Even if you haven't officially started homeschooling yet, just mentioning that you are considering it (let alone have made the decision to do it) can bring a standard response from people. The first thing you will hear is, "What about socialization?"
When someone heard about how large our class sizes are she responded by saying, "Can you do that? I mean, isn't the whole point of homeschooling to avoid that kind of environment?"
I say this to show you one thing -- you have nothing to "prove" to anyone in relation to your decision to homeschool. People will believe things about homeschoolers no matter how you seek to enlighten them. If you don't do things with others, you are weird. If you are doing things as a group, it is still weird.
The Merriam-Webster.com definition of socialize is:
"to teach (someone) to behave in a way that is acceptable in society"
Those who say homeschoolers aren't socialized just mean that they are different, i.e., they don't act like public schooled children. But they are free from the annoying aspects of peer pressure (such as being a slave to fashions and tech devices) and are usually able to have an intelligent conversation with people of all ages, not just their peers.
Do not allow comments about a lack of socialization scare you! Your children will be fine as they grow up in your home as lovers of learning, self-confident that God has an amazing purpose for their life that He will equip them to accomplish.
No comments:
Post a Comment