Why is the biggest argument against homeschooling the socialization factor?

Question

Now, I'm not going to debate whether or not a homeschooling child gets adequate socialization. That's not my intention here.

But I'm curious why this is--for so many--the number one argument against this type of schooling? Not that socialization isn't important but why isn't the quality of the education being received more of an issue or concern where homeschooling is concerned? Shouldn't the number one issue be what and how much the child is learning and not the number of friends he or she has?

There's a lot of good answers here...thank you to all those who answered with an open heart and mind!

Answer 1

I think the reason it is the number one arguement against is because of the perceptions many people have of what homeschooling is. Many people hane an image in thier mind of the child or children, working away alone at a table. They have images of homeschool families as religous "fanatics" who keep their kids home to shelter them from the rest of the world. Or they see the parents as the ultimate in control freaks who want to control every moment of thier child's life.

Most people who don't know a homeschool family havenot had the chance to see what really happens first hand. ONe of the biggest advantages is home schooling is that our kids often have far more opporunities to socialize than public school kids. Home schoolers tend to be involved in organized groups who plan regular activities together. Home schooled children have more freedom since home schooling tends to take less time to complete than a day sitting in regular class. Our kids use the extra time to pursue their interests in sports, art, music, etc. Our families tend to have more opportunities to spend time together, even on weeknights when kids in traditional school have to spend the time after dinner doing homework rather than hanging out with parents and siblings. We have more freedom to plan vacations and day trips.

I agree with many people and experts that socialization is a vital part of the growing and learning process. All kids need to spend time with their peers in a variety of settings. However, we also have learned over the years that many (indeed a majority of) students simply can not learn well in a class of 26-30 students and one teacher. We have learned that teaching to the median, which is all that can really be done with such a large number of students, fails both the kids who need the extra help and the kids who want the extra work! I would love for my child to be able to attend school every day, in a classroom enviroment that supports her learning style and capabilities, with kids she knows and enjoys. Homeschooling takes a lot of work and has serious impacts on other aspects of family life...mainly financial since one parent has to be able to stay home rather than work. And while we all love our children, and there are probably some children being homeschooled because of overprotective parents, most of us know that there are days when the thought of another week home with the kids will make us nuts! But in the end we make the choice based on what we know our child needs and ensure that all parts of their education are met...reading, writing, math and sleepover 101! How we ever got it all done with 6 hours of regular school I'll never know!

Answer 2

It should be. In almost every state, a homeschooling parent does not need to have a degree in education. This is a slap in the face to teachers, many of whom have worked to get their master's degree in education (and have huge student loan payments) while Betty Homemaker thinks she can do a better job with some old textbooks and some worksheets printed off the internet.

Would you go to a doctor who has a degree, has experience and is certified by the state? Or would you go home, have your husband or wife cut into you to remove your appendix because "the state says I don't need a license or a degree". I am tired of the argument that "homeschoolers are more highly educated". Show me some research and some statistics that show the number of students accepted into Harvard and Yale that are homeschooled versus public education.

The quality of education that the child receives should be the most important thing. Yes, socialization is important and it is a life skill that all children need to learn. And not just with their little "homeschool groups" but with all types of individuals - the punk in the corner of the classroom, the jock, the shy bookworm, the joker. ALL of them, not just like minded individuals. The main point is that the theory that any parent can be a teacher without any type of training or degree is a fallicy - look at the number of questions here asked by homeschoolers about curriculum and what to teach and then go to the teaching section and see if there are as many questions from licensed teachers.

Answer 3

It should be, but everyone already knows that the majority of homeschooled children have superior education. They can't use that argument.

They use the socialization argument because a few social outcasts that homeschool stay that way and are considered "odd".

It's the same deal as a social outcast in public school being targeted by bullies and also being "watched" for signs that they may shoot up the school.

Most people who use the socialization argument don't have a clue what goes on in an average homeschooler's day. They just assume that they are anti-social by what they hear others say.

Answer 4

The first thing is 'why' do your parents feel you need an alternative way of being schooled. I am a homeschooler and my boys have done both, homeschooled and did private school for 2 years. I don't see any problem with you going to a Catholic school. You are there to learn and most Catholic schools don't have a lot of 'religion' in them anymore like they did in the 'old days'. So the things you would be exposed to would have no bearing on your liberal beliefs. Many Catholic schools have non-Catholic (even Muslim) students in them purely because the academics are usually superior to that of the area public schools. Since your mother is an educator, she might not be open to homeschooling so I think your best bet is to plead your case for you to do the status quo or 'shadow' for a day at the local private high schools before you make a judgement. You will need to do some research and present your case in a very mature manner to impress upon your parents that you can succeed and not only meet but exceed their expectations of what is deemed acceptable at your school now. Maybe impress upon them that you are willing to take AP classes and do extra credit with each teacher in order to stay where you are? Good luck. Simply by the way you have typed your question I, as a parent and educator, feel you are a fine young person and will do splendidly whereever you land.

