Why do people try to stereo-type homeschooler's as Anti-Social?

Question

Why is it that when you tell someone that you homeschool, the first thing they ask is "but what about socialization" ? I'd like to hear from "non-homeschoolers" as to why they think that our kids are not social and do not interact with other children and what it would take to disprove this myth about homeschool!

Answer 1

Mainly because they think you never let your kids out of the house. They don't understand what you are doing. And they seem to think that government run schools are giving a good education!

Answer 2

My experience as a public school teacher has shown me that many times when a previously homeschooled child enters a public school for the first time, s/he is often socially behind others at that grade level. Not always, mind you, but often. There are exceptions to every rule, of course. I'm sure that homeschooled children DO interact with other children somewhat, but there is no comparison to the exposure and experience that learning to wait your turn in a classroom of 25+ students can provide. There are more opportunities to excel in more ways. One suggestion would be to make sure that your homeschooled children have multiple opportunities to interact with LARGE groups of peers at dance classes, sports teams, scouting groups, swim lessons, etc. In other words, get out there in the real world. Homeschooling does, I believe, have its advantages if the teacher is qualified and certified by the State Dept. of Education. This would be one way to disprove the myth that homeschooled kids are not social. If given the opportunity, all kids can be socially adept.

Answer 3

I'll say what I said on another borred. I am very annoyed at how people think homeschoolers live in a plastic bubble.
That's wrong. there are many more options, more clubs to join, you can set up your own schedule so you have more time for other things. I take science class with others and have art, that's about 20 kids. Believe me, homeschoolers know how to socilaize with other kids. That's the main reason why parents are ifey about homeschooling. But it's not true that we don't socilize. For from that
But it depends on where you live, and how much time you have on your side.

As far as I know, I have never met any homeschool "failures" all of the homeschoolers I know, who are my frineds, Just to say I have


9 frineds, 4 are from public school, 2 bestfriends homeschoolers and 2 other homeschoolers, well, anyways, all of them are B-A+ students.

Homeschoolers aren't in a plastic bubble, I go to youth group I know who to hang out with other kids.


Did you know homeschoolers even also have proms? Everythning a normal highschooler could have, and more. (Well some of the time.)

Just to get it straight, I wasn't homeschooled until half through six grade.

I was a b student, since Im homeschooled I am an A+ student.

Answer 4

Well, I personally know a family that homeschools all 7 of their children (well, 5 right now, b/c the other 2 aren't old enough) and yes, they are Christian. But the thing is, through their church, and moving a lot (they move a lot, the dad is a pastor) they know more people than I do! People who ask about socialization, especially as the first thing are obviously asking it unknowingly-if they researched it they'd find out a lot. That's not necessarily a bad thing, it's just that they don't know. As for "disproving the myth" just educate as many people you encounter as you can, and then they'll be able to tell others.

Answer 5

There is a big difference between being anti-social and not being socialized. A HUGE difference.
Homeschooling is done at home. That means class size is limited. And that means there is less interaction between students than in the regular classrooms. It means that the home schooling parent has to make a special effort to find groups where his or her child can learn how to work with others. And how to play with others. Team sports are part of the average school experience, but you can't have a team if you're the only one in the room.
Some home school parents are extremely conscientious about making sure that their children do get out in the community, do take part in group activities, and do learn social skills. But, unfortunately, not all are that careful. And a number of them simply leave the child with a computer as their reference point without helping them learn how to cross check, how to validate responses such as those that appear on Yahoo's home school and homework help section.
These are the sorts of things that non-homeschoolers think about.

Answer 6

From my perspective, a lot of the people I meet who homeschool their kids are Christians, and they self-admittedly are trying to shelter their kids. Which, IMHO is a terrible thing to do. Because kids reach a certain age and have questions that their peers have had answered years ago. And that will kill them socially. But, I don't think that's the case for all homeschoolers. I definately think it's a good idea with the shape our educational system is in these days. But, I think if I did it, I'd send them to public school 4th or 5th grade-ish, because there is a lot to be said about the socialization skills kids develop at a public school.

