Glad to hear some real life stories proving home-schooling can work, but I ask myself, would anyone be worse off if they had been subjected to the school system.
Our C.O organized servant visits to family studies. All I can say is it made me question h-s (and must I remind the reader, everyone was on best behaviour).
Many mention the social aspect of the question and I agree. I think it’s especially important to interact with other kids and different teachers.
SumnerSloan says “(Socialization) - it can be done through numerous other sources – Little League, volunteer work, neighborhood kids, clubs, camps, specialized classes (i.e., art, music, dancing, etc.)” ARE WE TALKING ABOUT J.W’S HERE?
I also happen to believe a bit of peer competition doesn’t hurt anyone. What worries me even more about JW’s opting for h-s is that I’m sure it would heighten the closed, judgemental view they have about anyone not in their faith. I believe it would also make it a lot easier to pass on the belief that the WT society is the ultimate authority on all subjects. Not that this isn’t the case anyway. But having a few hours a day away from the JW environment can help to open up the mind.
My mother confided to me just the other night that she believes she failed us kids because we didn’t read the Bible together enough. The Sunday meeting had apparently stressed this point to parents. I guess in her view a few chapters a day at the supper table wasn’t enough. We were brought up to remember we were different (i.e. better than the worldly kids). We were not allowed worldly friends at school, no extra-curricular activities, no sports. One time I was asked to participate in a play, but when the teacher mentioned the play would be on a meeting night, my parents pulled me out. The final and all-knowing authority on all subjects was the Watchtower and Awake! Years of this conditioning has me, even today, marvelling at how it is possible for a worldly person to be so kind or so honest. I’m also surprised by how many good people there actually are out there (in the world). We were sheltered and taught a one-sided story and I think it would have been worse for us if we had been h-s’d.
Make no mistake, my parents are very good people. Unfortunately, they are also obedient and submissive pawns in a controlling organisation.
As to the dad teaching junior some values, I’m all for it. My dad taught me a lot. However I think this dad has greater plans for junior’s future and that’s what worries me. Window-washing is O.K till Armageddon. You can make a lot of money, have flexible hours and you don’t have to hang with the worldlies. But it isn’t exactly a career move. Lately a local window-washer got cancer. This last winter I saw his wife, on top of a snow-bank, trying to do his run. A pensioned brother and sister were doing their best to help her wet down the windows. I still see local kids, quitting school, going pioneering and working for elders, doing cleaning. After a year or two they quit pioneering, get married, have a few kids, clean at night and sleep a good part of the day...still work for the elders. Anyway, I let you know how junior’s situation is in a few years.
when you blow out like a dead star it reminds me how uniform your beautiful is