it seems to come more from the public school system. I went to public school for about onbe semester my freshman year, and it was insane how socially biased everyone was.

I think as a homeschooled kid, Im definatly open to new things and new ideas, probably more so than public school kids, and im definatly not bigoted.

Answer 8

People who know homeschoolers know that this stereotype isn't typically true. Obviously, there are some cases of bigotry everywhere, but it is no more common with HS than anywhere else.

The bigger problem with PS isn't what you identify. Instead, it is that the dominant influence in children's life becomes other children (who in turn socialize each other into all sorts of negative behaviors). HS children get the opportunitiy to connect with people more broadly. They also get personalized attention from a teacher that knows them well and is incredibly committed to them. (I've always thought it was the upmost hypocrisy for PS to advocate the benefits of small class size and then turn on HSers who have the smallest class size).

Answer 9

We, as home schooling parents, teach our children to look beyond anything and everything and see each person as a human, an individual regardless of who or what they are. Not to judge by race, physical status, emotional, s*x, religion, or economic status.

We are proud to say that we have succeeded very well in this area.

Answer 10

I don't know of any research.  I homeschool and have public schooled children.   I do know that the public school has been teaching one sided political biases in several schools that I know of.   Controversial issues are covered from one point only.  I have seen children used to promote ideas that the teachers/government desire.  I saw a newspaper photograph of my child, on  a school day with his class holding up a sign that they all wanted a certain athletic event brought to our town.  I never approved of my child being used for advertising causes I did not believe in.  

   I have had 45 years and three generations watching the public school teach issues to children.  My husband had to read "In Cold Blood" and discuss how awful the death penalty was for the poor murderers in the story, shortly after that capital punishment was abolished.

   My grade 8 son was given complete and thorough information about the intimate details of the female sexual response and handed condoms.  (I guess the condoms were a good idea because they had to build a nursery in the school for all the babies)  By grade 12 they had received visits from one only political party, had speakers from one side only of controversial government policies, had pockets full of condoms and the directions to the nearest needle exchange facility.  They were repeatedly pulled out of class to watch the football games.  By grade 12 they could barely read or write.  All my concerns about the lack of academic progress were brushed off, all the way through school.  By the end, they were still brushed off.  I was told that if my kid couldn't do the basic math and writing I could send him to the community college.  Not a problem at all.  Not a hint of concern.

   That is why I am homeschooling now.  By grade 3 my HS kids had exceeded my PS kids academically and I won't have them getting brainwashed by the teachers biases.  

    Yes I probably teach my own biases; I try not to.   But when my daughter can study an issue and come to a different conclusion than I do, I don't punish or ridicule her like they did me when I was a student.   I congratulate her for being capable of studying all sources she can find and being capable of independent thought.

Answer 11

I think as a home school mom that I am giving them more of a chance to open their eyes. I vividly remember the lectures on how to use a condom (s*x ed) and being given them. I remember the "science" lessons that basically told us we were stupid if we believe in creation (even though it was World History and no a science class). The teachers who wanted to hear nothing that challenged the text books. It was in the book it MUST be a fact! We were encouraged to ask questions to challenge everything but if you did you were ignored or made to look dumb in front of your "peers" who would then tease unmercifully.

Home schoolers can cover controversial issues on both sides. We can teach evolution and intelligent design. The strong points and faults of both and we'll do it during science and not history.



We can help our children develop meaningful friendships with others their age. We can teach them to be friends with any race, creed, or difference there is between them. my kids are friend with children who are in wheel chairs and adults who are mentally disabled. They are in groups that have a diverse set of people. My daughters girl scout group has a Jewish family and a Muslim family, there are people of a few different races. Does it stop her from being friends with them? NO!

Does raising them with our personal values and morals make them close minded? I think raising them with hatred and lies makes them closed minded. Does teaching them the Bible make them bigoted? I don't think so. I think teaching them to say one thing and do another raises them to be bigoted.

As far as research on this I don't know of any. I think people are going to say what they think. It doesn't matter if they have facts or not. In some peoples minds their opinion is the only one that counts and there for must be fact!

Answer 12

I think it depends on their teachers you have to remember that a home-schooled child’s teacher is most commonly their parents and not every adult has the common since to raise their child with respect and equality.  My children for instance join a couple of my friends' children who are also being homes-schooled.  My friends both have children of different ages, their race and religion is different, and gender of my children and theirs differ, but neither mine, nor my friends children could care less when interacting with each other.  It would be an interesting sociological study to see done, but would have to be one that spans generations.  

I do know that I was home-schooled and it has helped me in the workforce when interacting with various ages, races, and religions as I could care less of what makes them different as long as they’re decent, respectful adults (and even sometimes then I can deal with them if they’re not).  It also seems to me that our children are hopefully growing up a bit wiser and less prejudice than our parents, and past generations have, it’s nice to see.

Answer 13

I've never heard it other than Y/A, though it seems to be a common stereotype here.  

I doubt there has been any research done on this topic.  

From my experience bigoted parents raise bigoted children,  and I've known many more in public schools than homeschool.  

I had a coworker once who thought that there was more prejudice amongst education majors than the general college population.  She was doing research on that (for her PhD) but, I never did hear the results.  

I try to encourage my kids to be open minded, and sometimes they need to remind me.  It does suck to be judged by people who don't even know me.  

:D

Answer 14

Jealousy.  People are afraid of what they don't know.  When I first came across home schooled groups in the UK in 1999, I was told that recent research had suggested that in their average they out performed the average of those educated in normal schools.  Which I found disconcerting (as a teacher)!  here's a link to an article with some positive figures http://social.jrank.org/pages/976/School...

Answer 15

The children will probably be more inclined to think like their parents than other children. If a parent were a hater they could raise hateful children. Part of the reason many homeschool is to give kids family values instead of school values. If the parents have messed up values so might the children, if the parents have good values the children might also.

I am pretty sure if you did care about other people's color and possessions the kids would too.

There are plenty of public school children who are just like your kids and plenty of home schooled kids who are nothing like yours.

If I had children and didn't work full time I would probably home school both because I think it is more efficient use of the child's time and so the school system couldn't brain wash them. Schools waste a lot of time, transportation time, waiting time and studying things that don't matter to everyone, or waiting for the teacher to finish helping other children. I am not  Christian and many private schools try instill the belief in God and public schools are too liberal.

Answer 16

Don't worry about it.

People often just don't get it - or they fall victim to the idea that homechool kids sit around the kitchen table all day.

What we usually get is "How is she going to learn math???"

The best kind of reading I recommend for such folks is John Gatto.

Answer 17

Not my homeschoooled kid. I do not know what goes on in other homes or what their children are taught. Noe should I know such things. It is a free country.