Has anyone else been noticing this besides me?  Over the past year or so, I've noticed homeschooling mentioned on a number of tv dramas, novels, films and other widely dispensed fictional works.  It's not a big issue, it's always given maybe two to four lines of comment.  But the flavor is always negative. 

On cop shows, if someone mentions a child is homeschooled, the next comment will be something like "So there's no one else for the kid to turn to," or "So we can't tell if Junior was alive that day or not," or "So he had no friends," or "So Mom and Dad are religious fanatics."  And then, the matter is dropped.  It's not made into a major discussion--no one ever offers a reasoned response that shows the kid had tons of friends, lots of community involvement.  It's done to paint a picture--to whisper and nudge to the audience that the family is weird--and then move on.

I read a book last night where a highly religious girl (who has been homeschooled) is later revealed to be part of a group that shelters pedophiles from the authorities, manufactures meth, practices polygamy, suffocates people to death while trying to pray for healing, and a number of other criminal behaviors. 

Later on, a different character in the book whose son is highly allergic to a large number of common substances mentions she may have to homeschool.  The protagonist is shocked, saying "but how about his social development?"  The mother is guilt-stricken and torn, needing to protect the child's life but hating to consider homeschooling.  Huh?

Another recent tv drama, obviously based on the recent government action taking hundreds of children from the polygamous faith group in Texas, managed to villify homeschooling, Christianity, modest attire and a number of other non-criminal behaviors.  This one ended in the homeschooled child-bride willingly setting off a bomb to kill herself and others rather than surrender to the FBI peacefully.

These are not the open and debatable assaults of a government agency trying to stop families from educating at home.  This is a far more subtle--yet potentially more destructive--trend. 

It's like the old-fashioned melodramas, where the bad guy wore a black cape and top hat and twirled a mustache.  Leering at the audience with a "Nya-ah-ah!", the actor cues the audience to expect nefarious dealings from him. 

When homeschooling becomes a code word in the popular media for "strange, isolated, problemed, paranoid, child abusive, unhealthy," a subtle, chilling atmosphere towards homeschoolers is triggered in the general population. 

In other words, if you can't stop homeschooling with laws, if you can't stop them by denying them entrance to college and military and occupations, if you can't stop them with intimidation--then smear them with innuendo. 

I know, some will say "Of course people will react this way to tear down something with better academic results, that produces kids who do well everywhere they go!  It's just jealousy talking!" 

That may be true, but consider this: historically, every genocide, pogrom, massacre, lynching, or other atrocity towards any group began with this type of smear campaign.  "The Jews are rich--they own all the banks, they're profiting from our poverty--let's kill them and take the money!"  "The blacks want to rape white women--lynch them first!" "The Mormons are anti-American--send in the troops!" "The Japanese are all loyal to the emperor--lock them up in concentration camps!" 

So what does it mean when homeschoolers are allowed to become an object of suspicion, derision and finger-pointing?  That we are in the first stage of dehumanization.  To justify attacking another human, or group of humans, it's necessary to create a gradual process of distancing from them.  First, they must be categorized as different.  Second, they must be connected with certain negative characteristics.  Third, they must be linked, however falsely, to some negative events or possible repercussions.  Fourth, they must be seen as rigid, unrepentant, deceitful.  Fifth, any action taken against them is justifiable, to prevent "further wrongdoing." 

These popular culture jabs at homeschoolers may seem small, but to me, they are the initial steps (one and two) of painting us as crazies and subhuman.  While we are busy demonstrating prowess in the academic areas (which was the accusation 10 years ago) the accusers have given up on that battlefield, and have moved on to the subtle whisper, raised eyebrow, nudge and nod.  The impact to the crowd is "Oh, you got a high score on your SATs?  Yeah, because you were forced, pushed unmercifully, beaten, isolated, forbidden to have a social life, and not allowed to have any independent thought."  It concerns me that these "artistic" nuances are becoming more and more common, and that they will trigger more anti-homeschooling attitudes and behaviors, if left unchallenged.

I suggest that whenever we see or hear any of this type of destructive portrayal of homeschooling, we confront it.  Send a letter, send an email, make a phone call.  If the television and film producers, book publishers and scriptwriters see a strong and reasoned protest, they must re-consider those type of plot devices. 

Good luck!

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