Definition of Pioneer:
2. One who opens up new areas of thought, research, or development: a pioneer in aviation.
Definition of Intolerant:
b : unwilling to grant or share social, political, or professional rights
Definition of Ignorant:
This is a shout out to the Pioneers of home schooling. I know for a fact you faced an uphill battle both legally and socially. I know this because decades after you fought the battle, I still run into to people ignorant about home schooling. Or worse, intolerant.
People who know someone who was home schooled and turned out to be 'unsocial', 'uneducated', 'un-something'. (I'm sure they don't know anyone who went to public school like that.)
People who believe the only way to get an education to go to public or private school. (It was good enough for them, it is good enough for everyone.)
People who believe my child's shyness is because he is home schooled. (Couldn't be a personality trait taken after his introverted mother, who by the way, was schooled in public school.)
People who just KNOW my kids will be unprepared to face adult life. (Time will tell, won't it?)
People who seriously believe kids should only be around kids their age and sit in rows by alphabetic order. (Because REAL LIFE is all about hanging out with/working with people your exact age with last names beginning with the same letter as yours.)
People who believe one size fits all. (Forget S, M, L, XL)
People who believe you are putting them down because you chose a different route. (Not understanding that maybe they are putting me down for my choice.)
People who believe there is only one way to reach a goal. (Interstate? State route? country roads?)
If I'm facing this now, I can only imagine what you faced. So to you pioneers, I tip my hat. You are awesome and wonderful and amazing.
To those who fall into the intolerant or ignorant category when it comes to home schooling, nuts to you!
