Is anybody else tired of the "socialization" issue?

Question

I'm serious. People who have no experience with home schooling always have so much to say about it, and it's usually all related to the "social" aspect. If they had their facts straight, they'd know that socialization with home schooled kids is NOT a problem. They just can't come up with any other reasons to object to it.

Answer 1

I TOTALLY agree, I too am so sick & tired of people asking the very same question. I always tell them, my son gets alto of socail attention from out of the homeschooling range. He has reading time, & craft time at the local library, 4-H, Karate, play dates with other homeschooing kids, & even potluck dinners with other homeschooling families too. And we even have local field trips too to all kinds of events around the area.

Plus, my son is more calmer at home, then he ever was in public school. The teachers here in my area, just want to pass them through tot hte next grade, never mind if they can read or not.

we chose to homeschool 2 years ago. due to the fact he couldnt read past "see d**k run" books, & he was in the 3rd grade!! We were even workign our butts off at home with him, & all the school told us was he can read, but he refuses too. Once we started homeschooling his grades went from D & F's to A & B's.

Taking our sons education in our own hands was the best more we ever made for our son.

Sometimes, I just want to spla people & tell them to wake up!

Answer 2

No!

I love the idea that it keeps coming up again and again.  It gives everyone the opportunity to keep the discussion open.  

The more people ask the more people will get to know the truth.  

And all of the people that might need to know will be able to become informed.  They will be able to realize that they CAN choose to homeschool without the fear of becoming hermits.

Let 'em object!!!!  It makes for a lively discussion.

Answer 3

Home schooled kids do miss out on a lot of things. Some good, some bad.  Everything has its pros and cons. I think you are so blinded with how great homeschooling is that you just can't take any criticism at all. I think homeschooling is great if the parents are committed to it. Why wouldn't it be? Private tutoring essentially. Rich people used to do this for their kids. There are dynamics in classrooms with different teachers and different students. It's a learning experience in and of itself. Some good. Some bad. You can't just duplicate it (not easily) in a home environment. Is it a necessary experience? I don't know.

Answer 4

I agree.    The whole anti-homeschool mindset totally bores me.  

We will never convince them that we are as normal as public school people.   We are just people.   Most of us are people who like people.   Most of us don't live in a secluded area without neighbors.  Most of us have phones, cars and internet.

Oh well, I wonder what their kids do during the summer.  I hope they don't have problems when re-entering school in the fall after being anti-social for those weeks when they were not 'socialized' in the public classroom.

It just doesn't make sense to me.

Answer 5

I think that anyone who states that home schoolers are socially inept are either delusional or have never met a home schooler.

And I'm not saying that homeschooling is a wonderful thing with no problems at all. I'm in grade eight and homeschooled and sometimes I wish I went to school with all the other kids my age, but school isn't all about being with your friends. Or if it is, it shouldn't be. Our education systems (coming from Canada) clearly aren't working. Look at all the cases of violence in the classroom, bullying, drugs, peer pressure. At times I'm relieved I don't have to deal with these things.

I have lots of great friends, all of different ages, and I don't find that all my friends have to be the same age as me, because that's ridiculous.

So maybe socialization is a problem for some homeschoolers, but there are just as many traditionally schooled kids who have the same problems.

One more thing, if people say that home school doesn't prepare kids for the "real world" here is my reply, kids in school aren't being prepared for the real world either. What is the real world anyway??

Answer 6

Mmm, I agree. Everyone just won't shut up about it. My cousin has been homeschooled for quite a while now and she's doing just fine. She's not socially retarded or anything. Ha.

Answer 7

So, SO tired of it! Seriously, does a SINGLE day go by when someone doesn't drag out the dreaded S word? And most of them don't know what it means either.

Yahoo Answers ought to set up a top 5 most frequently asked question for this section, pick the top answers previously given and stick it on the front page. The #1 question would be "but what about socialization?"

Answer 8

Isn't it interesting that the very first post responds with "Home schooled kids do miss out on a lot of things" and "There are dynamics in classrooms with different teachers and different students. It's a learning experience in and of itself. Some good. Some bad. You can't just duplicate it (not easily) in a home environment."

People have the mistaken idea that "home" schoolers do all their work at the kitchen table or the couch or essentially cloistered in one spot in one house every hour of every day.

If that poster, and similar others, had much experience with homeschooling they would understand that much of the learning takes place outside of the home - through coop courses (oh my - different teachers!), clubs (oh my, different authority figures), community service, community college (ooh, more different teachers), 4-H, sports (yep, even sports) and on and on and on...

The poster also says: "I think you are so blinded with how great homeschooling is that you just can't take any criticism at all."

I think most homeschoolers are open to valid, fact-based criticism (this one is).  The question has been posted here a number of times asking for factual, researched based data that indicates 1) homeschoolers don't get into college and 2) homeschoolers lack socialization or social skills.

NO ONE ever provides such research because there is none. They just spout their prejudiced, closed minded personal opinions - which of course they are entitled do - but their opinions do not change reality.

Provide some legitimate fact based criticism of homeschooling and I think most homeschoolers will listen with an open mind (this one will) and most will find ways to constructively mitigate or negate said negative in their own homeschooling efforts (this one would).

You've also got the "what about S" questioners and answerers who whine: Why are you getting so defensive?  Well!  It is a natural response to defend against offense - especially when said offense is based on stereotypical prejudice.

So... to answer your question.  Yes.

Do I expect it to stop anytime soon? No.

***UPDATE: I agree with Barb, too... but I do get tired of it.

Answer 9

Yes I agree. I had to suffer through 7.5 years of typical school before my mother decided to homeschool me.

As a highly sensitive child, I was relieved that I didn't have to be around people so much. However, finding other kids to socialize with when I wanted to was never, ever a problem.

I don't feel like I missed out on anything, I just feel happy that my parents loved me enough to do what was best for me.

Answer 10

Yeah, me too.  I've often said that some people have lots of opinions about that which they know little.

However, to help our kids, we always need to answer questions and objections patiently and thoughtfully.

Answer 11

Yes, I am. I think it is a matter of not knowing about it - like you said. People tend to be fearful of things they don't know. I do what I can to direct them to proof to studies and such that prove them wrong. It's a losing battle though - and they will choose to remain ignorant if they want to.

Answer 12

The last time someone asked me that, I responded, "Actually, my kids haven't missed the name-calling, cliques, and playground fights at all."  

The expression on the questioner's face was priceless: totally stunned.

Answer 13

I agree with you, I just started online school not too long ago. A lot of my friends were there for me through whatever I did, but some would say "that's so stupid, you are going to miss out on this, and that" but honestly, I really didn't mind missing out. I just dis-liked school that much! All the drama, the fake people, the lies, the teachers, homework, grades .. basically everything about it. I was also on the dance team and it drove me insane when I wouldn't have good enough grades to dance ..

I realized through this experience who my TRUE friends are, and really, that's all you need in my opinion ..

but I still do talk to A LOT of people, so that whole "homeschooling is social suicide" thing is not true .