Homeschooling as an Alternative to Negative Peer Pressure: Quotes to Inspire


Whoever said, ‘What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger,’ clearly never dealt with negative peer pressure in school. But are we really building resilience by throwing our kids into the lion’s den? Let’s take a closer look at the damage these little tigers can do to each other and explore a better way forward with some peer pressure quotes and Bible verses.

Rebbecca Devitt

I hope you enjoy reading this blog post. If you want to do my course on how to homeschool, click here.

Peer Pressure Quotes

Let’s face it, kids are like sponges – they soak up everything around them, especially the good, the bad, and the downright ugly.

And when it comes to their friends in school, well, let’s just say they can be pretty darn persuasive.

If little Johnny’s classmates are all into Pokemon and trading cards, you can bet he’ll be too.

But if they’re more into skipping class and spray painting the gym, well, you can see where this is going.

That’s why we need to pay close attention to the kind of peer pressure our kids are facing and do our best to steer them towards the good stuff.

And if you need a little extra motivation, here are some peer pressure quotes that prove just how influential our friends can be – for better or for worse.

Peers exert a massive influence over school children and are stronger than any other influence in school, including teachers. – Rebbecca Devitt, Why on Earth Homeschool

Today’s adults or parents think it is normal for children to be peer-oriented and often antagonistic toward their parents. [But], this is not natural, historical or good for children. – Neufeld, G and Maté, G. Hold on to your kids. (2005).  1st ed. New York: Ballantine Books.

Peers have the power to make each other supremely happy or utterly miserable. The latter is generally avoidable if children conform to the popular image at school. – Rebbecca Devitt

While many exceptions exist, generally parents are far more efficient at transmitting their values to their children than peers are at spreading their values to their peers. – Rebbecca Devitt

For millennia, always until recently, culture was handed down vertically from generation to generation. Now, however, children are generating their own culture and transmitting it … horizontally within the younger generation. – Neufeld, G and Maté, G. Hold on to your kids. (2005).  1st ed. New York: Ballantine Books.

Healthy peer relationships that build family units are rare in schools, even Christian schools – peer relationships characterize themselves more in pressure to try sex, drugs and alcohol. – Rebbecca Devitt

As a child’s trust in school peers increases, they simultaneously lose optimism, self-worth and respect for their parents.  – Dr. Urie Bronfenbrenner 

Even though sex, drugs, and alcohol are prevalent in schools, we are so desensitized to the effects of peer pressure (having experienced it ourselves), we consciously expect our children to immerse themselves in poor school culture and emerge unscathed.- Rebbecca Devitt

Homeschooling quote by Josh Hesford

 

Because many of us were raised in school institutions, we think peer influence is normal and safe (think of ‘resilience training’). It’s not. – Rebbecca Devitt

Peer orientation breeds bullies and their victims. – Neufeld, G and Maté, G. Hold on to your kids. (2005).  1st ed. New York: Ballantine Books.

Peer pressure affects children’s attitudes and behaviours profoundly. And, where toddlers attend preschool or daycare, peer dependency forms early. – Rebbecca Devitt, Why on Earth Homeschool

The peer group can replace a parent’s protection thanks to its sheer size. But, the group often expects a sacrifice for the protection they offer. The sacrifice to peers often means the loss of individuality and conformity to the group for peer approval.  – Rebbecca Devitt

Peer groups often encourage less family intimacy and mock the child that makes the mistake of hugging their parent on the schoolyard. Siblings and parents are rarely a schoolchild’s best friends. Rather, classmates hold the privilege family should hold. So, peer camaraderie excludes family and destroys a family’s peace and accord. – Rebbecca Devitt, Why on Earth Homeschool

Many children feel pressured to enter a relationship earlier than they would have without pressure from peers. Some girls are pressured into having sex by boyfriends. Others who resist the pressure to sleep around risk continual bullying for their choices. – Rebbecca Devitt

The worst thing about peer pressure is its tendency to make fools of those who follow bad children in school. – Rebbecca Devitt

My fifteen-year-old brother goes to school [now]. He hates school because he feels like he has to keep up an image. The peer pressure is just enormous. You’ve got to be a tough guy. That’s the sort of image he puts up. Because he sees many kids getting picked on, like the slower or nerdier. He’s a nice kid, but he hates school because he feels like he’s got to put other kids down to survive. You know – a kind of defense mechanism – attack someone else before they attack you. – Jesse Rose quoted in Why on Earth Homeschool.

