Nienor SharkAttack wrote: |
Well, I'm no fan for the same reason that I'm no fan of home schooling in general: to me, the social and socializing aspects of attending school are extremely important. School is about a lot more than textbook knowledge.
Yes, and to others of us...the social and socializing aspects of regular school were incredibly cruel and left scars far worse than anything I've experienced in the nine years since I dropped out of high school (i.e. NOT experiences I needed to prepare me to "deal with the real world.")
Life is about a lot more than textbook knowledge - and those of us who WERE homeschooled (and as such, can do more than speculate about its effects) continued to learn about life through both academic and non-academic experiences during our homeschooled years.
Homeschooling is NOT a panacea, and there are certainly risks. In particular, my own experience was badly affected by issues specific to my mother (the homeschooling parent). It was actually NOT a fun time for me at all, and I wouldn't want to provide a blanket defense of it. But I again have to speak out when this sort of unfair and inexperienced statement about homeschooled kids is made. While homeschooled, for four years, I:
- Competitively swam 5-6 times a week, with (mostly) public school students my own age
- Went to gymnastics practice 3 times a week, with a mix of public/private/homeschooled students
- Played in a local youth orchestra 1-2 times per week, with mostly public school students
- Roller skated once a week, with other homeschooled students
- Went to church and Sunday School every week (Catholic), interacting with almost all non-homeschooled people/children
- Sang in church choir once to twice a week (mix of public and private school kids, usually)
- Did other "enrichment" activities with a mix of students (e.g. at local museums)
I was CONSTANTLY interacting with other students of all sorts, on more than a daily basis. And that was something that my mother did a wonderful job of ensuring -
as did the other homeschooling parents we knew, you know, the conservative Christian ones that everyone likes to stigmatize. It is infuriating to me that when people assume that homeschooling means that you sit in your home with a textbook and just see your parents and siblings every day. Not necessarily at all.
I assume the same would be true of "virtual schools." It could be a socially isolating experience, or it could be a socially rich experience, depending on what effort the parent(s) and student make.
I have no objection to the assertion that the social and socializing aspects of growing up are very, very important. But I have an objection to people assuming that their (public or private) experience was superior to the experience of a homeschooled child, without more data. It is condescending and aggravating.