Homeschooled children

Introduction

The common question that homeschooled children and homeschooled graduates face is that of socialization. Socialization not only involves the social interaction but also learning and understanding how to navigate the social rules and norms of behavior in the society. The purpose of this essay is to argue that school interaction in children is the most vital kind of socialization. However, homeschooled children lack this opportunity to interact. Homeschooling fails to provide social interaction and necessary growth benefits as children in the traditional education. The growing number of homeschooling in America with an estimated 1.73 to 2.35 million children is raising concern about the social aspect children find in regular schools (Bergstrom, 12). Homeschooling should be under strict monitoring as well as strict control and limits.

Homeschooling

Need

The homeschooled children do lack the same opportunities of socializing as compared to their age level peers attending private/public schools. They are at home with a tutor, or both parents, or a single parent. The only time to socialize and interact with other children is during get-together or play date. These occasions are, however, during school holidays or weekends. Their lack of not being with other children hinders their social development and growth. Most scholars do not support homeschooling because they socially isolate children, and there is a delay of children to be competent in social interaction. There is a need to provide children with an opportunity to socialize by doing away with homeschooling and supporting the normal education system (Hebert, 1).

Satisfaction

Students are expected to excel in their standardized tests for them to be successful in their academic grades. These tests assess the ability of students to communicate effectively and become relevant individuals in the society. Homeschooling needs to be done away with because they hinder student’s abilities to become socialized and all-rounded students. Home schooled children spend a lot of time in isolation, and they do not get exposure to group dynamics, peer pressure and learning coping skills. Kessler, a Pediatrician, recommends that successful kids are those with three overlapping spheres at school, home, and among peers.

Homeschooling compresses all these aspects into one setting, and this becomes a major challenge to a kid. 92% of superintendents believe that homeschoolers fail to achieve social development, are emotionally unstable and too judgmental to the world around them. These reports are according to a Californian-based study by Dr. Brian Ray (Lauzon, 12). Teachers also believe uncredentialed parents are providing home instruction undermine their expertise and jeopardize their work (Kennedy and Gust, 2005). Communicating and interacting with other students will help students understand the concept of teamwork and accepting other people’s opinions.

Visualization

Cai, Reeve, and Dawn (2002) indicate that communication with others is a vital skill that promotes working in teams. Teamwork helps people to live and works towards common future goals. Thus, public schools offer children a big opportunity of interacting with others coming from diverse ethnicities and cultures (Emms, 12). Thus, School socializing prepares students for the real world. From an early age, they will learn to respect the opinions and viewpoints of other children in classes and outside classes. The children also have an opportunity of sharing their views. Relatives and parents only surround homeschooled children and isolated from the real world issues. Staying in a framed environment will mean that they face major challenges in interacting with new people later in their lives (Green, & Hoover-Dempsey, 1).There is a need to undertake new actions in informing parents the importance of socializing at school.

Action/conclusion

Children have to learn how to get along and interact with other people outside their immediate family members and their home setting. Homeschooling is equivalent to a detention place that isolates the children from the real world. A child homeschooling will face frustrations and fears towards the social environment. At school, there is the possibility of a child tackling any challenges that comes their way and encourage their curiosity (Bergstrom, 17). Schools provide children with social, behavioral, joint actions such as teamwork in sports and other activities outside just the book knowledge. Also, parents will be under a huge task of educating their children as well as doing their parental duties. The double standards will lower the quality of education that they provide their children with at home.

Work Cited

Kennedy, Allison and Gust, Deborah. Parental Vaccine Beliefs and Child’s School Type. 2005 Journal of School Health, 75(7), 276-281

Cai, Yi., Reeve, John Marshall, & Robinson Dawn. Home Schooling and Teaching Style: Comparing the Motivating Styles of Home School and Public School Teachers. 2002. Journal of Educational Psychology, 94(2), 372-380.

Emms, K. Homeschooling, and Socialization: Does Homeschooling Harm a Child’s Socialization? 2008 

On July 13, 2015

Bergstrom, Lisa. Homeschooling effects on test scores and Social Development of Students? 2012. Why Do Parents Homeschool and socialization of Homeschooling 28 Systematic Examination of Parental Involvement. Education and Urban Society. 2007