Dolphin Tale Gives Homeschooling a Thumbs Up by Paula K. Parker
Even though the numbers of homeschoolers are growing, home education is still considered by many to be an inferior choice and is often cast in a bad light in films and TV shows. But in Dolphin Tale, homeschooling receives a positive endorsement.
Dolphin Tale is a heartwarming family film based on true events about Winter, a young dolphin who loses her tail in a crab trap, and Sawyer, the introverted 11-year-old boy who befriends her. Harry Connick Jr. plays Clay Haskett, a single dad and the dedicated marine biologist who rescues Winter.
As young actors, Nathan Gamble and Cozi Zuehlsdorff — who plays Haskett’s daughter Hazel — are homeschooled while on set, but Cozi’s character Hazel is also homeschooled in the film. During a visit to the set of Dolphin Tale, Harry Connick Jr. discussed the benefits of homeschooling for his young co-workers.
“I think it’s the perfect opportunity for Cozi and Nathan for their professions. I sit in their [Nathan and Cozi's] class a lot; in fact, sometime we have music class, and it counts towards their credit. If you can find a great instructor, I think it’s the best thing in the world.”
Connick also revealed that he had been a homeschooling father. “I have three children and my oldest was homeschooled for a year. I really liked it. The only reason I don’t homeschool all my children is that they love the society of other children.” He went on to confess that he wished homeschooling would have been an option when he was young. “I would have loved to have been homeschooled, because I wasn’t really a social animal. I didn’t do well in school and I would have thrived if they had had homeschooling when I was growing up.”
Dolphin Tale releases September 23 by Warner Brothers and Alcon Entertainment. You can watch the trailer above.
Do you think the media is fair to homeschoolers?
