This article was written by Chris Nesmith and discusses the myth that a public school education is the best option for socializing children. Please share your thoughts after reading the article.
Whenever the topic of family education faces, a question is raised to be sure – that of socialization. While even the most cynical skeptics can’t deny that there are several advantages of home schooling (such as children at home have better results in all areas than their public school or private) They seem to dwell on the social aspects of family education, standing by the mistaken belief that home schooling stifles a child’s ability to socialize.
It’s actually easy to see things from their point of view and to understand why they came to such hasty conclusions. The style of home schooling implies a lower teacher-student ratio (an aspect many regard as one of the best advantages of home schooling), which means that a home-schooler has more interaction with children his or her age compared to a child who goes to school, where the interaction is virtually inevitable in a classroom.
But while skeptics argue that keeping children away from a predominantly social setting stunt their socialization, the public school supporters insist that confining children to the school will allow them to better develop their social skills. In fact, these adherents believe that improving the socialization is yet another advantage of home schooling, even though it is often overlooked.
How is this so? To begin with, home-schooled children have their parents as their main influence, and not a peer group that could childhood (and probably more) distorts their values and perspectives, significantly delaying their willingness to confront the real world. Children from the school may allow more time to interact with their peers, but to confine socialization within a certain age group (and not very mature as that in).
The style of home schooling, on the other hand, gives children the chance to be influenced by people who know what they are like in the real world and whose priorities are passing on a good set of values, as opposed to Impose misconceptions of what’s “cool” and what’s not. What’s more, these kids get to interact with people of different ages, simply by staying in their parents’ protective wing, teaching them to socialize outside of their age group and allow for a broader, more mature point of view.
And indeed, to be educated at home doesn’t mean that a child can interact with his peers at all. There’s a lot of time to do that when the school and most of the day lessons were made. Concerns naturally come to the socialization of those who have never had any experience of home schooling to begin with. But those who are lucky enough to have dared to try knowing that socialization isn’t a problem have come to the realization that home schooling is just as effective social as the surrounding public and private schools.
We have 11 children. One of our daughters has 11 children that she has home schooled. Non of them has set foot in a school room. She has 10 she is still schooling. They are the most well behaved and smartest children I have ever seen. I also have another daughter who plans to homeschool. She has 4 small children right now. I can’t say enough for homeschooling. These children are not hurt or harmed in any way because they don’t socialize with other children. God Bless you.
Thank you for taking the time to comment! We support each family’s desire to raise their children and provide a solid foundation of principles that empower children to become successful, respectable, and influential members of their communities.
-TBG
I agree, having been a charter school teacher and a mom who home-schooled my own children, I have seen the difference between home schooled children and those who attend school within a public school. Home schooled children are better able to converse with adults as well as all younger and older ages since they become accustomed to conversing with their parents at home as well as other home schooled families involving all ages within a like minded home schooled community..
Thank you for sharing your experience Carol.
-TBG
I have two children (now grown) who were home schooled. They have always had the best relationship with each other as well as with a range of people of all ages. They are so caring and respectful of each other to this day (now in their twenty’s). I love the aspect of the relationship part that home schooling fosters. It brings out loyalty, care, respect, and so many more attributes as a a whole.
Thank you for sharing! We appreciate hearing about your experiences with homeschooling your children.
-TBG
We taught our two children at home, and I echo all the positive comments in the article and comments. Both of our kids attended Bible college. Our daughter recently got married, and our son was fortunate to get a job six weeks after graduating in May.
Home schooling fits into the prepper lifestyle well because there are so many things that can be taught to better prepare our children to live in these uncertain times.
Great to hear, John! We wish your family continued health and abundance.
-TBG
We unschooled our 3 children at home, after seeing the crude products the schools turn out. They all went to regular colleges at ages 14 and 15, got their degrees, and one daughter has just graduated from medical school at an age when most students are only starting first year.
Our children are extremely popular with children their own age, well liked by adults, completely social animals. So the idea that children need schools to learn to socialize is as ridiculous as the idea that they need schools to reach their full height. For thousands of generations, humans have been social animals. Schools have been around for no more 8 generations. I rest my case.
Thank you for sharing, Frank! Congratulations on the academic achievements and we wish your family continued success.
-TBG
Punctuation, grammar, capitalization, subject/verb agreement, clarity, accuracy, checking your work — are these not taught at home? Or is the writer public-schooled? OK, good writing is only one aspect of education. How about math? Home schooling implies a LOWER (?) teacher-student ratio?
I believe in home schooling, but not because “a peer group that could childhood (and probably more) distorts their values and perspectives.” I started to wonder if this was written by a public school nazi who wanted to make home schooling look bad.
We all can be careless online. But for an article promoting a certain type of education, this type of careless writing is inexcusable. You will stay after school and clean the blackboard!
Great comment Scott. Thank you for your feedeback!
-TBG
Publik skoolz soshalazation iz Lord Of The Flies.
Thanks for the creative comment Crewton. Classic!
-TBG
Yes, it baffles my mind that not once did ANYONE ask: “Oh, do you think you can give them a proper education”.
Thanks for the comment, Amby.
“The classic novel ‘Lord of the Flies’ warns what can happen when children live without adult guidance: they quickly descend into savagery….We share the blame for school yard gangs, epidemic teen sex, rebellion against adult authority, and even school killings by allowing our kids to form a parallel culture amost completely free of adult supervision.” Charles Colson, from “The Sky is Not Falling.”
Excellent quote to share, Lucy. Thank you for taking the time and sharing a great thought!
-TBG
Do both. Home schooling may be better than your local school population. Years spent learning that there are societal problems that need correcting beats those who run away in more ways than one. The libraries are places where college educated librarians can help span the thought between childhood and future possibilities better than parents.
A public school is the only time in a persons life that anyone relates solely with peers their own age… where one works and plays with 20 -30 other people their exact age 8 hours a day, 5 days a week..
After “school” that same person must now enter the work force and “socialize” with their bosses, and fellow workers who will range in age, anywhere from 18-88.. So all their peer socialization will now have to be forgotten and new mannerisms learned….
Homeschool teaches one to socializes with the real world from a young age, making them “more socialized”.
Well said, Paula. Thank you for your insight!
-TBG
Thank you so much for writing this! I’m eighteen, just graduated from a PUBLIC high school (uuggghh!!!) and I totally agree with the other commenters here.
Public schools are horribly repressive. They don’t respect kids’ rights and they don’t care about how the kids feel. They just want kids to “shut up and get back to work!” when any REAL parent out there will take the time to listen to their kids and understand and value their concerns. Not to mention, the teachers sometimes are terribly inefficient and there’s that whole bullying problem, shootings, and the school-to-prison pipeline. Will people ever wake up to this madness?
And the kids there are very, very crude. Not one day goes by without you hearing someone dropping an F-bomb, making an obscene sex joke, or cruelly taunting the “nerds.” It’s a terrible racket. And I have a little seven yo sister still going to a public school and I can’t stand the thought of what she will go through in middle and high school, so how do I convince my parents to start homeschooling her?
Great article. My high school diploma is probably worthless. 🙁