Christian School Can Expel Lesbians

[MissBrattified]

Originally Posted by OnTheFritz

Before long, public schools will be expelling Christians..... SLIPPERY SLOPE ALERT!!!!!!

Right LG?

Watch it.

[OnTheFritz]

Originally Posted by MissBrattified

Watch it.

Duly noted

On a another note, how do you feel about the importance of socialization and how that fits in with the homeschooling alternative? Do you think it's a non-issue, or do you have other opportunities for the kids to socialize (church, local sports, etc). Just curious. Not a loaded question, just honestly want to know.

[Scott Hutchinson]

Praise God this school could a stand.

[MissBrattified]

Originally Posted by OnTheFritz

Duly noted

On a another note, how do you feel about the importance of socialization and how that fits in with the homeschooling alternative? Do you think it's a non-issue, or do you have other opportunities for the kids to socialize (church, local sports, etc). Just curious. Not a loaded question, just honestly want to know.

I don't think it's a non-issue, but it's not as big an issue as public/private school proponents like to make it.

First of all, homeschooled children are interacting on a regular basis with adults, peers and children younger than they are. Ergo, they have more practice (generally) at real-world socialization than publicly schooled children who spend more time with their peers.

Secondly, I do believe being around people is important, and the more people the better. It just doesn't matter to me whether those people are peers. That said, I think children should have opportunities to forge friendships, and we try to enable our children in that area as much as possible.

*They have friends at church.
*They have friends they met at school last year (they attended a charter school last year).
*We try to help them stay in contact with friends both past and present with frequent sleepovers and letting their friends tag along to basketball events, etc.
*They're allowed frequent phone time and limited email/Facebook privileges.
*They attend camp in the summer, and occasional youth revivals/events with their class (from church)
*Both of the girls play basketball and have friends in that program, who they see 2-3 times per week (this time of year)
*Hannah just started taking riding lessons
*They're all on a first name basis with our local librarians.
*We have neighbor kids their age, and they play with them several times a week.

Wow! When I think about it, I think they have more of a social life than I do!

I will say that SOME homeschools DO isolate themselves for various reasons, and SOME parents do not allow their children to just be children. For that reason, our kids aren't allowed more than one extra-curricular activity at a time, and all of them have alone/personal time for at least an hour a day. (Well, Hannah is getting to do b-ball and her riding lessons, but until b-ball is over, she only gets 2 riding lessons per month) I really think that kids need time to build forts out of pillows and blankets, to play with sticks, make mud pies, ride their bikes, climb trees, chase the dog, or whatever else they can come up with on their own.

Education in our home includes preparing them to relate to people--not just relate to a petri dish or classical music.

Overall, though, many publicly schooled children are NOT well-socialized, but instead have learned disrespect, bad manners, bad habits and immaturity from their peers.

Interestingly enough, I also notice these same behaviors when I allow my children to be over-exposed to television programs aimed at their age groups.

In our house, I'd say Jeffrey (age 6) is the one with the least outside "socialization", but for the moment he seems very content to play with his older sisters, Grandma or parents. He does play with the younger children who come to b-ball practices, and he sees his church friends at least twice a week.

[Aquila]

I'm going to chime in with a few thoughts that I had. They are a private Christian school and they have the right to set the standards of conduct for their students. They are well within their rights to expel these students. I assume they're fair and would expel straight students who fornicate also, so it's perfectly fair. I do wonder what measures were taken to restore the students before expulsion. I'd hope they were counseled and encouraged in the Lord and given room to repent; though God knows they'd continue to struggle with same sex attraction afterward. Some things would have to remain private relating to the girls if they, or one of them, desired to stay seeing same sex attraction doesn't just "go away". I wonder what role the parents played in this? Did they encourage the girls or did they seek to persuade the girls to repent and be restored?

I don't know. Those are my initial thoughts.

[Hoovie]

Miss Bratti,

It sounds like you do well in homeschooling. Our socialization/routines are very much like yours. Like most aspects of homeschooling, socialization is intentional as well. The nice thing about it is having the flexibility to make it happen.

This afternoon my seven year old asked me to take her to the Post Office. The lady asked if she was out of school because of the weather. Grace said, "No, for my writing project I wrote this letter to some missionaries in Scotland, and that is what I need postage for." I was one proud daddy.

My wife had reservations about homeschooling at first (she was a private school fan) but she is really liking it now - five years into it.

