In my twisted mind, I DO think it is terribly funny that it is the HOMESCHOOLED kid that is the robotics master.

I do homeschool my son, and THERE IS a Lego Mindstorms Robotics Invention Kit on my kitchen table right now and targets on my kitchen floor.

Still, I will pass this on because I really DO get tired of these negative stereotypes that are totally unfounded.
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ATTENTION HOME SCHOOLERS! ACTION NEEDED!

If you haven't seen any of the one minute WordGirl shorts throughout the PBS
KIDS GO! weekday programming or the two minute WordGirl episodes which air
after the very popular Maya & Miguel show on your local PBS station, please
take a moment to visit the PBS KIDS website to view the negative portrayal
of home schooled students that is being espoused in this programming. The
link to the website is:

Click on the left side "Heroes, Villains & Mere Mortals" then select the
character "Tobey". Here's the character description from the website:

"Tobey is a 10-year-old home schooled genius who causes serious property
damage in order to get WordGirl's attention, not that he'd ever admit it.
He's a master of robotics, building giant robots to do his bidding. He's
constantly trying to prove that he is WordGirl's intellectual superior, and
that he isn't afraid of his mommy."

In one episode, there is a comment about Tobey that "he's so timid that he
has a hard time making friends." In the same episode, Tobey also acts very
rude and destructive. You can see this episode and others (they are all only
a minute or so long) by going to the same website link above and clicking on
"Adventures of WordGirl" on the left side of the webpage, and then when the
"Choose a Character" screen comes up, select "Tobey" and then click on the
first picture under "Choose an Episode" at the bottom of the screen (it's
the one with the robot picture).

Scholastic's choice to portray this intelligent, yet socially inept and
deviant character as a home schooled student is a glaring attack on home
schooling and educational choice. Scholastic would not have dared to portray
this character as a racial minority or as a homosexual, yet they feel at
liberty to attack home schooled students and indirectly their parents who
they imply are making social misfits out of their children by teaching them
at home. This programming is seen by thousands of children every day and is
a means of influencing their attitudes toward home schooled students. As the
saying goes, "If you say it loud enough and long enough, the people will
believe it." There is no evidence to support the socialization concern in
regards to home schooled students, yet the educational establishment
continues with this propaganda.... [ Read More (0.2k in body) ]