Answer 7

I would ask them what exactly they mean by socialization, and if they mean that children should learn how to interact appropriately and comfortably with others....usually, that is what they mean. Then I ask them if they really think that learning this is best done in a group of 30+children all of whom are equally unskilled, and say that I believe the best way to learn social skills is to be mentored much more closely by an adult who both models and is invested in the child's development. Homeschooled children have a much greater opportunity to interact socially with people of many age groups and are much more closely mentored. Then smile and watch them stutter.

Remember that people who ask this are usually uninformed about homeschooling and are defending their own educational choices. Excellence and non-adherence to social status quo is inherently seen as a threat, unfortunately.

Answer 8

I homeschool my teenage son, and he is not socially deprived. Many people are ignorant about things with which they aren't familiar. And many people don't agree with or don't understand homeschooling.

If someone is homeschooling to shelter their children, then that's not good. But if you homeschool to give your child a better education and more opportunities than public school, they won't be social outcasts at all.

Don't worry so much about what others think. Do what is best for you and your children and that's what matters.

Answer 9

When tested, homeschoolers score above average, i.e. higher than institutionally schooled kids, regardless of the educational background of the parents. To think someone has to be a 'licensed' or 'qualified' teacher to homeschool is simply ignorance or provincialism. First of all, for the vast majority of history, there were no licensed teachers and yet people learned. Weird, I know. I think Da Vinci didn't have a licensed teacher. I know Thomas Edison's mother saw that school was destroying her son and she yanked him out quickly and let him unschool.

"Big groups" are not natural, they are not the real world. They are the artificial world of schooling. I've never seen a homeschooled kid behind a schooled kid socially. Oh, maybe they're not into stupid fads, not into cliques, not into dumbing themselves down, but they can talk to people of any age and are typically very self-confident.

We unschool our sons. Our 13 year old just finished as the lead in "treasure island" with a homeschool theatre company and yesterday auditioned for a PBS show. He also knows more about Norse, Russian, English, German/Prussian, Turkish, and Roman history than any adult i know. He is completely self-taught, tho we love to talk with him about what he learns. He is not a qualified teacher, nor are we.

Again, it is ignorant to think a student needs a 'qualified' teacher. But, when you are immersed in a system, you usually can't see how stupid it is. But believe me, institutionalized schooling is the stupidest and most harmful form of education. It utterly destroys childrens' love of learning and self-motivation.

So, why do people stereotype homeschoolers as anti-social? jealousy. embarassment at their own poor parenting and choices. Or, perhaps they met one of those right wing christian nut homeschoolers who say things like - 'we homeschool to get away from the likes of you.'

Answer 10

No i do no longer. of direction there are some strange or anti-social homeschoolers, they are young ones after all, no longer appropriate clones. maximum, in spite of the shown fact that, are actually not. somewhat, how somebody study has no longer something to do with this. it is how young ones are raised; what they do whilst they do no longer seem to be at college or interpreting at domicile that makes them exciting human beings and social. I certainly do no longer think of that homeschooled young ones socialize extra desirable or are extra well mannered than schooled scholars. young ones in faculties could have reports with a much broader group than only their very own age, in the event that they are given that have with the aid of activities outdoors of faculty. Many i understand incorporate. and various homeschooled young ones i understand incorporate too. Whichever group you're from, once you're making huge generalizations concerning to the social information of the different because of the fact of their group association, there's a undeniable irony in asserting those out of your group have the extra desirable social skills. Stereotyping others without first attending to understand them for who they are isn't what those with sturdy social skills do. There is going the "we are extra desirable" argument.

Answer 11

A woman I know very well was convinced by her church to home school her kids to shield them from the evil influences in the public schools. The kids wanted to go to school with their friends but weren't allowed.
The oldest boy was driving drunk when he was sixteen and crashed a car killing his best friend. Then he vandalized the high school and went into hiding from the cops.
He somehow got a gun and robbed a local bank. The teller recognized him from church. They had a good idea where he was hiding but vandalism isn't that serious. they got him a few hours after he robbed the bank and he was sent to state prison while waiting for trial. He hung himself in his cell.

By that time his sister was doing any drugs she could get her hands on and has been in rehab or jail or a mental institution since.

I don't believe in home schooling and I don't think churches should be trying to keep these children from experiencing a normal childhood. They should teach them how to cope with the real world instead of segregating them.

Oh I forgot about the youngest son. He's in jail for child molesting.

Is that anti-social behavior or what?