[MissBrattified]

Originally Posted by Aquila

I'm going to chime in with a few thoughts that I had. They are a private Christian school and they have the right to set the standards of conduct for their students. They are well within their rights to expel these students. I assume they're fair and would expel straight students who fornicate also, so it's perfectly fair. I do wonder what measures were taken to restore the students before expulsion. I'd hope they were counseled and encouraged in the Lord and given room to repent; though God knows they'd continue to struggle with same sex attraction afterward. Some things would have to remain private relating to the girls if they, or one of them, desired to stay seeing same sex attraction doesn't just "go away". I wonder what role the parents played in this? Did they encourage the girls or did they seek to persuade the girls to repent and be restored?

I don't know. Those are my initial thoughts.

I didn't read the article (and I probably should), but I know kids can also say/do things just for shock value or because they think it's cool. Hopefully it was investigated thoroughly for context and good judgment's sake.

I would be curious as to the reaction of the parents, and if they encouraged the behavior or found out about it at the same time the school did!

[MissBrattified]

Originally Posted by Stephen Hoover

Miss Bratti,

It sounds like you do well in homeschooling. Our socialization/routines are very much like yours. Like most aspects of homeschooling, socialization is intentional as well. The nice thing about it is having the flexibility to make it happen.

This afternoon my seven year old asked me to take her to the Post Office. The lady asked if she was out of school because of the weather. Grace said, "No, for my writing project I wrote this letter to some missionaries in Scotland, and that is what I need postage for." I was one proud daddy.

My wife had reservations about homeschooling at first (she was a private school fan) but she is really liking it now - five years into it.

Isn't that great?

I like how you put it: "Socialization is intentional."

[OnTheFritz]

Originally Posted by MissBrattified

I don't think it's a non-issue, but it's not as big an issue as public/private school proponents like to make it.

First of all, homeschooled children are interacting on a regular basis with adults, peers and children younger than they are. Ergo, they have more practice (generally) at real-world socialization than publicly schooled children who spend more time with their peers.

Secondly, I do believe being around people is important, and the more people the better. It just doesn't matter to me whether those people are peers. That said, I think children should have opportunities to forge friendships, and we try to enable our children in that area as much as possible.

*They have friends at church.
*They have friends they met at school last year (they attended a charter school last year).
*We try to help them stay in contact with friends both past and present with frequent sleepovers and letting their friends tag along to basketball events, etc.
*They're allowed frequent phone time and limited email/Facebook privileges.
*They attend camp in the summer, and occasional youth revivals/events with their class (from church)
*Both of the girls play basketball and have friends in that program, who they see 2-3 times per week (this time of year)
*Hannah just started taking riding lessons
*They're all on a first name basis with our local librarians.
*We have neighbor kids their age, and they play with them several times a week.

Wow! When I think about it, I think they have more of a social life than I do!

I will say that SOME homeschools DO isolate themselves for various reasons, and SOME parents do not allow their children to just be children. For that reason, our kids aren't allowed more than one extra-curricular activity at a time, and all of them have alone/personal time for at least an hour a day. (Well, Hannah is getting to do b-ball and her riding lessons, but until b-ball is over, she only gets 2 riding lessons per month) I really think that kids need time to build forts out of pillows and blankets, to play with sticks, make mud pies, ride their bikes, climb trees, chase the dog, or whatever else they can come up with on their own.

Education in our home includes preparing them to relate to people--not just relate to a petri dish or classical music.

Overall, though, many publicly schooled children are NOT well-socialized, but instead have learned disrespect, bad manners, bad habits and immaturity from their peers.

Interestingly enough, I also notice these same behaviors when I allow my children to be over-exposed to television programs aimed at their age groups.

In our house, I'd say Jeffrey (age 6) is the one with the least outside "socialization", but for the moment he seems very content to play with his older sisters, Grandma or parents. He does play with the younger children who come to b-ball practices, and he sees his church friends at least twice a week.

Sounds like you have it well thought-out (I expected nothing less . I do think peer specific socialization is important, but I also agree that mixing it with other age groups is the best case scenario. Teaching kids how to interact with all types of people is great.

I personally don't plan on homeschooling my kids, but if I ever felt the urge to, I would certainly turn to you for advice

[OnTheFritz]

Originally Posted by MissBrattified

Isn't that great?

I like how you put it: "Socialization is intentional."

I do think that is great - though I also would hope they would be able to thrive in a less-controlled environment down the road. Not all socialization is going to be good. People are idiots. There are plenty of people I'd rather not socialize with, but that's life. I realize that you are speaking more to socialization opportunities - which I understand.