Homeschooling and vegetarianism have several things in common. Individual and human rights is a fundamental element of both practices. In the case of homeschooling bill in California in which the wording essentially made homeschooling illegal for non certified teacher parents. Keep up with the latest in the case at The Home School Legal Defense Association: http://www.hslda.org
Speaking of inequalities in regards to vegetarianism, first the animals that are slaughtered to provide meat have no laws on the books to protect them although countless people and groups are working on creating such laws. http://www.peta.org/ is a good place to research the topic of animal rights.
There is no such law that outright disenables individuals from being a vegetarian but there are individual and regional inequalities providing constant limitations to the diet/ lifestyle. Vegetarians have limited access or availability to non-meat items, as is the case at restaurants and in our children’s schools.
Another interesting parallel between homeschooling and vegetarianism is spurred by misconceptions and assumptions from the uninformed public.
Take the argument that a vegetarian diet provides inadequate nutrition, especially that of protein. As vegetarians, we know that a well balanced diet of legumes, vegetables, fruits, grains, (and nuts if tolerated) provide all of the necessary dietary requirements.
Well, homeschooler critics claim that cite lack of socialization and academic quality occur outside of the traditional school setting. Just as nutrients are found outside of a meatless diet, homeschoolers can and do receive excellent educations and meaningful social interactions. Critics may point to extreme cases in both vegetarianism and homeschooling. Sure, exclusively feeding children candy bars and soda just as denying children any social or educational opportunities would logically cause a deficiency in both scenarios. There are apparently abuses in any field. However, the majority of vegetarians and homeschooling parents love and well informed parents.
Balance and wisdom are essential components in the areas of both homeschooling as well as vegetarianism. However, that does not mean that participants must fall within accepted stereotypes. As a single low income idealistic protective loving parent, I first came to the realization that killing animals was wrong even after a relative told me that vegetarians are usually wealthy. A couple of years later, I was fraught with guilt over leaving my son to survive with a one size fits all curriculum, classroom style punsishments which The common practice of which the whole class is chastised for the actions of one or a few, as well as being routinely denied access to personal care needs such as going to the bathroom and getting a drink of water.
Yes, as a single working parent, there were numerous challenges as a parent of a vegetarian homeschooling child. Well, meaning people would give my son vegetarian food items or provide misinformation on vegetarianism as well as homeschooling. “If you don’t go to school you wont have any friends and you won’t get a good education” and “ God made animals to eat”. The biggest challenge though was lack of consistent childcare as some caregivers refused to provide childcare due to his nonattendance at traditional school. We homeschooled for a few years after which my son graduated from a traditional public high school and was accepted into a prestigious highly selective college. Oh, and he’s still vegetarian!
Loving individual tutelage and role-modeling does pay off!
4 Comments
xetvx (26 comments)
April 4, 2008 at 8:22 amI have two issues with the commonalities between home schooling and vegetarianism.
1. As a certified Educator who has taught in at least 5 public school systems over the past 10 years, I have never witnessed a problem with vegetarian children being unable to eat in school cafeterias. It’s VEGANS that have few to no options. Salads and subs without the meat, peanut butter and jelly, grilled cheese sandwiches, pizza, nachos and tacos minus the ground beef, noodles with butter, various soups, unlimited fruit cups, veggie side dishes, puddings, white and chocolate milks and juices are among the many choices that basic vegetarian children have to choose from.
2. By home schooling a child simply because of his or her dietary intake, that child never learns to deal with real world situations and is likely to develop eating disorders and other issues with food later on in life. Non vegans and vegetarian families opt to pack a child’s lunch simply for the expense of school lunches. This is a clear solution for those who would like to keep their children active and in the mainstream of life. If school is avoided simply due to the half hour allotted for eating one small meal, then where does it end? Parties, celebrations and all other get-togethers will too, be off the list for these children.
mothersson2002 (18 comments)
April 4, 2008 at 8:58 amI would dare to disagree that that the school lunch program has adequate healthy vegetarian options on a regular basis in a great many districts and even fewer less for vegans. However, Vegetarian homeschoolers do not homeschool simply because of dietary limitations though. Homeschoolers homeschool because they they want a specific education and treatment of their children.
mothersson2002 (18 comments)
April 4, 2008 at 9:05 amA big part of the message in my”Homeschool and Vegetarian Parallels post is that there are bias in both lifestyle and its still that those biases still exist for people who lack an understanding about non-mainstream lifestyles!
xetvx (26 comments)
April 4, 2008 at 10:53 amBasic vegetarian meals are unhealthy in the first place, so what are we really debating here?
And yes, many parents home school their children simply for dietary reasons. I think I would need to write another article regarding the education and lack there of (at times), which many home schooled children receive.
I for one have no bias toward either lifestyle: home schooling or vegetarianism. I am however, aware of the unchangeable facts surrounding each case. Extensive personal experience in many circles, towns and states as well as detailed research has afforded me the privilege to such information.