I received this in an email. What ABOUT socialization? Two women meet at a playground, where their children are swinging and playing ball. The women are sitting on a bench watching. Eventually, they begin to talk. W1: Hi. My name is Maggie. My kids are the three in red shirts -- helps me keep track of them. W2: (Smiles) I'm Terri. Mine are in the pink and yellow shirts. Do you come here a lot? W1: Usually two or three times a week, after we go to the library. W2: Wow. Where do you find the time? W1: We home school, so we do it during the day most of the time. W2: Some of my neighbors home school, but I send my kids to public school. W1: How do you do it? W2: It's not easy. I go to all the PTO meetings and work with the kids every day after school and stay real involved. W1: But what about socialization? Aren't you worried about them being cooped up all day with kids their own ages, never getting the opportunity for natural relationships? W2: Well, yes. But I work hard to balance that. They have some friends who're home schooled, and we visit their grandparents almost every month. W1: Sounds like you're a very dedicated mom. But don't you worry about all the opportunities they're missing out on? I mean they're so isolated from real life -- how will they know what the world is like -- what people do to make a living -- how to get along with all different kinds of people? W2: Oh, we discussed that at PTO, and we started a fund to bring real people into the classrooms. Last month, we had a policeman and a doctor come in to talk to every class. And next month, we're having a woman from Japan and a man from Kenya come to speak. W1: Oh, we met a man from Japan in the grocery store the other week, and he got to talking about his childhood in Tokyo. My kids were absolutely fascinated. We invited him to dinner and got to meet his wife and their three children. W2: That's nice. Hmm. Maybe we should plan some Japanese food for the lunchroom on Multicultural Day. W1: Maybe your Japanese guest could eat with the children. W2: Oh, no. She's on a very tight schedule. She has two other schools to visit that day. It's a system-wide thing we're doing. W1: Oh, I'm sorry. Well, maybe you'll meet someone interesting in the grocery store sometime and you'll end up having them over for dinner. W2: I don't think so. I never talk to people in the store -- certainly not people who might not even speak my language. What if that Japanese man hadn't spoken English? W1: To tell you the truth, I never had time to think about it. Before I even saw him, my six-year-old had asked him what he was going to do with all the oranges he was buying. W2: Your child talks to strangers? W1: I was right there with him. He knows that as long as he's with me, he can talk to anyone he wishes. W2: But you're developing dangerous habits in him. My children never talk to strangers. W1: Not even when they're with you? W2: They're never with me, except at home after school. So you see why it's so important for them to understand that talking to strangers is a big no-no. W1: Yes, I do. But if they were with you, they could get to meet interesting people and still be safe. They'd get a taste of the real world, in real settings. They'd also get a real feel for how to tell when a situation is dangerous or suspicious. W2: They'll get that in the third and fifth grades in their health courses. W1: Well, I can tell you're a very caring mom. Let me give you my number--if you ever want to talk, give me call. It was good to meet you. --Author unknown
Funny, thanks for sharing. I love to see it turned around like that. How many of us have had similar conversations with people? Thanks Jennifer.
People are so sure that our homeschooled children are not getting socialized. I here it form my own family.
That is very funny, I will have to remeber it the next time I have a conversation like that. My neighbor asked me yesterday why my kids weren't in school. I told her that they were...we were chasing grasshoppers to feed to the chickens, talking about how the hoppers were protein to the chickens and helped them to grow. (you know the whole food chain thing) I don't think she apperciated the answer very much.
That's a print and carry, I think. I had to explain to my children what objections some people have to homeschooling, because they meet a few critics. After explaining the socialization argument, my daughter went to her cousins school on Grandparents Day. (My MIL had already planned to spend the day with her when my nephew called and begged her to come to his school for a special program.) Anyway, after my daughter came home from my MIL's house, she said, "Mom, don't worry. I sat in a desk in a 'real' school, so now I'm socialized." As one who values well-placed sarcasm, it was a proud moment.
THANK YOU! Being NEW to the whole home schooling idea, and trying to get some support around here... this is just perfect! My BESTEST (yeah) of friends ... okay, we've been friends for about 11 years, but don't talk all that much really, we met in our early 20's and drank together alot! LOL! Anyhow... I told her that I was looking into home schooling for my girls and she got really defensive, because she was for ONE whole year, and it damaged her social life soooo much! LOL! Either way, I'm glad to have some "come backs" since we haven't started home schooling yet, when people ask i just say "school is NOT for socialization, turn around in your seat" and most laugh... the discussion is done and we move on!
Yes!! I got "Ladies, we are NOT here to socialize..." (I also as people to name one positive social experience they had in middle school...now, how many bad ones?) I actually got some resistance from women who had hs, and it hadn't worked for them. They always ask...how is it going? Well, no more tears ever day...that is a plus.
Thanks for sharing this one! I so needed it this week as I am goign through the "what have I done to my children by homeschooling them" Mostly feeling like I neglected PE too much and its really hard to play team sports with two to 4 people lol. Tennis is on our plan for now!
