The media is at it again. This time ABC Soap Opera One Life to Live is doing a story line where a father (Todd) wants to isolate his daughter 16-year-old daughter (Starr) from her boyfriend and other kids and forces her to homeschool. Todd also cuts off his daughter’s cell phone, internet access and all access to the outside world. He feels that these changes are for is daughters own good and tries to convince her of the same to no avail.
It never ceases to amaze me how the media manages to find ways to control popular opinion. While I would guess that this inclusion of “homeschooling” in the plot of this daytime drama is more an uneducated inspired thought of a writer than a conspiracy of mass media, I am still appalled that it managed to get through all of the channels a script has to get through before it is acted out and put on air.
Of course the irresponsibility of this story line is wrought with more irresponsibility as the character has had unprotected sex at 16, and may be pregnant. (Catching her in the act is what spurred her father’s actions.) I cannot help but wonder what the people watching these stories must think of homeschooling as a result. I also have to ask what planted the thought in the writers mind that homeschooling was nothing more than an impulsive idea from an overzealous father in an unreasonable act of protection of his daughter.
When I came across the story line, the mother was trying to force the father into letting her share in decisions about the girl’s education as she felt homeschooling was a bad idea. In this case, it actually was a very bad idea. Of course, they never got into any of the reasons why a child should not be suddenly forced to homeschool against their will.
*Have a question about homeschooling? Just ask.
* Have you seen the homeschooling curriculum glossary?