Do you consider the classroom to be a place to study or a place to socialize?

Question

Classroom definition: home-school, public school, or private school. Wherever studying is done.

Answer 1

When I was teaching, I did not consider my classroom a place to socialize. Yes, there were group projects at times, but a lot of it is really supposed to be a place to work, do tests, sit and listen to the teacher or another student, etc.

I did not like a lot of the socializing that went on . One boy had been throwing condoms around on the school bus (this is an elementary school) and explaining to other kids exactly how reproduction works, certain kids were always excluded from everything because the 'group' did not like that child, even if one child might have paired up with him had it not been for the fear of being rejected, too, the girls could get so snooty and would drop friends without any reason and would reject them at recess, lots of whispering behind people's backs, kids being made fun of because they goofed on something, lots of "this is stupid" so other kids would adopt the anti-school attitude, too... There were other things going on that I got hints of but not enough to be able to step in and guide them. But really, a teacher's guidance often doesn't make that much of a difference because there are plenty of other people (children) around who have the same mentality as the child the teacher would want to guide.

I'm not sure what's supposed to be so special about school socialization! And personally, I feel that competition in the classroom does more harm than good. You can read Alfie Kohn books to learn more about that. People don't have good relationships with others they are in competition with because they're always out to one up that other person.

Answer 2

It's an important blend of both. School is really a controlled sub-culture and should have a healthy dynamic.

The need for children (and adults) to compete works both scholastically and socially. Each person compares and learns from others choices, good and bad.

The leadership and pecking order exists in the classroom too. This dyamnic must be acknowledged and exploited by a teacher to push the class farther than they would without the social dynamic.

Answer 3

I would say that for homeschooling families it tends to be primarily an area for studying. However, some programs tend to emphasize socialization more than others. For instance, I know of an online homeschooling program at www.themorningstaracademy.org. They have chatrooms and message boards for students to socialize among their peers.

The idea that homeschoolers have no social skills is a myth.

Answer 4

A place to study. You go to school for an education. If you make friends great!! That's what the after school things are for --to socialize. You know, football games,the movies school events. You have got to be a school kid to ask a question like that.

Answer 5

My children's classroom is a place to learn and socialize, but then, their classroom is the world. Kinda hard not to socialize while learning in the real world! :)

Answer 6

A place to Learn AND Study of course!

Answer 7

Well, since this is the homeschool section, I'm going to have to say that our classroom (our home) is for EVERYTHING. Learning, socializing, growing, laughing, loving, chilling out, sleeping........that's what homeschooling is all about! :)

Answer 8

I'm home-schooled, so to study of course! And talk with my mom and sib's some

Answer 9

I think its a place for both, the children learn how to handle themselves and cope with everyday concerns, plus competition, between class mates is a learning experience, to be the best you can be and know at times you have to be able to compete in this world and hold your own

Answer 10

study