Being a critical thinker is important. Having influences in your life encourage you to think critically is important. However, homeschooling parents don't seem to see that value in that, or perhaps they don't know what they're doing to their children. You see, I've noticed that homeschooled kids from super conservative Christian homes can't seem to think for themselves. Why? Because they have been told what to believe from and early age. They have been drowned in Christian material and opinions to the point where everything that doesn't fit into their narrow view of life is wrong. Now, I don't have a problem with people having opinions. I don't have a problem when they decide to argue their opinions. I do have a problem when these people decide to present a faulty argument for their position and end the argument by saying that God will judge me for being wrong.
What horrifies me is that all these people are convinced that what they're doing is right to the point that they can't possibly change they're position. I have seen people argue to the point where I was sure they had no choice but to admit they were wrong, but they didn't. These people have been so well trained to believe that what they've been taught is right that they can't even admit when they're wrong.
This points to a character flaw: pride. Now, we all have pride, some more than others, and some for no reason, but we all have it. Homeschool parents elevate their children level of pride by providing all the answers and not looking into counterarguments. Their children grow up believing that they have all the answers. That's why they can't carry on a good argument. Their perspective is so limited that they can't process new ideas in a healthy way.
I was like that. I had been told a number of things about the Bible, homosexuals, government, and abortion that simply aren't true (yes, I do believe abortion is murder). When I eventually attended a government school, I had to answer questions relating to this stuff, and guess what? When I answered a question, nobody said anything for a while. I got the "you're stupid" stare from everyone including the teacher. I learned to check my facts better after a few weeks.
Unfortunately, certain brands of homeschooling don't allow children to be exposed to a wide range of ideas because parents fear that their children will be contaminated by the world.
What horrifies me is that all these people are convinced that what they're doing is right to the point that they can't possibly change they're position. I have seen people argue to the point where I was sure they had no choice but to admit they were wrong, but they didn't. These people have been so well trained to believe that what they've been taught is right that they can't even admit when they're wrong.
This points to a character flaw: pride. Now, we all have pride, some more than others, and some for no reason, but we all have it. Homeschool parents elevate their children level of pride by providing all the answers and not looking into counterarguments. Their children grow up believing that they have all the answers. That's why they can't carry on a good argument. Their perspective is so limited that they can't process new ideas in a healthy way.
I was like that. I had been told a number of things about the Bible, homosexuals, government, and abortion that simply aren't true (yes, I do believe abortion is murder). When I eventually attended a government school, I had to answer questions relating to this stuff, and guess what? When I answered a question, nobody said anything for a while. I got the "you're stupid" stare from everyone including the teacher. I learned to check my facts better after a few weeks.
Unfortunately, certain brands of homeschooling don't allow children to be exposed to a wide range of ideas because parents fear that their children will be contaminated by the world.
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