Do you think home schooling gives kids enough opportunities for socialization?

Answer 1

Rather than simply give my *opinion*, let me quote from a few researchers and college admissions officers.

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In all the serious research that is done on home school socialization by professional pyschologists, it would be difficult to find a single one that finds homeschooled children coming out under their counterparts in public or private schools.
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Several studies have been done to measure homeschoolers' "self-concept," which is the key objective indicator for establishing a child's self-esteem. A child's degree of self-esteem is one of the best measurements of his ability to successfully interact on a social level. One such study was conducted by John Wesley Taylor, using the Piers-Harris Children's Self-Concept Scale to evaluate 224 home-schooled children. They study found that 50 percent of the children scored above the 90th percentile, and only 10.3 percent scored below the national average.
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While most people accept that home educated students can excel academically, concerns are still expressed by teachers, administrators, and legislators about socialization. The research in this area suggests that this suspicion is unfounded.

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Dr. Gary Knowles (presently with the Ontario Institute For Studies in Education), while at the University of Michigan, studied the outcomes for adults who were home educated. None were unemployed and none were on welfare, 94% said home education prepared them to be independent persons, 79% said it helped them interact with individuals from different levels of society, and they strongly supported the home education method. "I have found no evidence that these adults were even moderately disadvantaged."

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Bliss (1989) contends that it is in the formal educational system's setting that children first experience negative socialization, conformity, and peer pressure. According to her, "This is a setting of large groups, segmented by age, with a variation of authority figures . . . the individual, with his/her developmental needs, becomes overpowered by the expectations and demand of others-equal in age and equally developmentally needy."

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In 1998, a group of homeschoolers at Kennesaw State University in Georgia formed what may be the first and only homeschool student union on an American campus today. The group's goals are "to facilitate interaction between students who share this unique educational background; to assist homeschoolers in their enrolling and adjusting to this next level of education and to encourage academic excellence; and to actively encourage other graduating homeschoolers to consider pursuing their college education at Kennesaw State University." These are not actions reflected by a socially inept segment of the population.

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"Home-schoolers bring certain skills -- motivation, curiosity, the capacity to be responsible for their education -- that high schools don't induce very well," says Jon Reider, Stanford's senior associate director of admissions.

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The consensus among admissions officers across the country, a 1997 study reports, is that home-schooled students are academically, emotionally, and socially prepared to excel in college.

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Dr. Michael Donahue, Director of Admissions for Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI), has spent the last several years researching home-schooled students. There are dozens of students on campus who have earned their high school diploma at home. "The home school group has about a 3.0 GPA their freshman year," Donahue said. "In the entire freshman class, the GPA is between a 2.3 and a 2.4. They are well prepared. They're self starters. Faculty, in general, enjoy having them in class because they know how to do things independently."

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"Many high schools don't emphasize intellectual maturity," said Jon Reider, senior associate director of admission at Stanford University, which accepted nine homeschoolers for the 2000-01 academic year.
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"Homeschoolers can be very impressive because they've taken responsibility for their education," he said.
"We find that homeschoolers do extremely well here," said Tom Schaefer, dean of admissions at Duquesne University. "Many receive scholarships."
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"They're some of our strongest candidates," said Mike Steidel, director of admissions at Carnegie Mellon, which accepts five to 10 homeschooled students a year.
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In 1992, Prof. Larry Shyers assessed whether or not home schooled children suffer from retarded social development. His research observed children in free play and group interaction activities. Shyers found that public school children had significantly more problem behaviours than did the home schooled. Possibly this is because the primary models of behaviour for the home schooled are their parents, rather than their peers. Shyers also concluded that there was no significant difference between home schooled and non-home schooled children in terms of either self-concept development or assertiveness (Shyers, 1992).

This paper has … empirically demonstrated that the academic and socialization outcomes for the average home schooled child are superior to those experienced by the average public school student.

Data has also been collected suggesting that home schooled students are friendlier than their public school peers, as well as more independent of peer values as they grow older. Research by Dr. Raymond Moore has indicated that the home schooled are happier, better adjusted, more thoughtful, competent, and sociable children (Moore, 1986).

The list of benefits to the home-schooled appears to exceed even its academic and social advantages. For example, Prof. John Taylor (1986) found that the home schooled have significantly higher self-esteem than those in public schools. According to Prof. Mona Delahooke (1986), the home schooled are less peer dependent than private school students, and the home schooled are as well adjusted, socially and emotionally, as their private school age mates.

