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How to Be a Beekeeper (ESPN.com takes swipe at homeschooled Spelling Bee contestants)
ESPN.com ^ | 6/2/2005 | Darren Rovell

Posted on 06/02/2005 12:55:33 AM PDT by baseballfanjm

ESPN.com ran this article, intending for it to be an amusing take on how to predict the winner of the National Spelling Bee. However, the last "formula" irked me.

Here's what it says:

"Stay away from home-schooled kids.

It goes without saying that these kids don't get out of the house much. There are 34 home-schooled competitors in this year's bee, including speller No. 142 Jack Ausick and speller No. 217 Benjamin Zachary Walter. The first home schooler won in 1997 and others followed, including Lala in '99 and Thampy in 2000. But kids that actually interact with other children at school have won three out of the last four bees."

While he has other "stay away from" picks that fit the joking manner of the article, that one struck me as just lame and as a swipe more than a joke.

(Excerpt) Read more at sports.espn.go.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society
KEYWORDS: cary; espn; homeschool; liberalmedia; spellingbee
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To: Modernman
Modernman, I think you made your first decent argument that I can agree with in regards to public school vs homeschooling:

The public school system is like a factory, homeschooling is an artisanal workshop. Homeschooling is a good way to educate a few kids, but it will never be able to be applied to the population at large.

You are right, we will not be able to homeschool on a full population level. And, most definitely, public schools are like a factory, and I didn't want my children to be just another factory product, so I chose homeschooling.

But, the problem with public schools come from a couple of areas. The teachers have to teach to the lowest common denominator, or the slower students are left behind, resulting in accelerated students becoming bored, disillusioned (trust me, I was one, graduated 17 years ago). Secondly, not every child needs to be on the "college track."

Lastly, even nearly 20 years ago, as a Christian student, I found the small, rural, public school I went to a moral cesspool. I wanted to learn; my classmates wanted to have sex and get high. I would not and could not subject my own children to that hell.

201 posted on 06/02/2005 6:07:39 PM PDT by ican'tbelieveit
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To: Theo

I have had Fr on my favorites for over 2 years now thank you


202 posted on 06/02/2005 7:49:18 PM PDT by MikeyA5150 (The NEA is Evil)
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To: baseballfanjm
My homeschooled son participated in this spelling bee. He was speller #37. This moron writer wouldn't know proper socialization if it bit him in the nose.

The homeschoolers (as well as the other children) were all delightful to be around and were very diligent in their efforts.

This author would have needed diapers getting up on stage in front of so many people...
203 posted on 06/02/2005 8:09:27 PM PDT by politicket (Hypothesis of Evolution - HOE - The Secular Religion)
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To: PetroniusMaximus
Let 'em snicker! In 25 years their kids will be calling out kids "Boss".

In 25 years they will be called President, Senator, Representative, Pastor, etc.

We are not raising social misfits, we are raising the leaders of tomorrow...
204 posted on 06/02/2005 8:12:48 PM PDT by politicket (Hypothesis of Evolution - HOE - The Secular Religion)
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To: MikeyA5150
Home schooling is not the answer but a problem

You're exactly RIGHT!!!

Homeschooling is DEFINITELY a BIG problem for the Socialists in this country and they had better be quaking in their collective boots!
205 posted on 06/02/2005 8:14:58 PM PDT by politicket (Hypothesis of Evolution - HOE - The Secular Religion)
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To: pickemuphere
Here's why it's easy to take a swipe at the homeschooled kids:

Obviously you have never been to a spelling bee. The kids are always hyped, having a great time, and cheering LOUDLY for the eventual winner.
206 posted on 06/02/2005 8:19:33 PM PDT by politicket (Hypothesis of Evolution - HOE - The Secular Religion)
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To: Modernman
As a product of public and private schools in Canada and the US, I think homeschoolers on FR tend to focus on the incredibly poor public schools (such as Washington DC) while ignoring the generally good (such as Oakland County, Michigan, where I graduated from high school) and great (Montgomery County, Maryland, where my wife went to public school) public school systems.

All public schools ingrain the children with a twisted secular worldview. That makes them all worthless IMHO.
207 posted on 06/02/2005 8:22:55 PM PDT by politicket (Hypothesis of Evolution - HOE - The Secular Religion)
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To: mariabush
Liberal infiltration is all across the the country.

Yes, they're all out to get us, they are everywhere, trying to contaminate our precious bodily fluids...

As for moving, the area that we live in has a lot of positive aspects and it is better just to home or private school than to run to some other place with the same problems.

Well, the way you described the public schools in your area, it sounds as though you live in an area full of violent criminals. Unless, of course, they only sell drugs and beat each other up on school time. Really, not all places have the same problem. The only running you are doing is away from the schools. I am not saying that our schools are perfect on a broad basis, there is a huge amount of work to be done. The only problem with all of the good people abandoning the schools is that they will be left to do as they please, and our future is screwed. I don't want to run, I want to make them better.

208 posted on 06/02/2005 8:23:56 PM PDT by cspackler (There are 10 kinds of people in this world, those who understand binary and those who don't.)
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To: MikeyA5150

Mikey, Mikey, Mikey, where to begin!!