But hey, let’s face it – sometimes it’s hard to swim against the current, especially when that current is a bunch of rowdy kids with questionable fashion sense.

That’s why homeschooling can be a real lifesaver for kids who want to be themselves without having to deal with the pressure to fit in.

Think about it – no more cliques, no more drama, no more awkward lunchroom encounters.

Just you, your family, and the freedom to learn and grow on your own terms.

So if you’re tired of the groupthink and ready to break free from the herd, homeschooling might just be the escape hatch you’ve been looking for.

Peer Pressure Quotes from the Bible

When it comes to wisdom, there’s no denying that the Almighty has us all beat.

After all, He’s the creator of the universe and the ultimate authority on, well, everything.

Thankfully, He chose to impart some of that wisdom to us through the timeless words of the Bible.

And when it comes to dealing with the pressures of life, including negative peer pressure, the Bible is a treasure trove of guidance and inspiration.

So if you’re feeling overwhelmed by the social pressures of school or just looking for some divine insight, turn to the Good Book for some heavenly wisdom.

After all, when God speaks, it’s always worth listening.

Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm. – Proverbs 13:20 [Bible]

You shall not follow the masses in doing evil, nor shall you testify in a dispute so as to turn aside after a multitude in order to pervert justice; (Exodus 23:2)

My son, if sinners entice you, Do not consent. If they say, “Come with us, Let us lie in wait for blood, Let us ambush the innocent without cause; Let us swallow them alive like Sheol, Even whole, as those who go down to the pit; (Proverbs 1:10-11)

He who walks with wise men will be wise, But the companion of fools will suffer harm. (Proverbs 13:20)

Wishing to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas for them, and after having Jesus scourged, he handed Him over to be crucified. (Mark 15:15)

But they were insistent, with loud voices asking that He be crucified. And their voices began to prevail. And Pilate pronounced sentence that their demand be granted. (Luke 23:23-24)

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:2)

Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them; (Eph 5:11)

Let’s be real, we all want our kids to surround themselves with good company.

It’s like the Bible says, ‘Do not be misled: Bad company corrupts good character.’

And while we can’t control everything our kids do, we can certainly be intentional about providing them with wise influences and companions.

Because when they’re around people who make good choices and encourage them to do the same, the sky’s the limit for their potential.

On the flip side, when they’re around people who make bad choices and lead them astray, well… let’s just say it’s not a recipe for success.

So let’s aim high and help our kids be the best they can be, one positive peer at a time.

Peer Pressure Quotes to Get You Informed and Thinking! #peerpressurequotes

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Conclusion

Well folks, that’s a wrap on our little journey through the ups and downs of negative peer pressure. We hope you’ve gained some nuggets of wisdom from these quotes and anecdotes – or at the very least, had a few chuckles along the way. Speaking of anecdotes, let me share a personal one with you: my parents decided to homeschool me because they saw how much I was changing under the negative pressure of my school peers. They went from having a content and happy child to a sad and angry one in no time flat. It was like I was possessed by the spirit of a moody teenager. Anyway, long story short, homeschooling turned out to be the magic antidote for me and my siblings. Under our parents’ guidance, we soon reverted to our former, lovable selves. So if you’re thinking about homeschooling your own kiddos, take it from me – it’s worth a shot. And who knows, maybe you’ll even have a few success stories of your own to share someday.

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Rebecca Devitt

Most adults don't particularly want to relive their schooling experience on a daily basis. They would gladly move on to a new life devoid of homework and teachers. Very, very few adults will passionately blog about their schooling some 15 years after graduating. This makes Rebecca Devitt somewhat unique. As it happens, she was homeschooled. And she loved it. Still does. And she wishes every kid could get a taste of homeschooling at its very best. Her website How Do I Homeschool, is a springboard for parents to see what a life of homeschooling could be for both them & their children. When she's not blogging Rebecca is still homeschooling her-adult-self by learning Latin, growing weird vegetables and most importantly looking after her two children Luke & Penny. She has a husband Tristan and is a participant at Wollongong Baptist Church. She's also written a book about why parents should homeschool called 'Why on Earth Homeschool'.

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