Will My Child Turn Antisocial Because Of HomeSchool?
By Sun Kyu Bae |
Published April 15, 2009 |
Articles |
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Why this is no longer an issue!
Breaking It Down
The real truth here is, although the common socialization argument was more valid in the past, the introduction of the Internet, cell phone/handhelds, and popular momentum of the homeschool movement itself makes this argument obsolete for today’s homeschool environment.
First, let’s agree on the definition of “socialization”. The critics of homeschooling use the term in reference to homeschooled students’ interaction with their peers. I agree that interacting with peers is important, but I also believe that interacting with people outside their own age groups is just as important and that interacting well with both groups really defines a well-rounded sociable person. So socialization should include the ability to interact with ALL people, regardless of age. After all, isn’t that what we do in everyday life?
So, let’s adjust our lens to take in this new definition of socialization and go back to addressing the argument above.
Now, let’s review a typical day of the homeschooled child and you try to pick where there are issues with socialization:
Morning – Conduct core lessons. Typically this is individualized one-on-one interaction with the homeschool teacher. The location is usually home, but can also be at the library, near by café, etc.
Mid-Morning – 15 minute break.
Mid-Morning thru Noon – Finish core lessons and supplement with activities. These activities may include: 1) Math - visiting the supermarket to have the child add up the groceries and interact with the cashier to complete the transaction, 2) Social Studies - visiting the local fire station to go on a tour and ask questions, 3) Science - going on a nature walk to learn about plant life which concludes with a visit with the park authority in which the child interviews the park authority.
Noon – Lunch at home or restaurant. If at a restaurant, have the child order and interact with waiter/waitress. Lunch can be with other homeschool kids.
Afternoon – Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, sports, dancing, whatever activity the child wants to be involved in with her peers.
Alright. So based on the above, where are the gaps in socialization? The only time the child is isolated from the outside world is during core lessons in the morning, but that’s in the context of a custom- fitted curriculum, which inherently requires a one-on-one approach, which we all know is far superior than the one-to-many approach in typical school classrooms.
Based on our definition of socialization, does the homeschooled child interact with her peers? Yes. And how about interaction with others outside the child’s age – does the homeschooled child get that experience? Also, yes.
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