We’ve had a little problem around the house lately. Our seven year old son has blurted out some really ugly language. He called his sister a “douchebag” the other day. He asked me, “Daddy, why do people say ‘f**k’?” He’s so innocent about all this that when he sees our shocked reaction, he just crumples from shame, and we have to reassure him that we’re not mad at him, but that those words are not acceptable in our house.

Turns out he learned all this lovely language at a neighborhood soccer day camp for little kids. I remember when I was his age (that would be 1974), being startled to hear the word “fart” at school (it was MARK JENKINS who said it!). We live in a middle to upper-middle class neighborhood, so these kids weren’t from the rough side of town. I know it might seem like a small thing to you, but accepting that kind of language means accepting a worldview, and not one I respect.

Homeschooling has its advantages. Keeping our kids out of the cultural mainstream is one of them.