The Homeschool Debate Part 2

The second interview

Public Schooler

James:

There was a free public school system so I don’t think we even thought anything of it at the time.

Alexandra: What do you think of home schoolers?

James: Do I look at them funny right away? Yeah, I do.

I first will try and figure out if they're normal.

Does this person have the social skills to make me feel comfortable or will they say something awkward? Am I going to be able to joke with them and be normal or will this be awkward? Will they get the sarcasm? I know it’s a stereotype, but I still wonder… Are they socially up to speed? To be honest the first thing I think is "socially inept."

If I was home schooled I would not have been exposed to a lot of ideas.

I would not have been able to really hewn my love of debate and class discussion. That’s what I thrive on, that’s one of my passions, so having a lot of social interaction was definitely a benefit. I don’t think I would have liked home schooling at all.

Alexandra: Do you feel as though you’ve lost something by going to public school instead of home schooling?

James: Apparently it’s a lot faster to be home schooled and it takes up a lot less of your life. A home schooled friend of mine went to college when she was 17, and she wasn't a super genius or anything.

And another home schooled friend of mine would only be in school for 3 hours a day!

So I feel like public school took a lot more time than was needed, plus home schoolers are like, ridiculously smart!

Most of my home schooled friends were homeschooled because they had a lot of talent and gifts and they wanted to focus all their energy on that. Public school can’t really allow you to do that.

Alexandra: Would you ever consider home schooling your children?

James: It’s a trick question. By asking me if I’d ever consider homeschooling my kids forces me to consider it, which makes the answer “Yes.” Maybe, if my wife is an out of work teacher.

Alexandra: Most homeschool parents aren’t teachers and their children still wind up with grades higher than the national average.

James: It would have to be special circumstances. Like if the schools were bad or if they had a special talent, but I think the benefits of public school out weigh the benefits of home school because a big part of life is meeting people.