"Socializing" my homeschoolers
You've heard it...maybe you've even said it...it's the greatest misconception about homeschooling......But What About Socialization?"
Apparently, the problem with homeschooling is the socialization of children. In the Kolbe Little Home Journal (Fall 2005), there is a brief item called "Homeschooling Family Finds Ways to Adapt to a Public School 'Socialization' Program." Here it is:
"When my wife and I mention we are strongly considering homeschooling our children, we are without fail asked, 'But what about socialization?' Fortunately, we found a way our kids can receive the same socialization that government schools provide. On Mondays and Wednesdays, I will personally corner my son in the bathroom, give him a wedgie and take his lunch money. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, my wife will make sure to tease our children for not being in the 'in' crowd, taking special care to poke fun at any physical abnormalities. Fridays will be 'Fad and Peer Pressure Day.' We will all compete to see who has the coolest toys, the most expensive clothes, and the loudest, fastest, and most dangerous car. Every day, my wife and I will adhere to a routine of cursing and swearing in the hall and mentioning our weekend exploits with alcohol and immorality.... And we have asked them to report us to the authorities in the event we mention faith, religion, or try to bring up morals and values."
How is it "normal" to be in a room with 32 other 12 year olds? Never in your life will that be the case..."the real world" is about mixed ages working together.
But enough of this...I really must go...It's Wednesday (hurray) and so I have a reason to give my son a wedgie and drop the F-bomb! :)
17 comments:
I love your posts...so that is what is on your agenda for today!!!:)
I gave a wedgie, harrassed some schoolwork out of them and sent the big boys off to ice hockey and I'm taking the little ones to The Bee Movie!
Pumpkin Soup is slow cooking and the house smells great!
How about you?
I love your posts too. I have been subscribed to your blog for a couple of weeks now. Do you mind if I link to this post? I had a post about a month ago about socialization.
Oh thank you Therese! I just visited your beautiful blog, the Aussie Coffee Shop. How is Tom?!
You may certainly link to my blog. You are in my prayers.
Thanks for asking about Tom. He is better but we are having a lot of teething problem's with his pump. I knew it would be like this though so hopefully soon we will have it all worked out.
Linking to this tonight.
God bless
Therese
Boy, isn't this the truth!
Oh I just laughed and laughted!! Our eldest son was the only one to go through public school...actually, that's why the rest are homeschooled! If you weren't speaking the truth, I don't know how to eat Turkey on Thanksgiving!! Sad but so true!
I am still holding out on grandchildren...despite the wedgies!
happy Thanksgiving.... and Totus Tuus!
Ebeth
Hello! I'm enjoying your blog quite a bit. I've been homeschooled since first grade (Seton Home Study School). I'm also in love with the Latin Mass and I will be joining the FSSP next year (God willing). I will probably be adding this blog to my sidebar within the next few days. :)
In Jesu, Per Mariam,
Trevor
What about bulling? And it is becoming a pandemic especially now with mobiles..bulling has become the 'new sport'.
It's bunkum! I HATED school and have NO good memories from it.
But the 'experts' wont mention bullying and its side affects. *sigh*.
My thoughts:)
Peace to you:)
Marie
LOL! I have recently seen a couple of clever little guys on TV who invented wedgie proof underwear. They simply break in two when pulled too hard. Too funny!
I was reminded, however, of the fear that word used to instill in me in 7th grade, when I was the constant object of threats and mockery. That kind of socialization I can live without!
LOL!
But it just makes me so glad I homeschool.
Please can I invite you to my homeschool blog "Thinging Love, No Twaddle" www.mum6kids.wordpress.com
God bless
The socialization IS the reason I homeschool! Yes!
I don't want my child socialized into wearing immodest clothing, or designer clothes (she can look fabulous without a label and with all parts nicely covered) listening to sexualized music, etc etc....
When we went sledding last year at a crowded hill we saw kids as young as 11 *making out*. No parents around. I wish I could be as bold as Hank Hill and pull them apart with a stern lecture.
