I read with some interest your articles about the Utah Home Schooling Association convention held at BYU (June 14). I, too, have educated my children at home, all four of them, over the past 18 years. When I read the article, I was distressed to find that the Swan boy had grown up with the idea that the bogyman was waiting for him at school. I was also sad that his parents had brought him up in such a way that he could shrug off other people's joys, simple things like prom, as really kind of dumb.
The point of educating children at home is not to instill in them self-righteous and exclusionary behavior. I thought when we taught them at home, we were able to work a little harder on character and values than would be practical if the children were absent from the home seven hours a day. So a home-schooled child should surely have the maturity to look at prom with an attitude that can allow other people to choose differently with dignity. The kind of education we seek should be rich in experience; surely such a child would be glad to broaden his understanding of the world by putting on a tux and making sure a sweet young girl didn't miss a dance.My own children have involved themselves with Provo High on a part-time basis over the years. For the most part, their experiences there have been wonderful.
We all have our opinions about things. And I believe every parent who has a child's interest at heart should have the right to provide that child with the best education he or she can devise. But trashing somebody else's opinions to support your own doesn't strengthen anybody.
I just needed to make it clear that this child's sentiments do not reflect those of all other home schoolers.
Kristen Randle
Provo