In recent years, home schooled students are gaining admission and scholarships to the most prestigious universities. Over 700 post-secondary institutions across the United States, including Harvard University, Yale University, Stanford University, MIT, Rice University, and the Citadel, have admitted home schooled students (Leung, 2000). September 2000 saw the opening of Patrick Henry College, in Virginia, the first university established especially for home schooled children.The National Center for Home Education estimates that one million home schooled students will enroll in post-secondary institutions over the next decade (The Washington Times, 2000b).
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A letter sent in 1991 to home school leaders in Massachusetts from Thomas M. Rajala, Director of Admissions at Boston University stated “Boston University welcomes applications from home schooled students. We believe students educated at home possess the passion for knowledge, the independence, and the self-reliance that enable them to excel in our intellectually challenging programs of study”.
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Answer 2

All of my children were/ are healthy for the most part and attended public school until the schools failed my children. My oldest son was not doing his daily work, failing his classes, and they continued to promote him. I asked them to hold him back but they refused because his standardized test scores were "fabulous, an asset to the school". I pulled my two oldest sons from the public school system in KS and didn't have a private school anywhere near us so our only option was home school, which we did for three years. Then we came to TX and put them back in public school. The school refused to look at their portfolio so put them back in the 9th grade vs 10th and 11th. They quickly found out my children were doing college quality work and completed enough classes through credit recovery to be considered sophomores within 3 months. I would have to say the home schooling worked. I found out this past year that my daughter was forced to watch movies in her World Geography class, movies such as We Are Marshall, Remember the Titans, Rudy, Radio, Friday Night Lights, anyone see a theme here? They did vocabulary once a month or every three weeks so they had something to show for their time in the teacher's class. Then in her health class they were forced to watch King of the Hill and another child I know said they watched Family Guy the entire semester she had that class. Her brothers admitted to me this was pretty common and they went through the same thing. Sorry, but I don't call this education and I certainly don't think my child needs to waste her time and my money going to a school that will not/ cannot teach her. She also has a medical condition that while not life threatening can be problematic if the school did not let her do what she needed when she needed and they were not very accommodating, even with a doctor's note. My child, at age 16, loves to listen to classical music, read books that most teens can't understand, and wants a true education- not a piece of paper that says she can pass the TAKS and meet the minimum standards of this state. There is not a private school nearby that I feel can do a better job than we can so won't waste our money on the institution's tuition when we can decide what she needs to learn and when.

Answer 3

Normally I would say no. But from experience, it really just depends on the child and what their own unique socialization skills are.
I was home schooled from 3rd grade on. My socialization skills were almost too good! I could talk a person's ear off and loved visiting with anyone and everyone. However, I would get somewhat nervous around peers and also very nervous in large crowds. This was eventually outgrown though and now I'm perfectly social and enjoy myself thoroughly in almost any social gathering.
This isn't the case for every single home schooler though. All kids are different. I only answered this question from personal experience. And I do know quite a few home schoolers and past home schoolers who are extremely sheltered and shy even into their adult years.

Answer 4

In a word YES. It takes less than half the time to do school work at home so they have all those extra hours to do things they are interested in. In addition to classes with other schoolers their age they interact with neighbors who need baby sitting services during school hours, they are also able to do community service so they can socialize with others who are different than they are. Our choice is meals-on-wheels. The girls meet elderly shut-ins and hear great stories and bring a little happiness to their lives. The average homeschooled kid is less peer dependent and more independent which helps them adapt to many situations instead of looking for the approval of other kids. Also they are "socialized" by all the people that ask them about socialization. They always meet new people this way.
Sitting at a desk for 7 hours doesn't leave much time for socializing unless you count sitting at the lunch table making fun of the kid across from you because they're not wearing the latest style.

Answer 5

ABSOLUTELY!! I homeschooled for 12 years, and let me tell ya, I had MORE than enough on my plate!! Homeschooling isn't just about school, it's about providing a healthy environment for socialization as well. As a kid I had:
Ballet Class
Gymnastics
Swim Team (at a time slot at which only homeschoolers could attend)
Co-op Classes (biology, drama, literature, latin, spanish etc)
P.E. classes
Field Trips
Park days
Skating Parties
Sleep Overs (because I had a ton of friends)
City Basketball
Six Flags Trips
Book Club

And that was just the activites I did. Not to mention ALL the other stuff the other children participated in: Lego Club, 4-H, Rifle Club, Geography Class, British Literature, etc.

