Home Schoolers: Horton's writers don't like you (OT)

[Guest guest]

I know there are several Home-schoolers in this group.

Thought you might be interested in this.....Lynn

Pouch-schoolers be prepared: Horton's writers don't like

youBeware, home school moms: be notified beforehand

that you've been typecast into the role of villainess in this weekend's

children's smash hit " Horton Hears a Who? "

 

 

 

Settled down with our three and five year old grandsons Saturday

afternoon, I was eager and prepared to point out the importance of a

precious little speck floating throughout the movie's opening frames. It

would be a perfect teaching moment to share with them Dr. Seuss'

immortal, pro-life theme: " A person's a person, no matter how

small. "

But just minutes into the movie I gasped as one of the story's key

characters was introduced to the story line. An arrogant, snooty, evil,

uncaring, and yes, unbelieving female antagonist named Kangaroo is

introduced, and her little one pokes his head out of his mommy's pouch.

Kangaroo (with Carol Burnett's voice)sniffs and says, " He's

pouch-schooled. " Pouch-schooled...home-schooled.

The other nicer moms let Horton play with their children and teach them

about the forest, but no, not Kangaroo. Only she's good enough to

care for her little one. Hur-rumph...

The lovable Horton (with Jim Carrey's voice) wins his way into the

audience's hearts immediately. He alone hears the tiny Who's voice,

and is immediately convinced life thrives on a tiny, little

speck. The tiny Whoville mayor alone believes Horton, a huge,

too-big-to-be-visible elephant, is protecting and caring for their

peaceful little town.

If you've ever read Dr. Seuss' " Horton Hears a Who? " to your

children, you know the story line and how Horton so lovingly cares for

and bravely protects the too-small-to-see Whoville residents. The

artwork, the detail, the choreography and music are perfectly aligned in

the cartoon and you almost forget the cartoon characters aren't

humans.

The artistry is a delight, and so is the overall theme emphasizing the

preciousness and uniqueness of every life. The moral of the story

is " a little child shall lead them, " which is fine, but it's

when the little kenny jumps out of his

" don't-believe-it-if-you-can't-see-it " mother's grasp and tells

her " No " in order to save Whoville that the story line becomes

bittersweet.

In the very end, all is well, of course, and " A person's a person,

no matter how small " resonated with every caring adult in the

theatre. The brilliance of the cartoons matched perfectly with a

symphonic buildup kept the kids in the theatre mesmerized and engaged,

even the most restless little 3 year olds. It's truly a film for

all ages. That's what makes it's anti-home school message so

troubling.

As I followed our once- " pouch-schooled son " /now-father out of

the theatre with his own little kennies in tow, I was saddened as I

thought how the movie's beautiful pro-life lesson was undermined by its

unnecessary antagonism towards home schooling.

After a kiss and goodbye hug to all, I thought about that mean old

Kangaroo and comforted myself by remembering our family's

" pouch-schooling " experience wasn't as anything at all like

" Horton Hears A Who?'s " ill-informed screenplay writers

portrayed it. Our experience was more like the Whoville's Mayor

and his wife Sally's home was -- abounding with energy, silliness,

learning and laughter.

That's the message I intend to shout out loud and strong, hoping above

all hope to get that message out far and wide -- maybe even into

" Horton's " big brave new world, way beyond our small, Whosville

home schooling experience.

Posted by IR Editor |

 

Permalink

 

Technorati Tags: Dr.

Seuss, Fran Eaton,

home school,

homeschool,

Horton,

Horton Hears a

Who?, pouch

school, prolife,

Whoville