Answer 5

I think that socialization concerns are the first and most obvious objection.

The quality of education will change from case to case, so that won't be the first objection.

Reducing socialization (in my humble opinion) to "the number of friends" I think is almost naive.
I think that so many parents believe they are protecting their children by homeschooling* when the children are actually getting a more and more narrow view of how the world works due to limited input from a range of sources.

I'll never forget meeting the Jewish children or the black children in my neighborhood when I was a little boy and being astounded at the differences in simple things like the names they used for their parents or the food they ate. It was different than the way my family did things -- and it was okay! But it blew me away and made me, overall, more tolerant of the differences in the world.

So, I can easily guess that socialization might be a problem. I can not know from case to case how the quality of education is addressed. I DO know, I've seen homeschooling teachers here online who simply could not spell.

*I also think parents believe they are protecting their children by not explaining what sex is, when as early as eight years old, that child is very very interested and as to find out by other sources.

Answer 6

First of all, I was homeschooled from 5th to 7th grade. I went to a private school in 8th grade and was the quietest most shy kid in my grade. I believe homeschooling did not prepare me socially for life situations. yes education is important but without learning how to relate to others in social environments all your book learning is of no use. The application of knowledge is administered through socialization. If you have a degree but are not a social creature it will be very hard to get hired based on a personal interview for a job. Homeschooling is a great idea and I would agree that it is highly probable that a young person learns more in that type of schooling. I believe a parent's MAIN objective if they homeschool should be the socialization of their child. Why? The parent has already acted on their conviction to give their child a better education. So the education part is a given. the parent must then create as many opportunities as possiblr for socialization: church,sports,homeschool groups,parties etc. Once a week is not enough. I believe we owe it to our children to put them in real life situations where they can exhibit their morals(that hopefully we have taught them) and when/if they fail we teach them the correct way. How will we know thath they are ready to go off to college if we never see their morals in action in many social situation before hand. If a parent commits to homeschooling I believe they also commit to creating social interactions outside the home.Otherwise, I see the parent as undedicated to the child's all around success. God bless you for taking an active role in your child's education.

Answer 7

I believe it is part of the mindset of the multitudes that one must have tons of friends, do tons of activities and have tons of things in order to be happy. They cannot wrap their brains around the idea that people can actually enjoy life without all of that. And I, like the poster up from me do believe that children need to experience their peers for 13 years in a schooly SEGREGATED setting, in order to know how to socialize. I was in the military for 4 years, worked at a store, office, etc. for short times before becoming a stay at home mother and not once, did I ever encounter the negative socialization aspects outside of the school years. Adults don't have clicks, and don't bully in the work place, and if they are cruel it is called HARRASSMENT...adults do not have to put up with being treated like ****, why the heck should kids? An adult can quit or report a harrasser whereas in school they have to 'deal with it'...what the hell ever.

I'm not saying that there aren't some strange homeschooled kids but can't the same be said for kids that are public educated their whole lives as well? That it can be shows the blatant hypocrisy amongst those who claim 'socialization' as a reason against home education.

The human race survived thousands of years before institutionalized schooling. Thousands of years before proms and football games. It only means a lot to people who like to do those things.

Answer 8

I believe that education should be number one. I also believe that it is because of the fact that when you home school, the child is in a school setting which may only be themselves or just a few other siblings. They figure that since it is not a multiple kid enviroment like a regular school that the kid will not do well socially. They don't take into account about activies such as church, getting together with other homeschoolers for fieldtrips ect. They think that even though education may be better if the school setting doesn't provide enough for them socially then they will not do as well in society . Which they think can hurt the child when it comes to relating to other people as well as later in life (maybe job wise) even if they have good education.

Answer 9

I did some research on this with my daughter for a school research paper(we let her do one semester in grade 12). There are several components to this answer but the singular issue is the view that homeschooled kids are in cloistered back woods fundamentalist homes that will raise socially maladjusted children who will become welfare recipients, social misfits or sociopaths. Somehow when you are an "other" and are not from the mainstream america you are to be scorned belittled and minimized. I think that you must teach your child to think critically, read, write, and do math well, and develop a strong morally responsible identity. Schools mostly promote bad socialization...i choose good socialization. Oh my daughter got an A+ and completely changed the mind of her teachers on homeschooled kids.

Answer 10

I wouldn't define it as number of friends, its the interaction of being in a new place with new people inthe beginning.. its like when you drop a child off the first day of school even and the emotional episode that occurs then parent leaves child i that maner.

As the years pass the child learns tro interact with other people learns to know he/she will not always get their way in a social situation, have to deal with both positive and negative social situations with their peers.. Being educated better is important, but if you don;t have the social skills to make it thru an interview or a quartely review education can't save you.

Also if you aren't involved in much interaction i would say your relationship life will suffer later when it comes time for dating, I have seen a lot of ppl too shy to get much out of a relationship or too easily had the wool pulle dover thier eyes.

The school system isn;t at all the best in any one thing but its all around characterists are necessary IMO