Comments on: School is Not for Socializing — Out of the Mouths of Public Schoolers! http://motherbynature.ca/2009/02/school-is-not-for-socializing-out-of-the-mouths-of-public-schoolers/ Mon, 15 Mar 2010 05:59:16 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8 hourly 1 By: heather http://motherbynature.ca/2009/02/school-is-not-for-socializing-out-of-the-mouths-of-public-schoolers/comment-page-1/#comment-9767 heather Mon, 16 Nov 2009 19:43:47 +0000 http://motherbynature.ca/?p=451#comment-9767 misanthrope, did you read the article? Did you understand it? "Socialization", as in learning how to deal with people, is precisely what we are talking about. I'm actually impressed that you understand the difference between "socializing" and "socialization", because this is exactly what homeschoolers get unjustly attacked (or at least questioned) about. Yes, the title of my post refers to "socializing" while the content refers primarily to "socialization". This is to demonstrate the confusion that we ourselves are faced with. We are constantly being asked "what about socialization", by which the questioners MEAN "when do they get to play with their friends?" The issue being addressed in the article is about how impossible proper socialization (learning to deal with people) was becoming in these classes. So whether you think kids need to be in school for socializing (talking in class, not allowed) or socialization (learning to deal with people, not working), in either case it's hardly any better than homeschooling. And do you honestly believe homeschoolers spend all day with their parents, or are you really this confused? Even if they spend a LOT of time with their parents, if they are good models of social behaviour then the kids are learning socialization skills (rather than learning and imitating 20 to 30 same aged, equally immature peers). If there are multiple siblings, then there are conflicts to resolve, and lots of opportunities for play with peers. But homeschoolers are not stuck at home with just their families anyway. We are not in the habit of locking our children in closets to keep them away from the world. Rather, we are out in the REAL world, not in an isolated classroom with the same 30 children for 7-8 hours a day, 5 days a week, 40 weeks a year. Our homeschooled children interact with people of all ages and backgrounds in a wide variety of situations, as we go out and run errands, visit museums, chat with neighbours, go to different activities, and play with friends. That's pretty much the DEFINITION of socialization -- learning to socialize and get along with a wide variety of people in REAL situations, not stuck in only the one artificial paradigm of the classroom. Kids in public schools learn the socialization rules of the classroom and the playground, based on cliques and peer pressure and materialistic quests for popularity... not the socialization rules of the community, the world at large, the varied landscape of social situations that mature people interact with every day. misanthrope, did you read the article? Did you understand it? “Socialization”, as in learning how to deal with people, is precisely what we are talking about. I’m actually impressed that you understand the difference between “socializing” and “socialization”, because this is exactly what homeschoolers get unjustly attacked (or at least questioned) about. Yes, the title of my post refers to “socializing” while the content refers primarily to “socialization”. This is to demonstrate the confusion that we ourselves are faced with. We are constantly being asked “what about socialization”, by which the questioners MEAN “when do they get to play with their friends?”

The issue being addressed in the article is about how impossible proper socialization (learning to deal with people) was becoming in these classes. So whether you think kids need to be in school for socializing (talking in class, not allowed) or socialization (learning to deal with people, not working), in either case it’s hardly any better than homeschooling.

And do you honestly believe homeschoolers spend all day with their parents, or are you really this confused? Even if they spend a LOT of time with their parents, if they are good models of social behaviour then the kids are learning socialization skills (rather than learning and imitating 20 to 30 same aged, equally immature peers). If there are multiple siblings, then there are conflicts to resolve, and lots of opportunities for play with peers.

But homeschoolers are not stuck at home with just their families anyway. We are not in the habit of locking our children in closets to keep them away from the world. Rather, we are out in the REAL world, not in an isolated classroom with the same 30 children for 7-8 hours a day, 5 days a week, 40 weeks a year. Our homeschooled children interact with people of all ages and backgrounds in a wide variety of situations, as we go out and run errands, visit museums, chat with neighbours, go to different activities, and play with friends.

That’s pretty much the DEFINITION of socialization — learning to socialize and get along with a wide variety of people in REAL situations, not stuck in only the one artificial paradigm of the classroom. Kids in public schools learn the socialization rules of the classroom and the playground, based on cliques and peer pressure and materialistic quests for popularity… not the socialization rules of the community, the world at large, the varied landscape of social situations that mature people interact with every day.

]]> By: misanthropope http://motherbynature.ca/2009/02/school-is-not-for-socializing-out-of-the-mouths-of-public-schoolers/comment-page-1/#comment-9766 misanthropope Mon, 16 Nov 2009 19:24:42 +0000 http://motherbynature.ca/?p=451#comment-9766 is this a straw man attack, or are you really this confused? "socialize" in this context means "talk during class". "socialization" means "learn how to deal with people". You are basing your argument on conflating two very different words with the same root. homeschool kids spend all day with their parents. that's pretty much the opposite of socialization, REGARDLESS OF HOW MUCH TALKING HAPPENS. is this a straw man attack, or are you really this confused?

