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Notes from a homeschooling mom: regarding socialization
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One of the most recent public insults against homeschooling was dealt by Joy Behar of the view. While most found it laughable coming from a comedian who obviously knows nothing about homeschooling, her feelings are not unique.
After homeschooling for nearly six years now, I am still constantly caught off guard by some of the misinformation spread about homeschooling. The biggest and most common misconception is SOCIALIZATION.
Websters dictionary describes socialization as: the process by which a human being beginning at infancy acquires the habits, beliefs, and accumulated knowledge of society through education and training for adult status
Yet, people outside of homeschooling circles use the word to mean that homeschooled students will become social outcasts and misfits because they will not have other kids their age to model appropriate behavior.
Based on the meaning of the word socialization, I am left wondering how children are required to teach other children. When babies are born, do we hand them over to other babies expecting them to learn to potty train and to feed themselves based on the the fact that they are with other babies? No. Parents teach these life skills. So why are other kids needed to teach students how to conversate, and be social beings?
Now I do understand that being around kids your own age is certainly a good thing. Parents just don't know how to have fun the way kids do. I have actually had conversations with my son about it. He would decide it was time to play, and wanted me to play a video game, or a board game, or go outside and run and be silly. Now I can be just as silly as the next person, and I love a good game of scrabble, but video games give me migraines, and I tire out much more quickly than they do. So I would explain to him that I only had so much "play time" in me and that he has to do that with kids his own age. (Which by the way he is free to do.) I constantly encourage both of my kids to spend time with other kids for entertainment purposes. I think kids make each other happy and relaxed.
On the other hand, I don't think it is the job of kids to guide and educate each other. I think this job is best left to adults. Whether that be certified teachers, or parents is up to the family to decide. I think one of the reasons homeschooling works so well is that it takes other kids out of the equation and allows the child to be educated one-on-one where his or her academic needs are served best.
In short, I do not feel that schools are necessary for children to learn social cues. They are probably the worst place to do so in many cases. The playground on the other hand, is a great place for kids to get together and have fun. By the way, homeschoolers spend alot of time on the playground.
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