Reason # 2: Exposing Children to the World

This post is long overdue as being one of my tallest homeschooling soap boxes. My frustration boiled over recently as I read an article in the Deseret News titled "Back Home to School."

The following is a quote from that article: "Some parents express a desire to shield children from inappropriate influences, while others argue that isolating a child makes them ill-prepared for the realities of a diverse society."

I contend these statements are not mutually exclusive. Yes, many parents with children schooled at home AND in the public school system desire to shield children from inappropriate influences. My goodness! Much of our laws are designed to do just that! From drinking ages to movie ratings, we can all agree that children are not developmentally suited to handle all things all the time.

Now some of us, going along with the state law model, have decided that children SHOULD follow similar maturity patterns and pacing. Let them all drive at 16. Let them all see explicit nudity at 13. Send them off for 7+ hours per day, day after day at age 6. If your children follow these broad generalities, I have no criticism. 

But if parents, looking at their children as individuals and not as an average demographic, choose to shorten or extend some periods of various protections, why are so many willing to thumb their noses at that choice? Who best determines for YOUR child what an inappropriate influence is?

Now to the point that "isolating a child makes them ill-prepared for the realities of a diverse society." I couldn't agree more (except to point out that it would be more grammatically correct to argue either that "isolating children makes them ill prepared" OR "isolating a child makes him or her ill-prepared). Bad grammar aside, why on earth would we champion a school system that segregates elementary students not only by age, but also by subject aptitude? What kind of broad exposure is this?

Furthermore, to those folks who live in rural Utah, let's be honest. How diverse are the populations of our elementary schools? Don't most of your child's peers at school live in your neighborhood, enjoy roughly your same standard of living, and adhere or at least acknowledge most of your core beliefs?

So when we say we are exposing school kids to "different people with different points of view," what we really mean is "different people from our corner of town, that are the same age and excel or struggle with learning in similar ways." Now, is this what we are calling the non-isolation that really prepares children for the "realities of a diverse society?" After all, in most work places, employees aren't within a few months of the same age. They don't all commute in one huge vehicle from the same corner of town. And they don't all share the same knowledge, experience, and skill set. That being so, how exactly does school prepare children for the realities of our diverse society again?

"Now Stephanie," you interject, interrupting my rant (and spelling my name wrong again!). "The diversity in elementary schools may, in fact, be minimal, but you must concede it certainly exceeds the diversity in your family." (Nice comment! See, you are a poet.)

THIS is what I have to say about THAT.

The article quoted a woman who had been homeschooled growing up who felt her 'isolated worldview that resulted from learning at home was not necessarily a positive experience for her and her siblings.' She concluded "there's also something to be said for being exposed to different ways of thinking."

True. And I can hardly question the reality of this woman's experience. BUT must it be the reality for any other homeschooling family? Only if they chose to make it so! In another post, I argue socialization is the FIRST reason to homeschool your children. In that post, I expand the vision of homeschooling beyond a family gathered around the kitchen table reading text books. If that is the approach, might not a parent match a teacher, breath for breath, in worldly, diverse fact spewing? (And as some parents may try, how are their children worse off for having this brand of "world exposure" from a parent instead of a teacher?)

But homeschooling can encompass so much more! (And with budget and time constraints placed on schools, be EASILY more than is offered there.) Though we are not yet like the homeschooling families that travel the country and the world, my elementary-age children have 60-year-old NON-RELATIVES they count as friends. They have been to meditation circles and synagogues. We go to cultural events - the celebrations of the holidays of other countries, pow-wows, drum circles. And do you know who we tend to run into as we are OUT in the WORLD having EXPERIENCES rather than sitting in a room at a desk? Other homeschoolers. I don't know why this tends to be so. Perhaps the kids in school have too much homework to do, and too little time for any of the exposure the schools hold so dear. As it turns out, if you live in rural Utah, though the schools may be a safe place, if you really value exposing children to the world, homeschooling may just be the BEST bet!

Little Sister dressed as Moroccan Bride for Big Sister's presentation on Moroccan Weddings

PS As I have mentioned elsewhere, I don't believe homeschooling is the best choice for everyone. And I do respect the thoughtful choices parents make in the best interest of their children. We all know kids who seem to be damaged by their upbringing. Some of those have been homeschooled. Some have been public schooled. This post is to dissuade reasoning people from concluding homeschooling (a very large umbrella over a very diverse group) must necessarily lead to a diminished exposure to diversity in points of view. Let no one pride himself in open-mindedness and label all people who approach education differently as being isolated or close-minded.