I'm going to get interviewed about homeschooling later, and I'd like your help.?

Question

I live in NY and every year around this time, Columbia journalism students have projects to do. Sometimes they get education, so they end up coming to my homeschooling group.

Teenaged homeschooling doesn't get that much attention, and when it does, it's because of some supergenius who got a perfect SAT score and other c**p like that.

The thing is, I'm not entirely sure how to handle this. I've been interviewed before, and everything I said was taken out of context. I know that at some point, the journalist has the story he or she is going to tell and there's nothing I can do about that, but I want to send the right message.

I'm an unschooler and not religious, but I prefer a somewhat more regimented way of doing things and am interested in religion. I'm also a libertarian and an introvert, so I'm kind of a complete fringe case.

What can I do to send the right message? Any advice at all would be helpful.

My mom is really chatty and tends to get excited, so past interviews have been

Answer 1

The first thing, which is not about homeschooling in particular, is to practice, practice, practice. Start talking to yourself (quietly, so you don't feel silly) about your thoughts. Imagine questions the reported might ask and say *out loud* what your answer might be. You'd be amazed at how often we stumble over even questions we think we know the answers to.

Write down a few points you want to make sure the reporter understands. In your case, you should probably include the fact that many people have misconceptions about homeschooling, either thinking it is only for supergeniuses or the super religious but that you find that it is a good alternative that ordinary kids can take advantage of. The reporter (if he or she is good at his/her job), will ask you something along the line of "any final thoughts?" or "anything you want people to know?" at the end of the interview. This is a good time to hit on the things you have written down. If he/she doesn't ask, you can still say right before you get off, "Y'know, there is one more thing that I think is a really important point..." then say your point.

Make sure you are alone in a room and not doing anything else other than focusing on this interview (and if your mom tries to come it, just tell her calmly that she gets so excited it is distracting...you'll tell her about it when you are done--then follow through). Have your notes out, have a comfortable place to sit, and do some deep breathing before you start so you will be less nervous (if your body is calmed down, your brain thinks there is nothing to worry about).

As for homeschooling itself, here are some points you may want or may not want to hit upon, depending on how much you agree:

-Everyone knows that homeschooling works for the kids who are gifted or who have special needs, but people forget or don't realize that ordinary kids can benefit

-Many times people compare the best-case scenario of a public school with the worst-case scenario of homeschool, and that is not a fair comparison

-Even good public (and private) schools suffer from the fact that there is a whole classroom of kids who all need to be taught the same thing at the same time, based on age. Why do we think that that is a good strategy, especially when, in the rest of life, we acknowledge that people are individuals with unique abilities and challenges?

-Socialization is always the first thing people ask about, but it is not a real problem because (explain your reasons). And most people only think it is a problem because they fall into the trap of believing there is only one way to do things.

-Think of other misconceptions you are forced to confront, and tell the reporter about them. You will be less likely to have them taken out of context if you say something like "You wouldn't believe the number of completely ridiculous/misinformed things people say/think about homeschooling. Like X, can you imagine something so silly? I have to respond by explaining that Y+Z...which, if they took the time to think about it/do research on it, would be obvious." (The reason you are doing this is that the reporter doesn't want to seem uneducated, and if a 15-year-old kid thinks it is a silly comment, the readers might think he/she is uninformed.)

-Talk about interactions with friends who go to regular school. It will normalize you as well as give you the opportunity to point out "They go to school 6 hours a day, have another 4 hours of homework a night (or whatever it is...be accurate) and they aren't learning anymore than I am. What are they spending all that time doing? Not to mention the fact that they don't enjoy it as much. What is the point?"

To avoid getting taken out of context, talk about the 'normal' things rather than something weird that the reporter might latch onto. The unusual things are more interesting, so might overshadow the boring "No, really, I'm just like everyone else".

Try to think about all of the questions the reporter could ask. If you get flustered by a question, you are more likely to say something that sounds weird out of context.

I'm not sure about this next one, but it is an idea I had: if you have the ability, ask the reporter if you could tape it too, since your friends wanted to hear what an interview sounds like. Put like that, the reporter will feel weird about saying 'no' (especially since he is taping you), but it can act as a subtle reminder that he could be held to account.

Good luck!

Answer 2

I have been homeschooling for almost 10 years and have been interviewed several times. I never EVER give an interview on the phone. NEVER.  I will answer questions they send me in WRITING only. That way they cannot twist my words and I have time to give a well thought out answer.  

Just my two cents.  

Good luck

Answer 3

I expect they will quote you out of context anyway, so you might as well make money from it.  

a)  You are now a consultant, and will not talk to them unless they pay you.

b)  You write a book, article, etc. and whenever they interview you, you *at least* get publicity for your product.  

If your Mother will not leave you alone, maybe let her deal with them directly, or set up a meet with the students that she does not know about.  Let them buy you a meal.  

As I understand recent "journalism" in the US, especially inregards to politics, they may want you to spoon-feed them a bunch of facts and figures which they can quote in their article.  They probably want at least one conflicting opinion for everything, so that their reporting can have "balance".  Most likely, your statements will be "correct" if they are conservative, and offend the fewest of their existing advertisers.  (Students may not know this if they are not actually writing for a corporation)

Answer 4

Just be yourself.  You come across as a bright and intelligent person, and I'm sure you'll do just fine.

Answer 5

Why the h**l not.

Answer 6

The points you highlighted are:

Homeschoolers come in all different flavors.

They come from all types of religious (or unreligious) backgrounds.  It's news to most people that there are homeschoolers who aren't religious fundamentalists, but most people in the US homeschool for reasons other than religious ones.

Homeschoolers, like other kids, have different interests and ability levels. The stereotype of "homeschooling genius spelling bee champ" obscures the truth of that.

Homeschoolers study from all different sources. Some use a packaged curriculum, some unschool. This is similar to learning that goes on at other stages of life.

These are the points you made. You ARE representative of homeschooling, of your homeschooling. And you picked a fine research method, btw. Emminently suitable for this type of question.

Don't worry. You'll be fine. You're a data point, and you're not responsible for the whole ball of wax, homeschool PR wise. ;o)