Jun 26, 2001 06:34 AM
4757 Views
I get that response alot, accompanied by the person drawing back as if I'm some contagious disease. Yes, I've been homeschooled all my life, except for preschool and my freshman year. I would not trade it for anything, because it is a precious experience. I have had the advantage of being homeschooled and going to a public school. There are ups and downs to both.
MYTH
Homeschooled kids are sheltered, asocial, weird introverts with paranoid parents going against the government. They have poor hygiene, they're shy, they're behind in the times and they don't brush their hair.
TRUTH
I've personally known many, many kids who were homeschooled and were outgoing, sociable, fun people, and were highly involved in their community. The public school is not the only insitutution for teens. There's plenty of organizations kids can get into sans public school, such as 4-H, The YMCA, summer sports leagues, jobs, and churches. Some homeschooled kids do personify the myth of asocial kids, but I believe the majority are involved in their community, and are friends with kids who are in public school. They do not stand out in a crowd, you can't automatically pick them out of a lineup because they are as normal and social and diverse as any other kid.
Academically, homeschooled kids on the average do above average. I get to schedule my day the way I want to, I get enough sleep and no undue stress is put on me. I help pick my curriculum. I go to parties and hang out with friends and I have fun.
I still get those people who stereotype me automatically, I still get those people who don't know what to say to me or how to treat me, but the truth is, I don't want to be treated different than any other teen, I'm still a person with feelings, thoughts, needs and desires. So if you should ever meet a homeschooler, don't run away, don't get out your bug spray, just talk to us. The neatest people I have met have been homeschooled. For instance, me.