Also, homeschoolers have the unique opportunity to attend dual-credit classes at colleges. I had the experience of being able to "socialize" with mature people on a mature level, meanwhile preparing myself for the "real world". So while many other people were too busy wondering who liked who at public school, I was busy halfway completing my Spanish minor.

Also, because I homeschooled, I had the opportunity to go on a trip to Costa Rica in January while other kids were in school. That was a fantastic cross-cultural experience that I'll never forget! I have friends there and a chance to practice more Spanish via I.M.

The benefits of homeschooling are amazing. Yes, some people don't do it correctly, thus providing the sterotype of homeschoolers being sheltered kids who can't look you in the eye and can't tell you who's winning American Idol. And yes, many more people do it correctly and their kids are excelling socially and being accepted into America's top universities.

Answer 6

I am homeschooled, and because of all the activities I'm involved in (i.e. Chessclub Mathclub Speech and Debate AWANA Youth group) I see most of my friends 3+ times a week, and the only day I don't see people I know is on Sat, and not even consistently.
I might be a social outcast at a public school -for reasons such as my activities- but I see people and hang out with my friends enough.

Answer 7

Yes. What people don't seem to get is the idea of home school. If it is not public and not private school the only other label is home school. Sure there is charter and magnet school but they are part of the public school system. We have a child that is home schooled. She goes to language classes, dance classes, art classes, math classes, and drama class. We have to drive here and there however she is getting what she needs and she has great parents that take the time and effort for a solid education for this child. I have worked with this child and know how smart she is. She is the same age as my son. My son is in gifted and honor courses and what she is studying blows him away. This girl has a great social, education, and family life.

Answer 8

I am always stunned at how narrow minded people are. Absolutely no ability to think outside of the box of public school. How do adults have friends once they have graduated? Do they only have the same friends they made in school? Puh-leeze!

As for the "crushes and giggling over silly things" comments - come to our homeschool group sometime and you'll see all that. The 25 kids that just spent the last week together doing an archaelogical dig (www.dothedig.net) laughing and having a great time (age range 4 - 12 years) really are the most poorly socialized kids I've ever met. NOT!

There are so many ways to meet people and make friends without school - but schooled folks hang onto that as the one selling point to kids - if you don't go you won't have friends.
It is a bunch of BS, as our happy, friendly kids will attest.

Answer 9

I think it is the children stuck in the Public Schools that we have to worry about not getting enough socialization with different age groups. Children are taught to be quiet during class time, no talking, have assigned seats, barely get any time to go out and play on the playground, are rushed thru their short lunches and by the time they get home they have a ton of homework to do, barely time for a bath and then off to bed and back to the same old grind the next day.

Homeschooling children get a healthy dose of socialization that helps prepare them for the Real World we live in.

Answer 10

Homeschooling in itself does not give the opportunity for homeschooling. If you strip homeschooling down to its barest definition and ask about socialization, then no. But of course homeschoolers know that. They make and look for opportunities for socialization. They make a point of making sure that their kids are socialized. And hardly any homeschoolers do homeschooling the way is initially thought of. They have classes and they do sports for PE, and go to church for religious education. They have friends from the neighborhood, and get classes at schools. They get enough socialization.

Answer 11

In most places, definitely. Examples of socializing available for homeschoolers here:

-park days
-regular activities, such as bowling, as a group
-different group lessons set up (either through homeschool groups or through the community: art, music, sports, languages, subject-specific things (kind of co-op style))
-sports galore: most sports here are through leagues not associated with the schools--you don't have to go to school to participate
-parties
-playdates
-clubs (debate, chess, book clubs, girls' club, boys' club)
-group sessions on a specific topic (things like dissection, debate and more)
-field trips
-just being a part of the community during the day

Add to that the fact a homeschooled child isn't expected to spend most of his "school day" listening to the teacher or sitting quietly working in his desk. Because the child gets more of a chance to actually interact with others and be guided (since it's not one parent to 30 kids), the child has the chance to learn better social skills than his schooled peers.