I was homeschooled very briefly for the beginning of first grade for explicitly political reasons and the fantasy of every young republican mother to raise her own Von Trapp family. Then when I was asked who I wanted to invite to my birthday party I started naming characters from books. I was hurriedly re-enrolled in public school.
The experiences of this person do not shock or even appall me anymore, they just make me sad and angry.
These people believe they are being good parents. What does it matter you can prove to them they are raising hatemongers and white nationalists? That they are seeking out sources of 'information' that outright deny provable physical reality? Their family and church tells them this is the right thing to do.
Home schooling is neglect at best outside of incredibly fringe circumstances.
“Here’s a guy,” he says. “He is ready to answer all of my questions.”
I side-eye B while welcoming the couple back. I talk to the wife, and they wander over to look at our product.
A few minutes later, the husband walks over to B.
“My wife doesn’t know the story of Rosie the Riveter,” he says. “I’m gonna tell her, but I need you to fact-check me.”
B glances my way.
“Actually, Heather is the one who wrote the biographies.”
“Yeah, I know, but check me,” he tells B.
No one else is in the booth, so the husband stands in the middle. Center stage. He spreads his legs wide, slightly bending his knees, and his wife preps for the show.
“OK, he and I...” he begins. With both arms, he dramatically gestures to B and himself, a platoon of two. “We are off fighting the war. You and her —” he indicates us girls — “stay home and support us by making airplanes. We —” another swing of the arms to indicate the platoon — “use the airplanes to win the war and come home.”
He looks triumphantly at B. “Is that right?”
I am baffled by this 10-second World War II reenactment. An awkward giggle escapes me. B looks at me and I shrug my shoulders. B’s on his own with this guy.
He clears his throat and says, “Well, there’s more to it than that, but yeah, I guess.”
The couple buy the curriculum and tell us they are opening a co-op school.