What Are the Drawbacks to Homeschooling?
What are the drawbacks to homeschooling? Well, there are three that come to mind. The first is isolation. Now when I say isolation is a drawback, I don’t mean homeschoolers will isolate, rather I mean there’s a temptation in the structure of the game; it is easy for a family to get enmeshed and isolated with a “compound mentality.” Isolation is not healthy, but it is a common drawback that you want to consider and avoid.
The second drawback is related to the first; friendships. In time, it’s also unhelath if there’s not an opportunity outside of the family to connect with others, especially kids of similar ages and interests. Over and over again, we encouraged friendships through scouting, extracurricular classes, and sports. There are a lot of ways to do it, like group situations and even church. You want to be careful to understand that your kids need the opportunity to engage with other people to develop friendships, so be wise and look around for good families.
The third drawback to homeschooling is conflict. Not so much conflict but learning how to handle conflicts and resolve them. Families often are too similar to provide this kind of learning. It’s not about battles with other people, but more differences around an idea or a thought that comes with debate and interaction. So if your kids get to interact with other ideas and other people, that allows them to refine their understanding, their logic, their worldview clearer and cleaner. In this way they grow ready to better encounter people in life.
So there are three essential drawbacks in homeschooling; isolation, friendships, and handling conflicts well. In my opinion, I don’t think academics is a drawback. I don’t think socialization is one either. I don’t think any of the things that are commonly thrown out there are all that much of an issue; even with college, homeschoolers do really pretty phenomenally well.
-Fred Ray Lybrand
A video of these thoughts is available here on YouTube
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The Myth of Socialization and Homeschooling
The common critique is that homeschoolers are poorly socialized, but nothing could be further from the truth. And yet, the critique is valid for all parents. Maybe there is a greater temptation for those who homeschool, but there are some simple things you can do to make this a non-issue.
https://www.independenthomeschool.com
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
The Bias Against Homeschooling
Sadly this person is taking some flak for the following:
Unless you are a certified teacher then don’t even try and homeschool your child. It is abuse because I’m sure you, as the teacher, let your child have long breaks – start the day late and end it early. You don’t have anyway of comparing your child with how and where they are supposed to be in the spectrum. UGH ….I feel so sorry for home schooled children.
Of course, flak might be deserved, but not for saying it… you know, free speech, etc.?
The reality is that this IS what people are thinking. Yet, shouldn’t abuse be based on results? If kids are being left behind, then that is a tradjedy! Yet, the author is not fully applying the standard. Just because someone is a certified teacher, why does that mean the child won’t be behind?
What if we really went by what works?
Honesty admits that homeschooling is producing a better result (on average) than public school is producing. So, how about a fresh standard?
If you are not educating your child(ren) at home…then send them to school! But, if they are not learning at school, why not bring them home?
It is time to start being honest about out results and make a change!
Blessings,
Dr. Fred R. Lybrand
Can You Really Socialize a Homeschooler? (Video)
So, don’t we hear this all the time? How are you going to socialize your child if you homeschool? What about socializing homeschoolers when they are isolated from others?
These kinds of jabs are a bit frustrating, but I’m sure jabs go in the other direction. Often people are asked, “Aren’t you afraid for your child’s safety in public school (implied: since you don’t home school)?
So what about socialization? What happens to human beings to become socially mal-adjusted? Can homeschoolers really figure out the socialization question? Is it legitimate? Do private school and public school kids face a guarantee about socialization themselves.
Here are a few thoughts…hope they help!
Can You Socialize a Homeschooler?
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Blessings,
Fred Lybrand