There are so many variables in the development of an individuals values. I am not convinced that the family is the definitve influence.
There are so many variables in the development of an individuals values. I am not convinced that the family is the definitve influence.
There was a book written on peer group influence some years back: The Nurture Assumption, by Judith Rich Harrison-
http://www.scientificamerican.com/ar...peers-children
I believe her premise was that peers edge out parents after children reach a certain age.
while I believe that in my area we have excellent schools so those that homeschool seem to do so for religious reasons. Their kids really don't mix much with others that are not affiliated with the church. An old co-worker spent much of his time when not at work at church activities. His girls wore homemade long calico skirts and braids and they went places like the library but did not mix much with others and the girls are raised to be good wives, mothers and members of the church. The boys seem to be raised to be providers and had great skills in woodworking, gardening and animals.Originally Posted by JaneV2.0
I ran into him last year at a fiddle concert with several other families and while the children were polite and very well behaved they kept to their little group. Makes me wonder what will happen as they get older. He used to ride the bus to work and read the bible along the way. Perhaps one of the most patient, least materialistic beyond the basic shelter and food needs, and kindest people I have been acquainted with.
Even if they are the definitve influence, for many people it appears their goal is to not be like their family.
My daughter has been largely homeschooled so far, is 15, and is a sophomore in high school.
Our reasons for homeschooling were not religious, and we weren't trying to raise our daughter to become a mother, multiply, and be too busy to take a role in politics, or any other community leadership position.
Rather the opposite. It was to provide a high quality of education in academics and civics and practical skills, so that she could do her duty to the Republic.
At the age of 12, she scored 95th+ percentile results on the SATs, compared to college-bound seniors...
She understands multiple languages, including Spanish, Latin, Greek, and several forms of Egyptian.
She plays several different musical instruments in several local musical groups, actual groups that perform on stage for real audiences. Most of the other musicians are adults. She and my wife are off with one of the groups today performing in a nearby town, and one of the symphonic pieces they are playing was arranged by my daughter. (Never get motivated musicians the "Sibelius" scoring software, it's like crack...)
She participates actively in 4H, and consistently displays leadership skills within her 4H club and at the county and state fairs.
She can navigate an ocean-going powerboat, plotting courses and standing watch. She operated the vessel a couple of years ago for about an hour while the Coast Guard was boarding and inspecting us, as I was occupied with them, and they didn't complain once about her seawomanship.
She has several paying jobs, most of which involve interacting with real adults in real social situations.
She has organized a 4H riflery program, including recruiting kids from the local high school, and negotiating access to our local range. She routinely beats adults at competitive shooting events. She also fences historical saber and singlestick about an hour a day. This year we have moved into rapier and buckler, and rapier and knife as well.
She does quite a bit of community volunteer work each week: cooking and serving at the local senior center, caring for animals at the animal shelter, tutoring younger kids, fundraising for local groups, etc. etc.
She manages her own investment portfolio with her college fund, with some advice from me. She steals my Forbes and Economist magazines out of the mailbox before I get a chance to even see them. She can read and understand financial statements, and budgets, and all sorts of spreadsheety-goodness.
She can ride a horse, locate edible forage foods in our local ecosystem, change a tire, use basic hand tools, fell a tree, split firewood, make a fire with flint-and-steel or a bow-drill, build shelters out of found materials in the woods here, fish, hunt, paddle a kayak or canoe, make wine and cheese, cook the classic sauces from scratch, ...
Etc.
I don't think we've been raising her to be a quiet mouse, barefoot and pregnant in the kitchen.
Lara Croft, Tomb Raider, perhaps...
I would suspect nothing less of a daughter of yours bae, and there are probably others like her. I just have no exposure to them.
I wonder what she'll end up doing with all of her talent and brains.
Hopefully having pointed words with Rush Limbaugh and his ilk some day :-)
Hey Bae... I ran the sheep barn one year at the fair! Eons ago. I do wonder if you & I have met...
A lot of good things can be done with homeschool/unschooling. Hiding one's kids from ooooooh dangerous scary ideas out there .... is pretty darn disturbing reason to be homeschooling.
Trees don't grow on money
How many eons was that?!? If it was '74 thru '78 then we must have met!! This spinner/weaver never passed up a sheep barn it it could be helped!
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