For cutting sandpaper, I use one of those craft knives with the break-away/disposible blades. That way, as the blade dulls, one segment can just be broken off, and you have a new sharp corner to work with. These can be found at most stores, but the best place to get them is usually a dollar store. Also, I really recommend 400-600 sandpaper. Children seem to prefer it over the rougher grades.

As for using the rotary cutter on craft foam, etc: practice, practice. If the plastic quilting ruler causes too many problems, you might want to try using a metal ruler instead. They are usually backed with cork, so they stay in place better, and they don’t chip. Obviously, you then lose the advantage of the grid that’s on the quilting ruler, but it’s probably a worthwhile trade-off.

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.

“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.