Can You See Your Brain When You Do That?

My daughter started Driver's Ed last week (which has brought up numerous feelings of feeling old, but that is a different blog post...) and has gotten a little taste of your typical high school classroom.  The kids are unengaged, with glazed-over eyes, and really don't want to be there.  I get the impression that the same applies to the teacher as well.  While this is typical (I don't remember having an overly engaging Driver's Ed teacher, do you?), it is a newer experience for her. She doesn't want to be there either and basically has the attitude of putting her time in so she can get that Level 1 license.

While I have heard lots of murmurs of dissatisfaction on the situation from her, the main theme has been comments about homeschooling in the classroom. The very first class the instructor asked who *didn't* attend the local high school just next door.  Only my daughter and one other homeschooler raised their hands.  When he asked where they attended and they replied that they were homeschoolers, he sighed and rolled his eyes.  Nice, eh?  Originally, I gave him the benefit of the doubt since when telling the story, my daughter said she and her friend replied with a "We are both homeschooled," precisely *in unison*, and I thought that prompted the eyeroll.

However, there have been multiple comments since, like the story of how the instructor knew a homeschooled student that was only "homeschooled" so she could babysit her younger siblings, or the homeschooler who worked at Wendy's all day.  Seriously? My daughter exerted great will power and held her tongue, which at times isn't as restrained! On another occasion, even another student got in on the 'tude about homeschoolers and made a comment under her breath.

The most recent comment was on Thursday when the instructor said, "Well, you all enjoy your homework this weekend...except you two.  You don't have homework."  It was about all my daughter could take, and she replied with exasperation,

"Just because we don't go to the same school doesn't mean we don't *do* school!"

The assumption that she had no schoolwork over the weekend was entirely laughable.  Her current studies include all honors, AP, and college courses.

My daughter now talks of creating a community awareness program where she goes into the public schools and gives presentations about who homeschoolers really are.  Ok, she's not really serious, but it is a fun fantasy.  Can you tell I have a justice seeker in my house?  If the comments continue, I'm afraid there might be an impromptu presentation right there in Driver's Ed!

It is a shame that homeschoolers have to continuously battle stereotypes wherever they go.  Whether or not a student is homeschooled is entirely irrelevant in Driver's Ed. I'd just like to say to the instructor,  "Can you see your brain when you do that? If so, I suggest you use it!"