[Arthur Wildfire! March]

Way to go!

[SpookBrat]

I think it's great she chose a Jewish family to work with. Critics paint an image of homeschoolers as being mostly Christian fundamentalists (and we're an evil bunch aren't we)? Not just Christians homeschool and many homeschoolers aren't homeschooling for religious reasons. We are a very "religious" and conservative family, but religion wasn't our main reason for pulling our kids out. Missing my kids was the biggest reason.

"Homeschooling critics worry that homeschooled children don't learn the social skills to be had from interacting with other children."

Can I just say something? There are three homeschooling families in my little pocket neighborhood here. We are all pretty close. Our kids do their school work in the morning, do some chores and they are GONE for the rest of the day, outside playing....where they should be! Kids don't have enough time to play anymore. This social skills argument is a crock. In fact, it's a real struggle to get my kids to quit working on their social skills and get some work done!!!

[He Rides A White Horse]

Homeschooling criticsNEA communists worry that homeschooled children don't learn the socialism skills to be had from interacting with other indoctrinated children.

[BibChr]

SOCIALIZATION!!

Here are my two favorite replies to that old one:

Favorite Reply One: you know, you're right. My HSed kids attend a group Art class, are on a baseball team, are active in their church youth groups and in Boy Scouts... maybe they do get too much socialization!

Favorite Reply Two: yeah, I got to feeling really guilty about what my boy was missing out in terms of socialization, by not attending government school. So now, at least once a week, I swear at him, show him dirty pictures, offer him drugs, beat him up and steal his lunch money — just so he doesn't miss out.

(That last one was from a FReeper, I have a guess but forget who.)

Dan

[VRWCmember]

Homeschooling critics worry that homeschooled children don't learn the social skills to be had from interacting with other children.

Like the important social skills learned by Dylan and Eric that helped prepare them for their heinous acts a few years ago?

[Search4Truth]

Fernanda Rossi is a babe. :) Conservative women exude femininity. Very appealing. I'm going to have to take a trip to Argentina.

[ppaul]

Socialization?

Yeah.
It sure helped expand my vocabulary: "freaks, dopers, ropers, greasers, juicers, sluts", etc.

[AnnaC]

Those who oppose homeschooling first began yelling homeschooled children aren't doing as well in their studies as public schooled. After comparing test scores and the outcome being homeschoolers scored higher,it shot that out of the water. Then they yelled well the parents have to set structure within the home. After reviews after reviews homeschoolers had more stucture within thier home than public schooled children. Understanding, that most homeschooled children had a parent at home 24/7. Sounds like an old fashioned idea but it works atleast. Then they jump on the "children need to learn social skills". Funny as long as we've walked on this planet, before the dawn of reading books, now somehow over thousands of years we as children never knew how to socialize! Oh, dear, thank goodness to those who have figured out what socializing is and wish to teach it to our children. Save the children from our naive ways, please! Now their trying in Georgia to say we need to have social workers (former teachers) to come in the homes and set up away they should be taught with a good sound structure. Funny during the early Arabic, Greek, Roman, and Chinese history education was a great thing whether taught at home or in a university. In which many educational attributes in math, science, chemistry(which helped with medicines)and physicians(dr.s) training evolved. Don't recall the governing body declaring children being taught at home needing to have a learning and home structure. It must be set up by them (cause only they know how) and have their watch dogs on the homeschoolers in their homes everyday. This will ensure the children don't slip through the 'I was homeschooled and can't read,add, write, or get along with others'... crack'. I try to remind others that at one time this nation was homeschooled. And during those era's America was not socially nor educationally crippled. Can't see public schools pushing that. Whatever ideas the anti-homeschoolers wage, the facts are evident. There are no given proofs to why children shouldn't be homeschooled. Only established proofs why homeschooling works. It only scares the gee willy out of the states ...... funds for educators and educational purposes of all sorts. It is sad when money rules where and what our children should learn! All my children are homeschooled and I am very grateful to have the ability to have them with me everyday. They have a very balanced social, learning, and homelife. I have yet had a problem with them being mean nor disrespecting anyone.I know, soon, time will pass and these days will be memories. Atleast I and my children will have them. Children are very precious. The same they will grow into precious adults who have the right to have had their parents train them up in all ways. It's been that way before empires and constitutions.

[Libertina]

As someone who sees the public (government) schools daily, I'd say get your children out before middle shcool, if not sooner. Or into private schools.

[Diddle E. Squat]

"Inventing A Girl"

Is that a remake of "Wierd Science"?

[A2J]

One graduated (and starting college) and three others homeschooling BUMP!

[Liberal Classic]

Homeschooling critics worry that homeschooled children don't learn the social skills to be had from interacting with other children.

Considering the polite manner and intelligent questions asked by every homeschool-kid I've met, I have to unequivically say the socialization to be had by interacting with other little terrors in public school is over-rated to say the least. I've been impressed with every one I've met, and this is not exaggeration. My wife and I went out to eat with a casual acquaintence who homeschools their children, and we were pleasantly suprised. They were asking us political questions, questions about our jobs, etc. "Wow," I though. "They seemed like people, for goodness sakes, not wild little animals -- unlike some of the other children I've met." Having talked to a few other children met my chance, the opinion is reinforced.

This is not to say that people who pull their kids out of public school can't possibly make mistakes, or neglect their children in some way, but I really have to question the "socialization" that some so-called "critics" of homeschooling are suggesting that homeschool kids lack. Children are not missing out on some sorely needed social skill without which they will be scarred for life.

I've been talking it over with my wife and our kids are going to private school or we're going to do it ourselves. My own recollection of public school leaves much to be desired, and if they're anything like what I remember LC Junior can do without all that "socialization."