Encouragement Along the Way - The myth of Socialization

Encouragement Along the Way

Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt his name together.

Psalm 34:3

Aug. 13, 2007

The myth of Socialization

Since I did not Homeschool my children from the very beginning, I know a little bit about socialization in school. You maybe surprised to learn, there isn't any!

Really! People keep telling you they need to go to school for Socialization, but at school you cannot socialize! As my children would get on the school bus, they were told 'No talking" There is traffic and the bus driver needs to concentrate. I know you know this is true because you tell your children to be quite while you are driving too.

Once they get to school the bus kids arrive just in time to stand in line and go in the classroom. There is no talking in line. There is however pushing and shoving, taking cuts and as in the case of my son a broken nose because he fell over a bookbag.

In class my very social son was ready to socialize. he was sent to the office all the time for talking in class. You cannot talk in class. You cannot ask too many questions and you cannot go to the bathroom. That is what recess is for doing ! Did you know that is what recess is for doing? And since everyone is in line to go potty at recess o one is playing and heaven help you if the bell rings and you haven't pee'd yet! Once Matthew came home to school I discovered he hadn't had recess all year long. Why isn't he outside playing with his friends? Because he had not completed he assignment in the allotted time period, he did not have recess. How many times does your six year old stare at a math page?

Now it is lunchtime hooray for the cafeteria! All the kids together eating lunch, talking , laughing. What ?they aren't? Of course they aren't! If they are talking they aren't eating. If they aren't eating the lunch PATROLS have to stay longer. So no talking! EAT! If they eat fast enough (which means throwing out half eaten food) they get to go stand in line to play a game.

The bus ride home is the same as the bus ride there. It is 4:00 when they get off the bus. Time to play!!!

Nope they can't play yet, they have homework. Then they have supper and their baths! Now they can play or watch TV for about an hour. Good night kids, tomorrow is Saturday, maybe you can socialize then.

What you can't even on Saturday? Why Not? Chores? Oh ya I forgot, you haven't been home all week; you have chores to do, then you can go out and play.

If someone is hassling you about socialization, have them read this and then TELL them what you did this week and tell them all the conversations you had with your children. Socialization is a myth. The schools already know that Homeschoolers are raising the bar on education, so this is all they have in their bag of tricks to make you feel like you are failing your children. Don't buy into their lies for a minute.

3John I:4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth!

• Post A Comment! • Send to a Friend!

Comments

Aug. 13, 2007 - Untitled Comment

Posted by AcceptanceWithJoy

The socialization argument is my pet peeve... because I don't think the educrats have in mind spending time in your peer group. I think that the main thrust of socialization is to create a society that thinks alike and behaves the same.

Besides, no one has ever asked if spending all the time with their peers is good for kids. When I was teaching adults... I found the young adults (18-25-ish) extremely peer dependent. They would gather in a class, study with their peer group, ignore the wisdom of the older women (taught nursing so I rarely had male students)... and, when one of the older women had her house burn over Christmas break the older women had a fund raising drive to help her replace her books. The younger students not only didn't participate, but some didn't even know that this lady had lost EVERYTHING in a fire. These are people that spend 4 days a week together.

Besides, except when I was a student, I have always had to work, interact and socialize across the age span. And my younger students didn't even know how to do it. I had them do a reminiscence paper with an elderly person just so that they could practice the skill. You wouldn't believe how many students asked if they could do this activity with a grandparent because they had never spent the time getting to know them... so very sad!!!