Homeschoolers, have you seen this reviews of the *Horton Hears a Who* movie (re: HS'ing worldview)?

Question

http://www.crosswalk.com/movies/11570710/

This review was posted on one of my HS'ing Yahoo Groups. Take special notice of this comment under "Cautions":

** Worldview: Homeschoolers are narrow-minded, fear-based, fun-and-imagination squelchers.

So, what's your take on the mention of HS'ing? How does it make you feel?

Answer 1

It is disappointing and thanks for the heads-up, we plan on seeing it.  As far as what other options are in the movies, well, this isn't that big of a concern, we'll approach it with discussion.  I would be more disappointed if they took s*x, drugs and nudity into the movie.  

I think the messages of persistance, being able to make a difference as the smallest Who of all, and "A Person's a person, no matter how small,"  will outweigh a comment about pouch schooling.  (Heck my kids hear worse than that at the playground or visiting their grandparents who are totally against homeschooling!)  Remember the Wickersham Brothers are bad news, as well as the Kangaroo and Vlad Vladikoff.  

Unfortunate, but not enough to stop us from going.

Answer 2

I think it is interesting that the entertainment industry sometimes portrays homeschoolers thusly.  Of course you know that it is the public school system that is responsible for stamping out independent thought and instilling government/teachers agendas into the children.   Of course it is a dangerous thing to allow.  Of course people will believe that homeschoolers are religious radicals or illiterates as portrayed on the TV show "The Simpsons".   I am quite greatfull  for the examples of homeschooling shown in the "Astronaut Farmer" or even in that hokey movie with Robin Williams called "RV".    

    You have to wonder, why are they so afraid? Why the attack?  And again you already know the answer.   Homeschooling produces a nonconforming independent thinker.  It is an attack also on Christianity and on basic freedoms.   Why do we have to hand our children over to the government  or to a stranger to indoctrinate on their beliefs?   Hitler was smart.  He needed an obedient population so homeschool had to be abolished to break the tie with the parents archaic way of thinking.   Doesn't anybody read "Animal Farm" anymore?   Who said: "Give me a child when he is seven and he will be mine for life?"

Answer 3

It is an easy target.  Religious and home schoolers are really easy targets.  Rarely do either get a good view in films.  So many misconceptions and Hollywood LOVES to make sure that they stay the main conceptions.

Answer 4

Did you read the whole article? The writer, a homeschooling mother, is cautioning against an incorrect worldview by one of the characters.

In the main article she mentions that it is not a pervasive theme and that other areas of the film are quite inspirational.

I am not a homeshooling mother myself, and I have not yet seen the movie, but I think that the comment would have been aimed at control-freak type parents, rather than the homeschooling population in general.

Answer 5

We actually went and seen this movie today.  They only had one mention of homeschooling when the Kangaroo said "That's Why we pouch school."  Other than that nothing was said.  I found the movie enjoyable.  It really didn't bother us.  If it had been a main part of the movie I might have been upset but it was a very tiny part of it so I just laughed and enjoyed the movie with my boy's.

Answer 6

Since when is Hollywood (or the media) accurate?!

Answer 7

That part of the review was under the "caution" section.

I don't think the review writer decided to slam homeschooling for good measure at the end of the movie review... they were cautioning that this world view was portrayed in the movie somehow.

I haven't seen it, so I can't comment on it's accuracy.

Answer 8

Yep, sick way of saying homeschoolers are intolerant and crazy bigots who are afraid of anyone different.  Every review I have read on the movie had the word intolerant, overprotective, or something to that effect.  I will not support the movie.

Answer 9

I didn't see the review . . . didn't even think to check on a review for a Dr. Seuss book-based movie!  I did see the movie today with my daughter.  And I couldn't even concentrate on the movie due to the antagonist in the film being a "pouch-schooling" mom!  This wasn't just a "mention" on homeschooling.  This was a main character!  The antagonist, being an antagonist, of course, was everything "bad" in the storyline.  Is this how we (homeschooling moms and families) seen to the outside world?  And the funny thing is that the creators of the film obviously don't know any homeschooling moms personally . . . unimaginative??  not creative??

Answer 10

Well......p**p.

My daughter is going to see that movie with a friend today and cannot wait. She's a little let down to find out the bad guy is depicted as a homeschooler. Why did that add that element to the story? Is that necessary?

What is strange is that the attitude of the kangaroo is far more an anti-HS attitude: If I am not acquainted with it, it is bad or does not / should not exist.

Answer 11

We are going to see the movie.  I think that my kids are used to ignorant statements like that.

Answer 12

Um, I haven't read the article yet, but so far I can't figure out for thelife of me what a comment like that has to do with good ol' Horton.

The comment though actually sounds like a description of all the public highschools I've attended and considered attending.

Answer 13

Well, it sounds like a fairly good movie despite that one comment... its too bad they felt the need to throw that in though.

Answer 14

We will see the movie.  I am not too worried about the small mention of homeschooling.

Answer 15

A subtle way of saying homeschoolers are manic crazies, we make an easy target, now if they'd said it about other groups the media would have been screaming. Where is the ACLU???