How to Be a Beekeeper (ESPN.com takes swipe at homeschooled Spelling Bee contestants)

ESPN.com ^ | 6/2/2005 | Darren Rovell

[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.

[familyop]

Almost all of the future prison population is attending public schools now. In schools, the law of the jungle often applies with regard to conflicts. When young people reach their day of legal adulthood, severe conflicts must be solved very differently from then on. It is best that they learn to deal with social problems as they will when they are adults.

It is also common knowledge that public schools are not delivering needed instruction in math, applied English, history, government and other subjects. Children who attend those schools are being cheated out of opportunities that they otherwise might have.

[dandelion]

"is drove"

Dang, I need more coffee!

[MikeyA5150]

If you are familiar with the Bible then are you aware that we are taught about Satan? Well By using The Master as the example teacher, I choose to show my child that other ways are out there and to beware. I don't take him to an bad movies(which are about 99% of all that come out recently) But I don't see that public school as Bringing sin upon my son. But it does show him slight negative and positive influences. We discuss this at home and he learns more than any of your home-schooled sheltered Tali ban govern children would

[andrew2527]

Wow. Your rationale just went off the deep end. I can guarantee you I don't see a felon every day. Social problems breed far more swiftly in an uncontrolled group of children (public school,) than in a closely supervised educational environment (home school) where social interaction is planned and scrutinized. People have this problem nowadays thinking that their fifteen year old is an adult.

[andrew2527]

"... he learns more than any of your home-schooled sheltered Tali ban govern children would"

Now you've gone off the deep end.

[Coldwater Creek]

Again, children do not have to be exposed to evil in order to be aware of what is going on in this world. My grandchildren are well read (the classics at a very early age) have been to Europe and some are big NASCAR fans and believe me attending one race will give a person a great view of the outside world.

Start cringing, one of these home schoolers will be interning for one of our Republican Congresswomen this summer.

[familyop]

"Well I don't think it is the schools whole responsibility to teach. 90% should be in the home..."

We know that many teachers have such a wish, but it is an unrealistic fantasy (as is most of the fiction they deliver). But how can 90 percent of a child's learning happen in the home, when they spend most of their daylight hours in school buildings? Thirty hours per week for nine months of each year is more than enough time for formal instruction to children. And they shouldn't be taught, for example, that it is heroic for a child to burn down a new restaurant to save "ground owls" (one story that is read to many public school children between ages 10 and 12).

[MikeyA5150]

I don't see a felon every day? Well between 91 and 2001 I saw a pic of Clinton everyday He is a felon!!! Yes they are are every where!!!

[PetroniusMaximus]

Let 'em snicker!

In 25 years their kids will be calling out kids "Boss".

[MikeyA5150]

And they shouldn't be taught, for example, that it is heroic for a child to burn down a new restaurant to save "ground owls" (one story that is read to many public school children between ages 10 and 12).

So they come home and you have a conversation and that solves the problem doesn't. Don't get me wrong I am not a fan of public schools I just think home schooling is worse.

[Coldwater Creek]

I think that you do not really believe what you are saying.

[MikeyA5150]

In 25 years their kids will be calling out kids "Boss".

Well that would mean dealing with different kinds of people wouldn't it? Well then a school is the solution

[andrew2527]

At the very least you made me laugh!

[Coldwater Creek]

Give it up! You do not have a clue what you are talking about.

[MikeyA5150]

I believe that home schooling is abuse. Unless you are afraid of your parenting abilities then shouldn't you be able to let you children be with others that are different. I am not afraid to let my child see someone who is doing something wrong in school. I can discuss the consequences with them. I teach the values and, for the most part the facts of sciences and writing. I send my son to school to test these.

[MikeyA5150]

Good rebuttal

[MikeyA5150]

Thank you I do a good Bush SR. Voice also

[PetroniusMaximus]

*** Well that would mean dealing with different kinds of people wouldn't it? Well then a school is the solution***

How ever in the world did children learn to socialize before there were public schools?????

[Cincinatus' Wife]

The success of home schooled children and the continued unmasking of the rot in public education, has this writer in a predictable attack mode.

Pathetic.

[Coldwater Creek]

You cannot be with your child at school, so how do you know just what they are being exposed to?

We have raised a number of very succesfull children to adulthood, so I think that I just might be a little more qualfied on the subject than you are.