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Home School Academy
334 2nd Street
Catasauqua, PA 18032-2501
(800) 863-1474
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We have found that this 'socialization issue' is not a big problem. Our
sons are both involved in city sponsored sports leagues. This has been very successful for
us. They have both taken to their respective sports with vigor. This is just one example
of what we do for socialization, but they have enjoyed it so much. Some communities
provide other types of community activities such as swimming teams and even debate clubs.
A call to your local community center could prove to be very valuable in your search for
educational, and physical activities outside the home.
I am not sure what ideas you have in mind with regard to socialization,
but it has been our experience that homeschooling offers higher quality socialization and
probably a wider variety than any to be found in the public school system. We graduated
our son in California from High School, and he was active in political campaigns,
anti-abortion activities, computer bulletin board sysop in San Diego and will be starting
one up here in the Littleton area. He organized a "Republican Youth Group",
etc... Rarely would a public school system student have the time to do what can be
achieved by those who are free to pursue their personal interests, including
socialization. Rarely do they choose to socialize with those who have involvement with
immoral or illegal agendas.
Perhaps this isn't what you were after, simply put socialization for
homeschooling is NOT the problem so many make it out to be. In fact it is wonderful to be
delivered from the socialization that takes place so often in our public institutions.
Socialization: The S
Word
My objection to the social life of almost all schools
. . . is that it is for the most part mean-spirited, competitive, ruthless, snobbish,
conformist, consumerist (you are judged by what you can buy, or your parents buy for you),
fickle, heartless, and often cruel. Most children come out of school with far less
self-esteem, less sense of their own identity, dignity, and worth, than they had when they
went in.
John Holt, in Growing Without Schooling
August 1983
I find it curious that when the subject of homeschooling
comes up the quality of education is rarely at the top of the list of questions that
follow. It is as if, even among those most critical of the idea, there is a tacit
agreement that schools do not have the monopoly on teaching. In recent years there have
been many articles, research projects, and exposes pointing out what we homeschoolers have
been taking for granted for years. Why, then, are so many people so confused about the
socialization question?
Being out in the world engenders in children a sense of reality. They see what goes on all
day in the business of life, and where they fit in. They see how adults manage day-to-day
details and long-range plans, and they learn to handle and accept the balance of success
and failure, of struggle and recreation. Children recognize their value to the community
as they do their part to contribute, and they understand the role of the community in
their own lives, as a resource and support. Perhaps of most importance are the
opportunities simply to spend time with people of all ages, experience, and points of
view. One fascinating aspect of the society described in The Continuum Concept is that the
children, included from infancy in the business of the village, have a smooth transition
into adulthood without what has come to be accepted as the universal truth of adolescence:
rebellion.
The vast majority of children are segregated in school by age (leaving aside the obvious
fact that by virtue of their geographical location, and its consequent effect on social
milieu, they are also usually segregated by race, culture, or class). They spend a large
proportion of their waking time learning from, competing with, and being compared to each
other, jockeying for position among their peers and approval from their teachers. The
pressures to fit in and to succeed are very powerful to children (as they are to most
adults) and when the seal of approval comes from outside the child and not from his or her
own sense of achievement, an important element of self-trust, of knowing inside when
something is right or true or good or valuable, may be compromised. Belonging to the right
group and getting the right grade — these become goals in themselves.
The other regrettable byproduct of this system is the Us versus Them mentality it fosters.
Think about it. There are the cool kids and then there are the dweebs, dorks, and losers.
And the brains — sometimes by choice, sometimes by proclamation, but either way, they
are rarely part of the in-crowd. There's our class against their class, and the students
versus the teacher. Then there's the big kids versus the little kids. And, of course, kids
versus parents. This lays some pretty effective groundwork for our beliefs versus their
beliefs and our kind of people against yours. Eventually, given sufficient anger,
frustration, and lack of social skill, we come around again to Us versus Them, as
families, as neighborhoods, and as nations.
-- Victoria Wright, The
Mining Company
What is proper
socialization?
Socialization is not what takes place in a school. At a conference a
nurse\educator who advocated Ritalin stated school is an abnormal environment and some
children cannot adapt therefore a little help is needed. I personally have a problem with
drugging our youth. I think it shows a poor example that a pill can cure.
I have homeschooled my 15 year old son and I have a five year old
daughter. My son is now in a Jr. college full time. He started when he was 13. He actually
attends the classes and is treated respectfully. He went as a high school special
originally but now has over one year done and is going to attend full time. By the time he
would have graduated from regular high school he will have a degree and a trade to help
him in furthering his education or employment. He has had time to pursue a variety of
activities. He volunteers in the community and has a reputation as being a very nice young
man to anyone in the community that meets or knows him. He tried school when he was in
sixth grade but he did not have time to socialize. Between school, homework and his one
outside activity he had no time for playing. He choose to leave school after a month.
What is the purpose of education? To get a child prepared for the
real world. In the regular school they, generally speaking, draw this out for 12 years. A
child that wants to obtain a doctorate degree is looking at being old before obtaining
one.
Schools should offer an accelerated program so the child can go at their own pace.
Today I briefly talked to a mother of two who was not looking forward
to being taxed with her children until the 5th of January. I wasn't rude but I thought
"Why did you have kids?" These are obviously the children that need to be in
school or parents that need to be sterilized. I have my Masters in Education.
Send us your ideas!
Please call 1-800-863-1474
with any questions you may have!
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