Homeschool

But what about the social?  This is the most asked question I’ve gotten since becoming a homeschooling family.  Ironically, it is the least of the worries for our family.  But you don’t know that until you homeschool.  I can remember long before I knew anything about homeschooling, just like it was yesterday being in an education class at the university and asking that same question to a homeschool Dad who was also taking the class. 

Now when someone asks me that, I inwardly cringe because I have to try explain it yet again, and even after I’ve explained about homeschool social, many seem like they aren’t convinced.

First, was anyone concerned about my children’s social life before school age?  Is anyone concerned about my children’s social life once they are adult; and they will mostly live their life as an adult.

Second, is school social really all that valuable that people should be concerned about it?  Think about it.  You’ve got kids raising kids for 12 years of their most informative years of their lives.  As a former secondary education teacher, I saw plenty of undesirable “social” to not want me to ever let my children go to school.  You name it, it was there.  Welcome to the jungle.

No thanks; I’ll let my children take their chances with summer camps, 4-H, church, sports clubs, music clubs, private lessons, apprenticeships, and family get-togethers, family traveling, library events, and so much more.  Is this social enough for everyone?

A long time ago I remember overhearing one teacher say she thought it was so unfair of homeschool parents to keep their kids away from school social life.  I wish I would have thought to say at the time that I know so many people who were bullied in school and it devastated their lives.  I know there are many people who enjoyed their time in school, but I’ve come to the conclusion they are the minority.

The idea of learning acceptable social skills in a school is as absurd to me as learning nutrition from a grocery store.
~ Lisa Russell