a place for unschoolers

That is one of the few shows that Arp and I are still really scared of. Maybe it's time for me to re-visit this issue too. We've been clicking around the spongebob channel for weeks since getting our TV signal back, and I've still been running scared of it. Thanks for giving *me* a little kick in the unschooling direction! For me, there's always some more work to do.

Funny this came up tonight. My girls are staying up late as a special treat and they wanted to watch Spongebob. We don't have satellite or cable so they have some DVDs. My husband loves SB and we happen to have quite a few DVDs. Believe you me, I was ticked off when my husband first rented SB. I fully expected to be outraged but I wasn't. Several people I know have a strict NO Spongebob policy, however they have no problem with their brood watching High School Musical.

There is a theme among a few SB episodes that some find offensive as it could be taken as promoting homosexuality. For example, there is one episode where they are muscle-bound wrestlers who end the match by walking off holding hands. Another episode shows SB giving Patrick a Valentine. In yet another episode they find a baby clam and raise it together. Depicted are the typical roles of SB as "mother" and Patrick as "father" and the day-to-day tension of being overwhelmed.

SB himself is pretty gentle and sweet. He has a good work ethic, is kind to his grandmother, takes good care of his pet snail, and seems to take no notice when others are mean to him. The Patrick character is supposed to be dumb so that is played upon quite a bit.

All things considered, I don't mind my girls watching SB. Whenever they use an inappopriate word (such as "idiot") I take the opportunity to mention to them that it would not be acceptable to use that word and why and what would be better to say. There is a little naughty humor such as shaking their butts and being seen in their underpants. Again, I take it as a chance to tell my children what is and isn't right about what they are seeing.

Most of the shows have an underlying message and common, simple problems all children face at one time or another. In one episode SB and Patrick think they have stolen a balloon so they leave town to avoid prosecution. In another episode SB is afraid to tell his friend his true feelings about what she wants to do so he hides from her. You will find themes such as breaking a promise, not being mean to animals, cheating, being jealous or under-confident, and avoiding temptation.

If you have the chance, watch a few episodes. It's not the greatest show of all time but it's not as bad as you might think.

I have no problem with any homosexual messages, and the most I comment on name-calling and such is "that's not very nice" (and my kids agree). I DO have an issue with making fun of people who aren't "smart" (Patrick being "dumb"), but that falls under the "that's not very nice" umbrella.

I did watch a few episodes with the boys, and I tolerated it. Like I said, they binged on it for a few hours on that day. Yesterday, I asked them if they wanted to watch it (I was listing off the shows that were on), and N&S were like, "No...we've seen it." They binged on it, and now don't seem to have any interest...yaye!

My children still like it. They watch it on DVD with Daddy. I only observe enough to give correction, like you mentioned. It is remarkable to me at what my children have absorbed from TV. We have very limited TV time and they primarily see PBS, if anything. It is funny what some parents will and won't permit. Parents I know who object to SpongeBob have those Bratz dolls for their girls. Those dolls I really don't like.