Homeschooling or Social and Cultural Interactions
I home school my kids. I was home schooled all the way through high school. I enjoy talking about it. But almost without exception I get the comment or something like it, (picture a little old lady) "I just get concerned about the kid's ability to relate socially. They need the social interaction." I have to admit this cracks me up. For anyone who knows my children the last thing they would describe them as is socially inadequate. If anything they may be a little socially over adequate. (Is there such a thing?) I inevitably answer those statements with something that goes like this, "Well, I've met many public schooled people that seem to be socially inept. I don't think how you are schooled determines whether you'll be a success socially."
Social - living or disposed to live in companionship with others or in a community, rather than in isolation.
I am, also, not a painfully shy or socially inept person, at least I don't believe so. Maybe some of you, my friends, reading this will clue me in. And in all the years I have been immersed in the homeschooling community all over these great United States, I have maybe met a handful of home schoolers that I would described as being socially awkward. As it turns out I have met a much larger number of people who have been schooled the conventional way that are socially awkward. So it begs the question, what is meant by social inadequacy or an inability to relate socially? What is meant by being socially acceptable? And why are those who are homeschooled labeled as socially inept, with no foundation for such a claim?
Culture - the behaviors and beliefs characteristic of a particular social, ethnic, or age group.
I believe when someone is asking about the social prowess of a homeschooled child, what they are actually saying is, "I don't know how to relate to this idea. And because I don't know how to relate to this idea I don't know how to relate to this person and since I don't know how to relate to this person, they must not know how to relate to me. They do not fit within my culture or my world view." Now we are all faced with these situations day in and day out, not just in regards to where and how we received our education. When faced with these situations and people who are different than us, experienced life differently from us, we have a choice. Do we put aside our preconceived ideas and opinions or do we open our minds to a new idea and continue to learn about this great world we live in?
Common - pertaining or belonging equally to an entire community, nation, or culture; public.
Because a homeschooled child is already at a, shall we say disadvantage, when it comes to common ground socially, I believe that most learn from an early age to relate to people on a far broader and deeper spectrum. They learn to relate to people far beyond the commonality of shared experience. When relating to someone they are able to tap into belief systems, world views, and the deeper essence of what it means to share this bond of humanity. The homeschooled child has not learned to give the pat answer, the safe answer. The homeschooled child has not learned to follow the crowd, to side with the majority. This scares people. It makes them uncomfortable. No more can they settle for the fluff and facade of daily life. No more can they go along on their merry way with no obstacles to their way of thinking. And yet, if people are willing they will find the most genuine, real relationships in their dealings with the homeschooled child.
Acceptable - 1. capable or worthy of being accepted. 2. pleasing to the receiver; satisfactory; agreeable; welcome. 3. meeting only minimum requirements; barely adequate. 4. capable of being endured; tolerable; bearable.
I hope that in home schooling my children that I am able to instill in them a desire to learn, not just academically, but socially, relationally, culturally throughout their entire lives. I do not want people to turn away from meeting my child and think no more about it because it was that common of an encounter. I want to raise children that are shakers and movers in their communities, nation, and even world. I want my children to make a difference even if that means being different. I do not want my children to be socially acceptable; I want my children to be socially excellent!
Excellent - possessing outstanding quality or superior merit; remarkably good.