“socialize” in this context means “talk during class”. “socialization” means “learn how to deal with people”. You are basing your argument on conflating two very different words with the same root.

homeschool kids spend all day with their parents. that’s pretty much the opposite of socialization, REGARDLESS OF HOW MUCH TALKING HAPPENS.

]]> By: Primal http://motherbynature.ca/2009/02/school-is-not-for-socializing-out-of-the-mouths-of-public-schoolers/comment-page-1/#comment-8767 Primal Mon, 07 Sep 2009 19:10:13 +0000 http://motherbynature.ca/?p=451#comment-8767 Amen!! Amen!!

]]> By: Laura http://motherbynature.ca/2009/02/school-is-not-for-socializing-out-of-the-mouths-of-public-schoolers/comment-page-1/#comment-5362 Laura Sun, 28 Jun 2009 19:37:21 +0000 http://motherbynature.ca/?p=451#comment-5362 Interesting... I love the photo at the top--among other things, "No daydreaming" Tell that to Edison, or Einstein or any writer ever. "Do not use your mind in creative ways during class time!" Nice... Interesting…

I love the photo at the top–among other things, “No daydreaming”

Tell that to Edison, or Einstein or any writer ever.

“Do not use your mind in creative ways during class time!”

Nice…

]]> By: seanmM http://motherbynature.ca/2009/02/school-is-not-for-socializing-out-of-the-mouths-of-public-schoolers/comment-page-1/#comment-3824 seanmM Tue, 12 May 2009 01:24:26 +0000 http://motherbynature.ca/?p=451#comment-3824 Researching the origins of the "classroom" and the "public school system" leads to quite a few shocking revelations. Such as the admittance by those that came up with this system in the early 1800 that is a system for training the lower classed masses to be thoughtless and obey orders without question. Public school, its socially acceptable brainwashing! Researching the origins of the “classroom” and the “public school system” leads to quite a few shocking revelations. Such as the admittance by those that came up with this system in the early 1800 that is a system for training the lower classed masses to be thoughtless and obey orders without question. Public school, its socially acceptable brainwashing!

]]> By: Summer http://motherbynature.ca/2009/02/school-is-not-for-socializing-out-of-the-mouths-of-public-schoolers/comment-page-1/#comment-2540 Summer Mon, 06 Apr 2009 05:07:45 +0000 http://motherbynature.ca/?p=451#comment-2540 Love this! It always confuses me when people bring up the "socialization" issue. When I was a kid if you got caught trying to socialize you were told "School is for learning, not socializing." Love this! It always confuses me when people bring up the “socialization” issue. When I was a kid if you got caught trying to socialize you were told “School is for learning, not socializing.”

]]> By: Widdle Shamrock http://motherbynature.ca/2009/02/school-is-not-for-socializing-out-of-the-mouths-of-public-schoolers/comment-page-1/#comment-142 Widdle Shamrock Mon, 02 Mar 2009 01:08:24 +0000 http://motherbynature.ca/?p=451#comment-142 Hi, my husband sent me a link to your blog. I am a homeschooler and have always said if I wanted to 'socialise' my child, I would not use a mainstream school setting to do it. The whole 'socialisation' argument has me rolling my eyes. Love the post. Hi, my husband sent me a link to your blog. I am a homeschooler and have always said if I wanted to ’socialise’ my child, I would not use a mainstream school setting to do it. The whole ’socialisation’ argument has me rolling my eyes.

Love the post.

]]> By: Sharon J http://motherbynature.ca/2009/02/school-is-not-for-socializing-out-of-the-mouths-of-public-schoolers/comment-page-1/#comment-131 Sharon J Fri, 27 Feb 2009 17:51:35 +0000 http://motherbynature.ca/?p=451#comment-131 I am saddened whenever I hear about the problems that occur in the public schools. Naturally, I feel a little justified in our family's decision to homeschool, but at the same time, I feel pretty sad for the kids who are in these situations. Not to mention the teachers who have so much on their plates already, now having to deal with a negative social situation. Thanks for posting it, I read all the comments. It gives me a little shot in the arm about just why we are on this journey. I am saddened whenever I hear about the problems that occur in the public schools. Naturally, I feel a little justified in our family’s decision to homeschool, but at the same time, I feel pretty sad for the kids who are in these situations. Not to mention the teachers who have so much on their plates already, now having to deal with a negative social situation.

Thanks for posting it, I read all the comments. It gives me a little shot in the arm about just why we are on this journey.

]]>