(Virginia) Senate panel kills 'Tebow bill' - homeschoolers NOT allowed on public school sports teams

[Bluerthanblue]

163. well, that is your experience-

mine, it quite different.
I've known over 40 home schooling families whose reasons were far more diverse than I'd ever have thought- but every single one of those who were 'fundementalist christians' made it quite clear that they were home schooling mainly because of their religious convictions.
I home schooled my oldest child from '87-2000. In the begining, I know a couple of families who cited 'religious' reasons even though they were not overtly religious because at that time permission to home school had to be given by local school districts, and you either had to make a case that there was a "manifest educational hardship" to your child attending school- which could be somewhat daunting- but claiming 'religious conviction' was not heavily scrutinized.

It's pretty difficult for those who are home schooling to be seen as anything but a religious wing-nut who wears denim jumpers, doesn't allow their children to watch tv, experience the world, think for themselves, question authority, or be 'normal' (whatever that is) given the oppressive stereotype that 'christian home schoolers' have managed to bring to the group.

That is part of why I've been so insistant to point out that there ARE progressive, democrats who home school. They aren't on the fringe of the group, but in many cases they are the back-bone. John Holt was hardly a religious wing-nut, and he motivated many of the first home educators- including those who introduced my family to the concept.

Sorry to be so persistant on this issue. Even though I haven't homeschooled in years, and my youngest attends public school, I have to speak out for those families who are anything BUT the religious zealots that most people think of when they imagine "home school". They don't deserve to be judged by the radical elements of the group.