What about social skills (not to mention diversity)?

Public school does indeed provide socialization; that is it teaches them to conform to a preconcieved notion of what society is or should be.



But is it right to deny them the opportunity to learn how to interact with people of various ages, backgrounds, and cultures in order to ensure that they conform to the educational establishments idea of what society should be?What about social skills (not to mention diversity)?
Hehe.



Somebody was telling me about this t-shirt they saw online. I think it was through something called Press Cafe? Or maybe the other way around? In any case, the shirt went something like this:



The only time you're going to be on a strict schedule to change activities during the day, told when to eat and do this and that [no, not the words, I just can't remember what I was told!] and be around 30 other people your age day in and day out is in a



NURSING HOME.



lolWhat about social skills (not to mention diversity)?
When did public school become the ultimate real life experience? I thought it was a place to study and learn.
Yeah, public school provides socialization -- from their peers. By isolating kids into peer groups we do two things: First, they learn all their manners and interpersonal skills from a bunch of other little clueless kids. Wouldn't you rather have kids learn how to interact with other people by observing adults and older children than a bunch of other unruly 5-year-olds?



Second, by dividing up kids by ages they learn to identify more with kids their own age than with their parents, teachers, siblings, or other groups. It is this peer group that will, when they are older, steer them in the wrong direction and minimize the importance they will place on advice and direction from the adults in their lives.



A better alternative for good socialization is a home school environment. There, the kids take their cues from adults and older siblings. They learn how to successfully interact in a mature way. They have opportunities throughout their day to meet other adults and other home-schooled children through sports, academic, and other social settings. They have time in their schedule for service projects and volunteering.



Institutional school settings just aren't the right choice for good socialization experiences.
By whom, and according to what standards, do you want them socialized?



Yes, public school often does provide a broader range of people--but not always! And they're not always the people you want to influence your kids. It can be a good thing, or a bad thing, depending on the school and the people they'd hang out with otherwise.



I mean, if you lived in a rough, drug-filled neighborhood in the inner city, would you send your kids to the local public school? Would you want your kids to enjoy the social opportunities that would provide? (I know, there are some good kids even there--but are you sure your kids would hang out with them? And who would help them withstand the coercion of the class punk who wanted your kid to run drugs for him?)
Here are just a few of the ';life lessons'; I learned in public school:



I could skate by and do absolutely no work just because I was pretty and a cheerleader. Some pathetic dope who wanted to be my friend would always do it for me. Obviously this strategy doesn't work in the real world unless you work for someone like Bill Clinton and you don't mind being a whore!



I could treat people as badly as I wanted to and it was ok, even expected because I was popular. Again, doesn't work in the real world, you will lose your friends, your job, etc.



Education is not nearly as important as your social status. Again another one of those things that is total bs, but guess its more important for some to be an idiot and popular than to learn how to be a successful adult.



Relationships are only about social status. Even if you meet someone that you really connect with, no friendship or God forbid dating or it will destroy you. Sadly enough this presented alot of missed opportunities for me and no childhood friendships remain.



Never be yourself. Unless you are queen bee you must be a clone of someone else and never have a thought in your head that someone more popular than you didn't put there.



Now do those really seem like good social skills, I don't think so!
It is the 'hot house' approach for raising children. The children are grouped by age, not by maturity or ability. They are protected from real life situations by the 4 walls of a classroom.
I read an account from a woman who was a public school teacher. Her daughter was ahead of her peers on every subject, but the school system refused to skip her a grade. She asked the principal, ';Why is my daughter even here?'; and the principal replied, ';Socialization.'; The woman said, ';You call learning how to say '2, 4, 6, 8, let me see your booty shake' at recess 'socialization?''; and she pulled her daughter out of public schools, quit her teaching job to homeschool her daughter, and has never looked back.

There are all kinds of ways for your homeschooled child to be with his peers. From a homeschool co-op to classes at the Y, there will always be kids to hang out with. Not to mention kids in the neighborhood! Get out and talk to your frickin' neighbors, people! Whatever happened to community?
What I find amusing is that when you ask this question this way you'll get many people telling you why kids DON'T need public school socialization.. but if this was in 'home school' you'd have many telling you why kids DO need public school socialization..
I think public school misleads kids about the reality of socialization. And when they actually get out into the real world, the are in culture shock. ';You mean I'm not the most popular girl in the whole world anymore?'; And since public school has taken out all forms of true competition, i.e. there are not more losers anymore, everyone is equal, sensitivity training, political correctness etc. the system actually is teaching them a social lie. So what really is the point of 'socialization' in public schools?