On Wednesday morning, the morning after Barack Obama was declared the Presidential Elect, students in local schools (near me) were targeting for wearing Obama Memorabilia. Students reported being sent to detention as they got off the bus for wearing Obama t-shirts. They reported being threatened with knives. They report having political buttons ripped off their shirts.
This might be hard to fathom, but I live in the Bible Belt where sentiment against Obama was strong. My family however, and many others do not agree with the local majority. I would be terrified to send my child into a school where people were angry about the presidential choice to the point of violence.
This is not to say that we are not immune to the hostility. It just so happened that my son spent the week at a Christian College at an academic competition, and as our family was at home celebrating, those around him were groaning and resigning themselves to end times. When I picked him up, I asked how he handled that environment, and he said that people were sad, but polite enough. He did, however had to listen to the college student he was staying with talk well past lights out about how Obama’s socialism would ruin the country. Nevertheless, he never felt physically in danger like many students in local schools do right now.
Of course, the atmosphere in public schools is just a symptom of the atmosphere outside the schools. I have felt myself being seriously pressed upon and even felt a bit of hostility just based on suspicion of who I was voting for. The reason, I gather, the situation is schools is worse than on the street is the whole socialization aspect which is such an important part of public education. You know, how students who don’t agree with or act like others are coerced into submitting to the values of the crowd.
I do have to say that this is not the atmosphere at all schools, at least not where the administration makes it a point to teach respect for the political process. Check out this YouTube video on how the kids from Ron Clark Academy in South Atlanta handle political squabbles.
Other reasons I am glad we homeschool
*Have a question about homeschooling? Just ask.
* Have you seen the homeschooling curriculum glossary?