Answers:
OMG! I know what you mean. I was getting ready to ask this exact same question when I ran across yours. We have decided to homeschool this year, and in doing my research for curricula to use I have been running into soooo much Christian based literature it's not funny. I don't have anything against people who choose to homeschool for religious reasons, I would just like to see some material that doesn't have such a religious bent. Not everyone who chooses to homeschool does so because of religious reasons.
It's because about 70% of homeschoolers in the United States are homeschooled because of religion. Most people homeschool for this reason, so it's assumed that you share this characteristic. Watch Jesus Camp - it's a documentary by Magnolia Films that was released in 2006. This film is about evangelical Christians and shows a family who homeschools their children with textbooks such as "Physical Science and Creationism". The statistic came from this movie, I believe.
people who are unfamiliar with home schooling labor under any number of misconceptions about what motivates it and what it's like.
And some theists assume everyone thinks they way they do.
For the same reason people who know nothing about homeschooling assume we all lock up our kids and they never see other children.
That our kids are all social misfits and have no clue how to live a real life.
There are misconceptions everywhere.
I think many people homeschool not necessarily because of God, but because they are distressed by the lack of academics in the PS system, coupled by the bullying and rampant lack of moral behavior. The movement is growing because schools are reflecting the decline in moral values exhibited by society. We want our children to be well educated and develop a strong enough moral character to survive childhood. I think that is true for Christians and atheists alike, but I think the Christians thought of it first.
The two big issues are religion and socialization and neither have anything to do with reality.
As others here have said, it's because there are in fact a large percentage who do homeschool for religious reasons. When I first started, it was great fun trying to find a secular curriculum (I could find only one), or an inclusive homeschool group (had to start my own).
Just tell people you are not schooling for religious reasons. Perhaps as more people speak up about the reasons they homeschool, religious and otherwise, the stereotype will fade.
Atheist homeschooler since 2000
Well, I am not new to homeschooling, and I am not new to this forum, and I have not seen "so many people that answer" in this way.
Now, I have seen people say that they do homeschool for religious reasons.
And I have seen people say that their inspiration to homeschool came from God.
And I have seen Christian homeschoolers encourage other Christian homeschoolers in their faith.
But, no, I have not seen "so many people" randomly tell others to remember that they homeschool "because of God" nor even discuss their faith-homeschooling connection in a way that it would cause one to tire of it.
And to take it a bit further, every answer that comes to my mind that discusses the faith-homeschooling connection has been a legitimate answer to questions such as "Why do you homeschool" or "How did you get started homeschooling"
Now, outside of this forum, you know in the real world, the only people that I have heard of that assume everyone homeschools for religious reasons are anti or non religious types.
Seems there are stereotypical images on both ends of the spectrum.
I agree with Serena. I too wish there were more curriculum out there without all this christian perspective. I'm currently looking for a science program that is not so hung up on creationism or evolution. I just want the facts, ma'am. I'm not an atheist, but I'm not "religious", I'm spiritual. I actually think we were created and then evolved. Anyway, most everyone I meet also thinks I home school because of God. We live in MT and there is a pretty big home schooling community around here. They are ALL VERY religious.too much for me.
Religious homeschoolers are the ones most often portrayed in movies, TV shows, and News Items. Aside from that, I think statistically there actually are more who homeschool for religious reasons than for other reasons. I am a Christian, and I am thankful that I can buy Christian curriculum, but my faith is not the only reason I homeschool, and had nothing to do with my initial reasons for wanting to homeschool, (I wasn't a Christian yet when I first became interested in it.)
This article contents is post by this website user, EduQnA.com doesn't promise its accuracy.
More Questions & Answers...