Katie told one of her teachers the other day that she knew who her teacher would be for next year. Since PS assignments haven't been made, the teacher asked her how she knew. Katie told her we were homeschooling, and I would be her teacher. Well, apparently it got around to all of her teachers (our elementary school has the kids start changing classes in second grade!). Today DH went to a writing celebration in Amanda's K class. When he was leaving he ran into another one of Katie's teachers. This teacher expressed concern about "socialization". :roll: DH set her straight - told her Katie would be in girl scouts, active at church, tons of kids in the neighborhood. I wish he had told her we didn't want the kind of socialization PS is providing....
Oh Cheryl, that S word will come up alot in homeschooling, I got to the point I just say, my kids have more S time then me. Now days in public school they are taking all the S time away even at lunch. So, I ask them when do they have time for S in PS and no one answers me.
Oh I know. They can't talk in class, recess now has planned activities so they can count it as PE time. They are "on red" for 15 minutes of their 20 minute lunch and can't talk during that time. But, they are better "socialized" at school - right?
Eeek! the "S" word! Someone was asking me about my kids hs-ing the other day. She was complimenting my kids on how well spoken they are and intelligent but she asked about: Socialization with their peers! I told her they get along fine with kids their age but they find it difficult carrying on an intelligent conversation when the kids don't even have a clue about current events. A few of my kids friends asked them not to use "such big words" because they didn't know what they meant. Diligent, momentous, derogatory, conscientious, need I go on? My kids said if they dumb their words down quite a few notches the other kids would be able to understand them. Once my ds told me after a bunch of kids left the house, "I could feel my IQ drop after that conversation". LOL :lol: I don't encourage my kids to dumb it down, I tell them to be themselves and that they are.
I was worried about that years ago in the begining. Now I just laugh in the face of anyone who dares bring that up!
Bolding mine. I totally agree with this. My son tells me that they have seating arrangements at lunch (to "handle" behavioral issues with some of the students), and they are made to wait to go into the lunchroom until everyone behaves...so sometimes they only have 5 minutes to eat! Ick, yeah, the "S" at public school is one of the top reasons we are pulling out.
Between our homeschool group, sports activities through our city's parks and rec, the library, our neighborhood, church friends and activities, hanging out at the park, having friends over or going to their homes, etc., our kids get more than enough "socialization" with other kids. When I am talking about homeschooling to people, I often will joke, "If we get any MORE socialization, we won't have time to do our school work!" LOL. As funny as that is, it's true. There are SO many "socialization" opportunities out there for homeschoolers nowadays that sometimes we have to say 'no thank you.' We tend to get too busy at times.
If Samantha was in ps she'd have no time to socialize at all. She wouldn't be able to take acting or spanish classes like she does now. These are held on Thursday afternoons (we are about to leave for it now). She wouldn't be able to take dance twice a week because she'd have no time for homework. She wouldn't be able to be in the tween club at the library because she wouldn't be home from school in time. The only thing she'd have would be church on Sunday.
I have always been a very outgoing, talkative person, even as a child...I used to get in trouble ALL the time for visiting during class. My teachers would get on to me and say, "You're here to LEARN, not to visit!" Hmmmm....isn't visiting kinda like "socializing?!?!" Seems to me they talk out of both sides of their mouths. "They" say, if you don't send your kid to a ps, they won't get socialization like they're supposed to...on the other hand, they hardly give any real opportunities for the ps kids to actually socialize. Go figure! :? ????
Mendy you are so right on. I too talked a lot. A whole lot. My senoir year my French teacher who didn't like me anyway because I voiced my opinion gave me the name Mademoiselle Grandbouche which meant Miss Bigmouth. Nice. Realy nice.
my parents want me to put the kids in school so they can be with others. I keep saying no and actually started asking about the schools here and no one can tell me positive things. I really thought 2of the schools were okay but that was a little over ten years ago. They get enough of the S when we are out and about and going to activies.
Goodness. Funny that the teacher's only defense of ps was a weak arguement on socialization. I think the whole argument on socialization is just silly. It is so boring to have to defend that aspect of homeschooling. I don't mind calming the fears of those considering homeschooling but I am no longer in any mood to defend that aspect of homeschooling.
Cheryl-Sorry that "S" question is rearing it's head already. It will probably come up another day too. Either ignore people's comments or explain that your child/children will be involved with the outside world. Keep the faith! Mallori-Welcome to Homeschool Spot. This is my first year homeschooling as well. We both live in the same state! I live in the southern section of the state. I also have a 7 y.o. son and a 4 y.o. daughter. Anyway, I agree socialization in the schools is one of the reasons my ds is no longer there. My son had a 20 minute allotted lunch period at the local public school. There was also a mandatory no talking time the last ten minutes. Hot lunch kids and cold lunch kids were not allowed to eat at the same table in order to conserve time on seating. There was also bullying going on at recess. Only two untrained adults were recess supervisors for about 70 kids. They couldn't keep track of everyone, deal with injuries and all the kids' problems besides. That's just a few of the many reasons why hubby and I decided our neighborhood school wasn't the right place for our son.
I was a chatter box in school and remember being told many, many times, "This is not the place for socializing, it is for learning, please be quiet"!
I have heard that as well!!! Isn't it funny they think they know what our kids are in outside of school!!! I can say growing up I had family member kids around constantly!!! I have to say as a ps teacher I would try to do assignments either in groups or if it was a project that didn't require too much thought I didn't mind mine talking. I have to say it was quite funny walking from my classroom where I didn't really mind the "noise" level being a little higher and walk into another where the kids sat quietly at their desks. Oh well we all have our ways.
