Considering Homeschooling, a pro-homeschooling (read anti-public school) organization has shamefully exploited the tragic deaths of children in the recent school shootings. They issued a statement claiming the organization “Grieves with America.” They also said the organization “asks that everyone pray for the families of the victims killed and wounded in the three school shootings this week.”
Sounds good, right? Oh wait, here comes the catch. The statement then added:
Why not just issue a statement saying you grieve and nothing more? Actually, why issue the statement at all? Must we prove we are holy by publicly claiming to be grieving? Why not grieve and pray in private? Isn’t that what Jesus told us to do? Oh wait, then they could not issue their call for homeschooling. Thus, their real purpose was not to offer sympathy but to (mis)use this tragedy. What great values to teach kids!
Sounds good, right? Oh wait, here comes the catch. The statement then added:
Considering Homeschooling believes parents must take extraordinary measures to protect their children under the current circumstances and urges all Christian parents who can create a safe, loving, Christ-centered home to consider homeschooling their children today.Considering Homeschooling decided to (mis)use these tragedies to further their own agenda. How shameful! As parents are still grieving and some children are still fighting for their lives this organization is trying to figure out how to spin it. Instead of homeschooling, maybe they should consider tack, sincerity, and respect.
Why not just issue a statement saying you grieve and nothing more? Actually, why issue the statement at all? Must we prove we are holy by publicly claiming to be grieving? Why not grieve and pray in private? Isn’t that what Jesus told us to do? Oh wait, then they could not issue their call for homeschooling. Thus, their real purpose was not to offer sympathy but to (mis)use this tragedy. What great values to teach kids!
I have only recently started reading this blog, and never commented. But this blog entry really upset me.
ReplyDeleteI am a long time homeschooler (19 years) and am getting fed up with staements like these. There are many who homeschool for many different reasons (and btw, not all are even Christians). I guess you could say I have the same reaction when those on the religous right claim that they are speaking for Christians, as if their views were the only ones that matter.
It is getting harder to identify myself as a Christian or a homeschooler, because I don't want others to judge me by what these so-called "leaders" say.
Dana
Dana: Thanks for the comment. I appreciate that you point out that groups like Considering Homeschooling do not accurately represent all who homeschoole—they probably do not even represent very many. Likewise—and sadly—many Christian leaders express ideas that many Christians do not agree with.
ReplyDeleteThere are lots of good people who homeschool, just as there are lots of good people who send their kids to public schools. The problem comes when someone judges those who choose the other option.
Actions like this is one of the reasons I helped my family escape from homeschooling. It was very difficult to find a homeschool organization in our area that was not controlled by a cluster of authoritarian, right-wing, almost anti-benevolent christians. It was hard for me, as a Christian, to tolerate such narrow-mindedness in a supposedly educational context. Yes, the group was open to Christians and non-Christians alike, but even if you were not a certain type of Christian you were shunned. It was clear that proselytizing and exclusivity took priority over education.
ReplyDeletenotthesun,
ReplyDeleteI also meant to say that I am sorry that there were not others like minded for you to join with. We have been fortunate over the years to have been able to avoid the kind of groups that you mention.
Dana
NotTheSun and Dana: Thanks for your comments! You both add important perspectives to this issue. We need more discussions like this.
ReplyDelete