The Hogwartians Group discussion

Okay, we started a discussion on schooling (homeschool, private, public, etc) in Sectum Sempra. So, we're moving it over here. Go ahead and resume discussion...

Um...okayy...HOMESCHOOLING IS AWSOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have been homeschooled since 3rd grade, and I'm now going into 8th. Yay finally!!

Yippe Kendall!!

I went to a private school for kindergarten and first grade, then a public school for second grade (when we moved), then a different public school for third through sixth. I started homeschooling in seventh grade, and I'm going into tenth. I take homeschool classes that are done through a local college, and I love it. I'm so glad that I started homeschooling in seventh grade, that October we had a house fire, and I would never have been able to cope with starting junior high and a house fire.
So, what do you homeschoolers think of the "socialization" argument? You know, the one where people say "Oh, homeschoolers are weird and have no friends, etc."

I know!!!! I get that all the time at my church and the place where I dance. people think I'm so weird and different!! It gets pretty annoying people always say,"Your homeschooled? Do you like it? And People think that homeschooler aren't social. That's not true for me because I have lots of friends. But whatever...

Yeah, I know. I didn't find really really good friends until I started homeschooling.

(Kendall, I noticed you mentioned your church. How does your family feel about Harry Potter? Do they believe the "bad magic, encourages witchcraft, etc." idea? My dad is fine with it, but wouldn't let me read Golden Compass. This is another topic that could have its own thread...)

Yes, LOTS of homeschoolers I know aren't allowed to read Harry Potter, my parents are ok with it, but they would like if I read other things too, and wasn't always reading HP. I'm not allowed to read Golden Compess either, not that I really want to.

And there are, what, fifty families in our homeschool group, Kendall? Me, you, my brothers, and Nick are the only people who are allowed to read Harry Potter.
My church is fine with Harry Potter, my own teacher is a "die-hard-fan". My brothers have already read His Dark Materiles, they liked it, but thought Harry Potter was waaay better. I'm allowed to read it, but I don't even want to; from what I've heard the author doesn't believe in God and is encouraging (!) his readers to do the same.

Yeah. My dad never ever cares about what I read, but he's very adamant that he doesn't want me to read His Dark Materials. Somebody gave them to him, and we already had a copy, and he threw them away, instead of giving them away, so they wouldn't be read over and over. My dad, who loves books, and stood in line almost all day for Deathly Hallows. Apparently, the characters have to...kill God? Yeah, I'm not sure.
I remember watching a HP interview (see, it's still related to HP) and Emma Watson said that those were her favorite books. Grrrr.
My dad says that Pullman wrote to have children believe his points, not to tell a story. Still, C.S Lewis was an atheist at one point in his life, so there's some hope.

Ok, next question, since it seems that mostly homeschoolers are commenting. How do you feel about the homeschooler stereotype: kitty sweaters, long dresses, completely socially inept, tons of kids...

Last paragraph in bold: What?

C.S LEWIS WAS AN ATHEIST??!!?!?!

You've never heard the homeschooler stereotype? Consider yourself lucky. People think that we're all outcasts who wear dresses that we make ourselves, we have no friends, and we're generally weird.

This is the Duggar family. They have eighteen children(!), and they homeschool. http://www.duggarfamily.com/index.html They're kinda the stereotypical example.

About Lewis, I read a biography a while back (this one: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/14... I love Goodreads) about him (with a very Christian focus) and I seem to recall reading that his good friend Tolkien (yes that Tolkien) was the one who reintroduced him to the idea.

Omg I know!!! It's really annoying people think that homeschoolers wear long dresses... I don't. Lol!! And that they think we have no friends? Ugh, I've heard it already.

Kendall the Dolphinfreak! wrote: "Omg I know!!! It's really annoying people think that homeschoolers wear long dresses... I don't. Lol!!"

I know, right? I think I own maybe one dress, from last summer.

g2g!! bye!!

Jordan wrote: "You've never heard the homeschooler stereotype? Consider yourself lucky. People think that we're all outcasts who wear dresses that we make ourselves, we have no friends, and we're generally weird...."

I don't even LIKE dresses that much...Lewis and Tolkien!!! Friends!! Coool!!!

Yeah. They were in a writing group called the Inklings (which happens to be the name of the class I'm taking this coming year, obviously named after them)

COOL!!!!!!!!!!!

I haven't heard of the homeschooler stereotype.

I heard that about Lewis and Tolkien. I love The Lord of the Rings, but I find the Chronicles of Narnia very boring.

Maybe this should be another topic, but I LOVE His Dark Materials. The series is one of the best I've ever read. I still like Harry Potter better, but Pullman's writing is beautiful, lyrical, and I think, just amazing. I care about the characters so much. The plot is extremely interesting and suspenseful. I've read the books too many times to count. The Golden Compass is the best of the trilogy and the Subtle Knife is almost as good. The Amber Spyglass is still wonderful, but not at the level of the preceeding books. Pullman raises some important questions. I know of religious people who have enjoyed these books. No one kills god! (Seperate what Pullman has said in an interview from the books.) The god figure that dies is not the creator, and there is a case for Dust being a god like figure. Anyway, I think it's horrible that people ban these books - I wish people were more open minded. (The Golden Compass movie had potential, but sadly didn't live up to it.)

Pandy wrote: "I LOVE His Dark Materials. The series is one of the best I've ever read...Pullman's writing is beautiful, lyrical, and I think, just amazing. "

Pandy, from what you've said, the writing style seems wonderful. However, I think we'll just have to agree to disagree on this. I don't want this to turn into a debate. Thanks for understanding.

Next homeschooler question: To attend classes or not to attend classes. That is the question.