“Homeschoolers are weird”

[Anonymous]

Where does the “homeschoolers are weird” trope come from? Most of the homeschoolers I have met are intelligent and interesting, and have unique passions.

[Anonymous]

They are mostly awkward and lack basic social skills and cues.

[Anonymous]

I suppose the stereotype is either religious fundamentalist or special needs.

I considered homeschooling my oldest with autism and ADHD, but he ended up doing well in his public school, with an IEP and tutoring.

All the homeschooled kids I know are more social than my oldest. He just doesn't want friends, and that wouldn't have changed in a homeschooled environment.

[Anonymous]

Probably from the people who are threatened by any better alternative to the failing public education system.

The only people I know who are staunchly against school choice and homeschooling are democrats/pro-school unions and very defensive when any of those topics or policies are mentioned. Any “threat” or perceived threat to public school is insulted or shot down as an “attack on our education system”. Their jobs are at stake if fewer students go to school. https://cei.org/blog/homeschooling-growth-worries-teachers-unions/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Probably from the people who are threatened by any better alternative to the failing public education system.

The only people I know who are staunchly against school choice and homeschooling are democrats/pro-school unions and very defensive when any of those topics or policies are mentioned. Any “threat” or perceived threat to public school is insulted or shot down as an “attack on our education system”. Their jobs are at stake if fewer students go to school. https://cei.org/blog/homeschooling-growth-worries-teachers-unions/

Most people I know who homeschool are liberal progressives, pro-union, who wanted to like public school but found their kids had other plans.

The one non-Democrat I know who homeschools isn't Republican. He's Independent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Probably from the people who are threatened by any better alternative to the failing public education system.

The only people I know who are staunchly against school choice and homeschooling are democrats/pro-school unions and very defensive when any of those topics or policies are mentioned. Any “threat” or perceived threat to public school is insulted or shot down as an “attack on our education system”. Their jobs are at stake if fewer students go to school. https://cei.org/blog/homeschooling-growth-worries-teachers-unions/

Most people I know who homeschool are liberal progressives, pro-union, who wanted to like public school but found their kids had other plans.

The one non-Democrat I know who homeschools isn't Republican. He's Independent.

This is our experience. But then, we have a few good friends who homeschool so we are a lot less ignorant about who homeschools and why than a lot of people. Funny, they and their homeschooling friends are mostly Dems and independents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Where does the “homeschoolers are weird” trope come from? Most of the homeschoolers I have met are intelligent and interesting, and have unique passions.

"Unique and interesting" kids in public school are also often considered weird - the theater kids or the band kids or whatever. Different = weird to kids today and back in our day too, no matter how unfair that seems.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Where does the “homeschoolers are weird” trope come from? Most of the homeschoolers I have met are intelligent and interesting, and have unique passions.

It comes from ignorance. Or envy, because their government-schooled kid isn’t reading at grade level.

[Anonymous]

They were sheltered and sorta weird back in the 90s. It was fundamentalist religious types who did it.
It’s much more mainstream and normal now.

[Anonymous]

Most people who we know who do it are either very religious or school didn't work for their kid... both fit into the stereotype in many cases.

[Anonymous]

I don't know, but homeschoolers ARE weird. I've known several throughout a few different states and over the last few decades. Funny how adults sometimes find them lovely, but they can't get along with other kids their age for anything.

[Anonymous]

I have cousins who were homeschooled. One runs political campaigns. One is an engineering PhD running food security programs at an international NGO. Not at all weird. But you keep holding onto that stereotype.

[Anonymous]

They’re generally quirky because of an alternative lifestyle different than the vast majority of people in the world. That’s fine, as long as their quirkiness doesn’t interfere with their social and emotional skills when they’re interacting with “mainstream” peers. Same with only children, oldest kids in huge families, neurodivergent kids, etc etc. The world needs quirky people as long as they’re no TOO quirky for the world.

[Anonymous]

Homeschooling is typically based on zealous religion beliefs

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They’re generally quirky because of an alternative lifestyle different than the vast majority of people in the world. That’s fine, as long as their quirkiness doesn’t interfere with their social and emotional skills when they’re interacting with “mainstream” peers. Same with only children, oldest kids in huge families, neurodivergent kids, etc etc. The world needs quirky people as long as they’re no TOO quirky for the world.

To add, I have a quirky kid as well. The faster you can move on from being defensive about your kids’ differences, the better you can parent them to be their quirky selves and successful humans in the world. Different isn’t the same as bad.