Visual Rhetoric 2

                                    (Johnson, 2010)

This cartoon is geared to the homeschooling audience or to those parents who are unsure of how they want to educate their kids: home schooling versus public schooling?

           The image above shows the stereotypes of homeschooling, both the myths and the reality. The image also shows public schooling: what parent’s desire and the result when parents send their children to public schools.

          Myth: Homeschooled child: The cartoon shows a lonely fish being homeschooled; he is an un- socialized, sad fish.

         Reality: The homeschooled fish is free to interact with other fish of different ages and types.

        Myth: Public schooled kids: On the other hand, parents of the school of fish want their kids following the same path as kids their age, just like a school of fish, only to find that the outcomes have not matched their desire.

       Reality: Public school: The children are packed in public school classrooms like sardines. The school of fish (children) is screaming for help because there is no room to move and be themselves.

       Reality: Public school: There is not enough one to one teaching and learning.

       When I first read this comic I loved it. It makes me happy to see positive things being said about homeschooling (pathos). I think public school audiences would not like this image as much and would upset a family who send their kids to public school because the reality is public school systems are over packed with no room to breathe, creating frustration (pathos).

         For families that are unsure about the choice to educate their children, this cartoon might help this audience think about homeschooling. In other words, the argument of homeschooling versus public schooling addresses parents' logic and reasoning (logos). This cartoon can be trusted (ethos). As a home-school teacher, this cartoon confirms my knowledge and experience (logos & ethos).

 Source Cited:

Johnson, C. (2010).  Homeschooling vs. public schools. No Homeschool Agenda. Retrieved November 17, 2012, from http://www.noagendahomeschool.com/blogs/news/5388642-homeschooling-vs-public-school.