STRIKE FOUR
The last (thank God) of the Salem Times-Commoner pieces is out. It is far and away the worst of the set, quoting unnamed “experts” several times. Of course these “experts” are negative:
Many experts feel that socialization is a big issue with homeschooling. The schools are a major influence in the lives of children. They spend many hours in the school setting. What can take the place of the hours spent with other youth? The homeschooling community addresses that issue to some degree, depending on where one is located.
…For those homeschooling their children without a support group, and there are many, experts in the field say that getting the children involved in some type of group activity such as Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, 4-H, or sports, gives the students the opportunity to be with other children and to learn group dynamics.
… Most research also concluded that socialization is not the problem it was once thought to be for homeschoolers. However, those that homeschool and do not have an affiliation with a home school group need to consider several things.
In any town, the feeling of community is often built around its schools, so learning in a public school promotes, in a way, the values of citizenship. Homeschooled children do not encounter the diversity in a community, so they risk both not fitting in with their peer group, as well as not being able to easily understand other points of view. Moreover, when homeschooled children do participate in group situations it is most likely with other students are also homeschooled and share similar values, background, and social class.
How does one become a recognized “expert” on homeschooling? Can one get a Ph.D. in homeschooling? Bah!
7 Responses to “STRIKE FOUR”
 Comment by Anna December 24th, 2005 at 7:31 pm |
The schools are a major influence in the lives of children. They spend many hours in the school setting. What can take the place of the hours spent with other youth? Oh, I don’t know. How about hours not wasted waiting for other people to arrive, sit down, quiet down, open up their books, stop drawing sexually suggestive scenes on the whiteboard, stop insulting the teacher, et cetera ad nauseam? After twelve years of school, I decided I was either going to graduate early or drop out, because I was not going to spend another two years in high school. Best decision I ever made. |
 Comment by LAmom December 25th, 2005 at 2:38 pm |
I get so tired of that line about homeschoolers being non-diverse. The homeschooling park day I take my kids too is WAY more diverse than the elementary schools in Lynwood. |
 Comment by SingleMind December 25th, 2005 at 2:48 pm |
LAMom: Good point. I remember many of my friends who touted that line about 15 years ago. However, I have had a chance to meet folks who were homeschooled–and have friends who homeschooled their kids. In every single instance, the kids were exemplary not only in their intellect but also their ability to socialize. The “diversity” argument is a left-wing red herring. |
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Comment by SingleMind December 25th, 2005 at 3:02 pm |
How does one become a recognized “expert†on homeschooling? Can one get a Ph.D. in homeschooling? Bah! Wouldn’t that be a hoot though? Someone with a PhD in homeschooling–a “recognized expert”–around whom any parents who homeschooled their kids can fly circles! 😉 |
 Comment by COD December 25th, 2005 at 3:20 pm |
I wonder what would happen if we seeded cobranchi.com with the phrase homeschooling expert and then Google do its magic. Maybe within weeks Daryl will be the expert they call. Heck, he’s got the PHd, and its not like the average reporter would even be smarter enough to ask what it’s in. Dr. Daryl Cobranchi, homeschooling expert. Come and get it Google. |
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Comment by SingleMind December 25th, 2005 at 3:25 pm |
We couldn’t recognize Daryl as an “expert”, though: he actually knows something. |
 Comment by Daryl Cobranchi December 25th, 2005 at 4:12 pm |
Modesty prevents me from saying that I, Daryl Cobranchi, Ph.D. am a homeschooling expert. I have, however, been doing field studies since 2001, even living with a homeschooling family to study them in their “native habitat.” Fascinating. |