"But what about socialization?"
Please understand, I have heard this question my whole life. It's usually the first thing that anyone homeschooled or homeschooling gets asked. I'm not bothered by it. Most folks who ask really have no frame of reference for the true homeschooling life. They don't know what a day looks like and what social situations homeschoolers regularly experience.
What I'd like to point out is that the socialization question assumes that all institutional learners are automatically well-socialized and all home based learners are not. However, proximity does not equal socialization.
Because students are thrown with twenty+ other students their own age does not mean that child will learn functional, healthy relationships. Because they are regularly located closely to their peers, does not mean they will learn the true skills of socialization - common courtesy, tact, patience and forgiveness, just to name a few.
No, proximity does not equal socialization.
Perhaps I've got more thoughts on the topic coming up. Why not stay tuned?
Dominique
PS - For being "weird and unsocialized," we sure get to hang out with the cool people. George Washington visited our co-op recently and was a huge hit with our students.
PS again - It also should be noted the the child wearing a cowboy hat is mine.