First question to ask you is, what should school be about; education or soscialization?

Second, what is your definition of a social misfit?

Third, you certainly must be joking about "sheltering your child" being abuse. Abuse?! I'd say sending kids to a situation totally peer dependent is closer to abuse than studying at home.

Don't have enough time to go into great detail, but speaking as a proud Mom of two well-adjusted homeschooled kids who went on to do VERY well at the university level, I don't think you have had enough experience to judge well.


209 posted on 06/02/2005 8:25:27 PM PDT by June Cleaver (in here, Ward . . .)
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To: cspackler
Well, the way you described the public schools in your area, it sounds as though you live in an area full of violent criminals. Unless, of course, they only sell drugs and beat each other up on school time. Really, not all places have the same problem. The only running you are doing is away from the schools. I am not saying that our schools are perfect on a broad basis, there is a huge amount of work to be done. The only problem with all of the good people abandoning the schools is that they will be left to do as they please, and our future is screwed. I don't want to run, I want to make them better.

And your solution is to sacrifice our children at the altar of a secular wasteland until such time as the schools can be made better? No thanks...
210 posted on 06/02/2005 8:27:33 PM PDT by politicket (Hypothesis of Evolution - HOE - The Secular Religion)
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To: cspackler

Well, then you do it. Memphis, Tennessee schools are the armpit of America, and from what I hear from across the country, it is not the only city with educational problems.


211 posted on 06/02/2005 8:33:26 PM PDT by Coldwater Creek ('We voted like we prayed")
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To: MikeyA5150

Your argument against homeschooling is EXCACTLY my arguement FOR it. No one knows my child or his needs as well as the parent.

Again, with the abuse word?! You cannot be serious. Think about this question, Whose responsibility is it to teach the child? My answer is it is mine, not the state's, especially if the state is failing.

And you are dead wrong about the values part. If your child spends 40 or so odd hours away from you, whose values do you think will have the bigger impact?!


212 posted on 06/02/2005 8:33:33 PM PDT by June Cleaver (in here, Ward . . .)
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To: MikeyA5150

Well now Mikey, we see just where your priorities are!

Hahahahahaha

Stop, you're killing me!!!!


213 posted on 06/02/2005 8:36:34 PM PDT by June Cleaver (in here, Ward . . .)
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To: politicket
And your solution is to sacrifice our children at the altar of a secular wasteland until such time as the schools can be made better? No thanks...

Secular wasteland? Oh please... I have no problem with religion not being taught in school. I have plenty of time at home and in our Church to see that my daughter learns the way of the Lord. Oh, by the way, they still say the pledge every morning at my daughter's school, with "under God" included. So, say as you will... but all schools are not inherently evil. We went to great pains to ensure that we lived in a place where we could supplant our daughter's daily education with a good public education. If some people want to homeschool, more power to them and I wish them and their children well. We chose to find a good school district in which to live, so I simply wish that some could wish us well as well.

214 posted on 06/02/2005 8:38:01 PM PDT by cspackler (There are 10 kinds of people in this world, those who understand binary and those who don't.)
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To: cspackler

I don't care where you live, the government is still running the school system along with the NEA and if you want your child exposed to their liberal dogma that is fine, you are the one responsible for their education, as we are for ours.


215 posted on 06/02/2005 8:44:17 PM PDT by Coldwater Creek ('We voted like we prayed")
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To: SuziQ; rwt60

Now, Mickey can't refute your posts, so he will ignore them.

He can only learn about homeschooling from the handful of children he's acquainted with, not from others who are obviously more experienced with homeschooling than he is.

It's a good thing he has others teach his children - at least that way they'll have a chance.


216 posted on 06/02/2005 8:54:07 PM PDT by stands2reason (It's 2005, and two wrongs still don't make a right.)
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To: mariabush
I don't care where you live

Well, I do.

Now you just sound a little tin-foil like. I do truly wish you well in your endeavors.

217 posted on 06/02/2005 8:57:11 PM PDT by cspackler (There are 10 kinds of people in this world, those who understand binary and those who don't.)
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To: cspackler

You do not have to wish me well,the proof is in the pudding.


218 posted on 06/02/2005 9:04:37 PM PDT by Coldwater Creek ('We voted like we prayed")
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To: MikeyA5150
One creative homeschooling freeper has a method of compensating for the socialization that her kids are missing by not attending public schools.

Once every week she drags them into the bathroom, beats them up and takes their lunch money.

Problem solved.

219 posted on 06/02/2005 9:18:23 PM PDT by MARTIAL MONK
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To: baseballfanjm

Who cares? Sportscasters are some of the biggest idiots on the planet.

A bunch of ego driven morons thinking no one but them even knows the sport they are yammering about. Without producers and statisticians shoving info on their monitors they would have more dead air than listening to Al Franken.


220 posted on 06/02/2005 9:23:03 PM PDT by Fledermaus (Compassion is a great thing. Just quit making me pay for YOURS with MY money!!!)
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