Well then Bravo to Hank Hill! We have lost a word in our collective vocabulary....SHAME!
What ever happened to SHAME??
And again, why the early adultifying and sexualizing of our kids??
I've been reading about homeschooling and I have a question.
As hs takes place in the home, what about contact with people outside the family. How do you organise that?
I ask this because one time or another the childeren will have to take their place in society.
I'm really curious
Hanna
Hi Hanna! Thanks for visiting me.
I was curious like you.
When we finally took the leap of faith we felt led to...to homeschool...God did provide. I found other Catholic homeschoolers in the area by posting in church bulletins, asking around and connecting with the local Catholic bookstore. Now we have a yahoogroup and over 35 local families and we meet often for Sacraments, fellowship, clubs, parties, service and field trips. What a blessing. A great book of ideas for groups is A Haystack Full of Needles by Alice Gunther, also a blogger.
I begin to homeschool my first highschooler this year. I have read and googled much about homeschooling and lately about homeschooling high school...there's a lot out there on the topic. :) I'm encouraged!
In my local, homeschooling groups, we have a couple of high schoolers who have been homeschooled. They have special qualities. I notice that they are nice and others comment on that too. Specifically people notice that they are polite and personable. In contrast to some teens, they are not transfixed by cell phones, attached to texting. They are and have been a part of society, involved in many activities but still friendly to their parents, other adults and, most noticably, kind to little kids, not overly concerned with age differences of any kind. If that is what you desire when you wonder about "socialization", the kids I know are very admirable and will become adults with strong values some day.
Socialization concerns are a misconception regarding homeschoolers. One that I too worried about before I looked into it more. There is so much to read about the benefits of homeschooling, more than just academic superiority. In fact, studies show that homeschoolers are more mature emotionally than their schooled counterparts. http://www.hslda.org/docs/nche/000000/00000068.asp Google it.
High school socialization is distracting from education and often about fitting in with the "in crowd" or being ostracized. Soemtimes that even makes it a dangerous place. It's often about experimenting with sex and drugs, as well and almost always about embracing the values of their peers over parents.
I, and the doctors who authored Hold On To Your Kids http://www.amazon.com/Hold-Your-Kids-Parents-Matter/dp/037550821X, believe that a parent has the life experience/maturity and LOVE to advise with a child's BEST interest at heart...most peers do not. In fact, highschool betrayals are so common as to be a cliche.
My children enjoying seeing their homeschool group friends, young and old, at least weekly. They talk to the parents too. :) We are blessed to have found families that share our values and yes, we do feel and take responsibility to restrict our children from those who would be a bad influence. For many years, that was the recognized role of parents...when did it stop? Parental uninvolvement has seemingly led to a social result of younger and younger kids having sex, stealing their childhood...sigh....
These are the formative years and while they are, my husband and I want to instill in our children our values to strengthen them so that when they are ready to assume their adult lives, they hopefully have the strength and skills to stay true to those values.
Soldiers need training and we are in a battle.
I remember hearing Dr. Ray Guarendi
( http://www.drray.com/ ) at a homeschooling conference joke that children don't, while young, have the skills to negotiate win-win scenarios with those who would lead them astray. We must teach them, repeatedly, how to defend their faith and morals. I believe I will be held accountable to the lives entrusted to us.
So... I am intending to homeschool thru highschool for the very reason of socialization. The studies on homeschooling just keep getting better and better!
Please let me know if there is anything else I could help you with and I hope I didn't overwhelm you. I hope you are enjoying all the wonderful, Catholic homeschooling bloggers who have much more experience than I do.
God bless you, Hanna. :)
haha I just read this for the first time! How awesome. We are getting to that point where homeschooling is becoming a very real possibility. I am slowly reading and praying for guidance.
Funny but true! You do not even want to get into the inaptitude of some of the teachers.
Am glad we are homeschooling, too.
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