Jun. 19, 2007 - Harvard and Its Idea
LarkNews.com
A good source for Christian news.
VOLUME 1 | ISSUE 13 Monday, June 18, 2007
Harvard forcing homeschoolers to 'Fit In'
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — Jim and Katrina Randalefner of Omaha, Neb., were
shocked when, after driving all the way to Massachusetts to enroll
their oldest son at Harvard University, they discovered he'd been
assigned to an all-homeschooler dormitory, and forced to go through a
program called "Fitting In," to help him socialize.
"It felt like segregation,
posted a 'whites only' sign."
But Harvard insists they're helping to mainstream students who
otherwise find it difficult to blend in with the rest of the student
body.
"The first year is tough for homeschoolers because many come from
such limited social environments,
freshman counseling. "We wanted to help them get their footing in a
university setting."
Child studies professor Darna Craig agrees, saying the
homeschoolers she's taught are "brilliant, but not the smoothest
social animals. They don't know how to joke around or make light
conversation,
Fitting In's semester-long schedule includes trips to public
places where homeschoolers mingle with people from different socio-
economic backgrounds; parties where they learn to have meaningless
conversations to forge social bonds; tests on popular slang phrases
and lessons on how to "hang out" without outsmarting everyone else in
the room.
The most daring component pushes homeschoolers to experiment
sexually.
"It's pretty well known that Harvard, like most secular colleges,
wants kids to have intercourse by sophomore year, to get a feel of
what life's about," says Kushner. "Homeschoolers are much slower to
catch on to what their sub-culture deems sinful activity, and that
puts them at a social disadvantage. To put it bluntly, they need to
loosen up and hop in the sack."
But homeschoolers are offended by the assumption that they're
socially stunted.
"This 'Fitting In' stuff is utterly risible," said Todd
Randalefner, 17, from Nebraska, looking up from the third volume of
The Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire. "I consort with many types of
people — Irish, Welsh, British, and many more. Just because I didn't
have daily nutrition breaks or physical education in the traditional
public school setting doesn't mean I need to be handled like some
sort of fledgling titmouse. A titmouse is a small bird native to
North America, three inches in length and with a diet of insects and
berries. Some species are endangered where urban construction has
encroached on habitats."
Inflaming the debate further, Harvard dean James Muesten recently
told a small Vermont newspaper, "Homeschooled children tend to come
from white, evangelical families, and frankly, those people — I don't
want to call them rubes — have a lot to learn about broader culture."
He later retracted the comments, saying they were made "in the spirit
of the interview" which was free-wheeling and "not entirely serious."
He said he thought the Vermont newspaper was satirical and he had
tried to "make a joke that turned out not to be funny." He
apologized, but affirmed that the homeschool dorm was a good idea
that would prove itself over the years.
"Fitting In is a great program," he said. "If you're homeschooled
and you're coming to Harvard, this is the way it is."
Universities have long offered specialized dorms for various
groups, from African-American students to bio-engineer majors. But
this is the first time a certain class of student has been singled
out by educational background and virtually forced into the same
dorm. Students are only allowed to opt out if they strenuously
object, Harvard says.
Todd Randalefner says he'll grit his teeth and stay in the dorms
for one year. "Then I intend to opt out, posthaste, and get an
apartment," he says. "I'd rather study during waking hours, and I
can't tolerate too much interaction with people."
Isn't that just ridiculous and sad. Post your comments on it.
Comments
Jun. 19, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by sharla88
are they for real? i think homeschoolers know how to socilse beeter than anybody we are actually polite in public!! ah that is so worng well we now know where socity is going dont we?
sharla~
Jun. 19, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Alagasiagirl
That makes me so mad! >:(
Alagasiagirl
Jun. 20, 2007 - Hey!
Posted by AmandaJoyful
This really is Rediculus! But on a possitive note, I like your blog! wanna be my friend?
Jun. 22, 2007 - Their just jealous
Posted by Katalina
Hello!
I was surfing around and reading some blogs when yours came up. Pretty blunt.
I was homeschooled all my life (except kindergarten) and had tons af homeschool friends. I loved it! We went on field trip at least once or twice a month and got together all the time.
I think what Harvard is doing is trying to "solve a problem" they don't need to solve. It is one of those things they don't know how to handle because they were never in that position. For some reason a lot of people think homeschoolers are dumb and have no friends and no life. Some might be. But the majority are smart, well mannered young men and women who gow up to benefit the world around them.
Just a note to Harvard:
Please desist. This is high discrimination. I am appalled that you would stoop to so low a level.
Get over it.
I am very thankful that I have decided to attend a christian university. I pray God this opprotunity will be around for many years to come.
Jul. 30, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by sharla88
Ok your tagged.
GB~
sharla~
Aug. 3, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by StuckIntheMiddle
that is absolutely ridiculous!
Dec. 7, 2007 - Not sure how true this is...
Posted by Anonymous
None of the people cited in the article work at Harvard. I have familiarity with Harvard and never heard of such a program. I started searching for the program and couldn't find the people or program mentioned. For example there is no dean at Harvard names James Muesten. The current deans are Michael Smith and David Pilbeam. Something doesn't seem right.
Nov. 13, 2008 - non-homeschooled Christian college grad
Posted by Anonymous
yeah, remember the part about a satirical news agency? that's what lark news is.
