http://www.crosswalk.com/movies/11570710/
This review was posted on one of my HS'ing Yahoo Groups. Take special notice of this comment under "Cautions":
** Worldview: Homeschoolers are narrow-minded, fear-based, fun-and-imagination squelchers.
So, what's your take on the mention of HS'ing? How does it make you feel?
I mean "review", not "reviews"...typing to quickly today!
mistypost
Favorite Answer
I didn't see the review . . . didn't even think to check on a review for a Dr. Seuss book-based movie! I did see the movie today with my daughter. And I couldn't even concentrate on the movie due to the antagonist in the film being a "pouch-schooling" mom! This wasn't just a "mention" on homeschooling. This was a main character! The antagonist, being an antagonist, of course, was everything "bad" in the storyline. Is this how we (homeschooling moms and families) seen to the outside world? And the funny thing is that the creators of the film obviously don't know any homeschooling moms personally . . . unimaginative?? not creative??
Vee Good
Did you read the whole article? The writer, a homeschooling mother, is cautioning against an incorrect worldview by one of the characters.
In the main article she mentions that it is not a pervasive theme and that other areas of the film are quite inspirational.
I am not a homeshooling mother myself, and I have not yet seen the movie, but I think that the comment would have been aimed at control-freak type parents, rather than the homeschooling population in general.
Wilma Duckie Deene
It is disappointing and thanks for the heads-up, we plan on seeing it. As far as what other options are in the movies, well, this isn't that big of a concern, we'll approach it with discussion. I would be more disappointed if they took sex, drugs and nudity into the movie.
I think the messages of persistance, being able to make a difference as the smallest Who of all, and "A Person's a person, no matter how small," will outweigh a comment about pouch schooling. (Heck my kids hear worse than that at the playground or visiting their grandparents who are totally against homeschooling!) Remember the Wickersham Brothers are bad news, as well as the Kangaroo and Vlad Vladikoff.
Unfortunate, but not enough to stop us from going.
Anonymous
Well......poop.
My daughter is going to see that movie with a friend today and cannot wait. She's a little let down to find out the bad guy is depicted as a homeschooler. Why did that add that element to the story? Is that necessary?
What is strange is that the attitude of the kangaroo is far more an anti-HS attitude: If I am not acquainted with it, it is bad or does not / should not exist.
Gypsy
I think it is interesting that the entertainment industry sometimes portrays homeschoolers thusly. Of course you know that it is the public school system that is responsible for stamping out independent thought and instilling government/teachers agendas into the children. Of course it is a dangerous thing to allow. Of course people will believe that homeschoolers are religious radicals or illiterates as portrayed on the TV show "The Simpsons". I am quite greatfull for the examples of homeschooling shown in the "Astronaut Farmer" or even in that hokey movie with Robin Williams called "RV".
You have to wonder, why are they so afraid? Why the attack? And again you already know the answer. Homeschooling produces a nonconforming independent thinker. It is an attack also on Christianity and on basic freedoms. Why do we have to hand our children over to the government or to a stranger to indoctrinate on their beliefs? Hitler was smart. He needed an obedient population so homeschool had to be abolished to break the tie with the parents archaic way of thinking. Doesn't anybody read "Animal Farm" anymore? Who said: "Give me a child when he is seven and he will be mine for life?"