My research topic has taken an abrupt about-face. From my first topic about factors contributing to sleep-deprived college students (ha, ha), I switched to the effects of high-adrenaline Hollywood car chases, then homed in on my final topic: homeschool in the media.
I think it's fascinating how various types of media portray homeschoolers. Although I will probably specifically focus my paper on how news articles stereotype homeschoolers, I have found other types of media that do the same thing.
Anybody read the book "Star Girl"? It portrays a homeschooled girl who is entirely abnormal. She dresses in weird clothes, acts strange, and has no social constraints. The book studies her, then releases her to the wild, like an entomologist with an exotic butterfly.
This is not uncommon—media often shows homeschoolers as socially out-of-touch, ungoverned and wild. Then again, it also sometimes throws in the odd story of a homeschooler who aces every test, goes to college early and ends up in medical school at age 14. That's the other end of the spectrum, and although I admit both cases exist, they are not the norm. How often does the news post a story about an average Joe homeschooler who grows up, goes to college, makes friends, and lives a normal life?
I have yet to see one. Hence my paper.
So is your claim that a home-schooled child can be as successful at college and life as a public schooled child?
ReplyDeleteNot every homeschool child will be successful. Some homeschooled children do fit the stereotypes--that's where the rumors come from. My argument is that the media helps perpetuate stereotypes and misperceptions about homeschool, which mostly apply to fringe groups. I want to point out there are mainstream homeschoolers who live successful, normal lives that are not recognized as much by the media. So yes, that is part of my claim.
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