Posted in General Musings

If you have landed on this page and read the description, you know that this blog will mainly be about my children making a school notebook of their homeschooling work & experiences. I will also be sharing my experiences as a homeschool teacher. I am not new to teaching. I taught 5th grade in the public school system for nine years. That was enough to convince me that homeschooling my own children would be the best choice for our family. =) While nearly all public school teachers do the best job they possibly can under the conditions, it is impossible to give each child the time they would need to really skyrocket their learning and education on an individual basis. I was exhausted at the end of each and every teaching day! My hat is off to those teachers still in the trenches of the public school system.

Am I worried about "socialization"? Nope.

This seems to be the main argument people throw at you when they learn you are homeschooling. I don't want or agree with the "socialization" that takes place in the public school system. I'd rather my children feel positive about their social experiences. I don't want the unhealthy nature of the school playground where some children, by virtue only of how they look or their type of personality are either held up as being better than others or are ostricized.  No, I do not harbor terrible memories of my own experience on the school playground or in the classroom. I was actually one of the more "popular" set of kids and exceled in school. But I do remember. I remember the little girl whose parents could not afford the "right" clothing for her. She wore hand-me-downs and got teased to no end and ostricized on the playground, for no other reason than that. It completely affected everything she did in school, including her performance. Later in high school she was so painfully shy that she didn't say anything to anyone. I remember others who were never allowed to play in games at recess or were always picked last for teams during physical education. I saw the effect that had on those kids, both from my own experience as a child and as a teacher. You can't concentrate or get excited about learning when you are constantly worried about what your peers are saying or thinking about you.

Some people say that sort of thing helps them to develop a "thick skin". Sorry, but I'd prefer my 6 year old son not have to develop some sort of thick skin just to be able to deal with certain children at school, or worse yet, develop some of the same characteristics of those children by virtue of the playground version of "socialization". I watched the kindergarten group at the local school this past year. Half of those children would never be allowed to step foot in my door. Why then, would I want my child to "experience" these kids at school? I don't expect every single experience my children have to be socially positive, but I plan on being there when it's not to minimize the damage and help them deal with it.

Will my children get together with other children? Absolutely. They'll get to play & enjoy children who respect their parents and respect others. My son takes Tae Kwon Do twice per week. He's learning the tenets of the art - courtesy, respect, self-control, perseverence & indomitable spirit - and he's learning it right alongside other kids. My daughter takes gymnastics and ballet, and when she gets old enough, the same Tae Kwon Do my son is taking, if she would like. My kids are socially just fine - and both feel good about being with other children.

Whew. Glad to get that off my chest. Now I'll be able to handle the next "concerned" person's question about the socialization of my children without doinking them in the head first. ;)