hi doubting dh,
i don't know if you have read my first post "desperately seeking homeschool advice", but if you do, obviously we feel the same way. Since posting that, I have done almost non-stop research on the social issue and have found out a lot of satistics that show that homeschooled children are better prepared to deal with real life social issues. I volunteer in my son's first grade class three mornings a week for two and a half hours a day. I can honestly say that in all that time he maybe socializes 15 minutes with his peers. The majority of that time is spent waiting for me or the teacher to direct the class. They do not learn to socialize in school!!!!!! They may learn how to deal with 25 other first graders, maybe even make a few friends, but overall they are thrown into a classroom with people they do not choose to be with, and are told to be socially active. There is also the issue of idle time in school. I just read a study report in "Homeschool- the right choice" that shows that children spend way less than half of the over 1000 hours a year in school, actually learning anything. While they are not learning, they are sitting ALONE at their desks waiting for the teacher, or waiting for the rest of the class to finish an assignment, or waiting to go to recess for 5 minutes; waiting, waiting, waiting. This is not socialization by any stretch of the imagination. I hve also found that most people who do not agree with homeschooling because of the socialization aspect are extremely uninformed and ignorant to the subject. My husband is a great example. I have been thinking about homeschooling for about a year, but he was always concerned with them being able to handle society's norms... After our recent incident, I knew something had to give, so I asked him to read a book I had. He read the information, and within 8 hours he had changed his mind and instead of just considering it for the sake of the kids, he is completely on board. Read as much as you can, be prepared for a lot of negative comments, and go for it. I spent a lot of time in a first grade class and here we are pulling our son out. He is bored, really doesn't learn much in a full day, and after homeschooling instead, we hope he will be socially strong enough to do what he knows is best, just as we have done for him. Socially, homeschooling is probably one of the best lessons he and his brother will get from his parents because we are going against the majority of society for their sake and someday when they are faced with a difficult decision, they will do what's best for them, not what society believes is best for them.
good luck,
tomjon
