Our holiday weekend

Abby or should I say Rapunzel letting down her hair!!








Hello all, I hope you had a nice long weekend. Ours ws pretty good really. Saturday we decided not to go to Kentucky because some of the family we hoped to see there weren't able to go, they're instead coming up here in two weeks and we'll see them then. We did a little shopping in the morning and then we worked on one of our many house projects that we still haven't finished from the build. We're painting all of our interior doors. They were put in primed white, but it's a very dull dingy white that absorbs everything that comes across it and it looked really bad, so we finally got started on that. We got most of them done downstairs, but we still have 10 doors to do upstairs, front and back and double coated so that comes out to 40 coats!! But hopefully I'll get them finished during the week. Sunday we went to church and Burger King for lunch. Then we all went home for a nap (well Noah read a Magic Tree House Book in his bed!!) and we just had a quiet evening at home. We made 3-ways for dinner and played some games. When it got dark, we took the kids out to catch fireflies. During the school year they had been going to be bed before it was really dark, so now that it's summer, we let them stay up and enjoy the darkness. We were all out pretty far in the backyard and I saw out of the corner of my something moving and it was two deer running past us. They were probably about 150 feet away. They're the ones we always see out there. I thought it was so cool that they came right by us. I hope they know how much we enjoy having them there and that we're not a threat to them. So that was a nice day and then Monday, we were looking for something to do as a family (out of the house) that we hadn't done before and we were looking online and saw the Loveland Castle and decided to do that. We used to live about 5 minutes from it before we moved here and we just never got around to going. For those who don't know anything about it, it's a real stone castle, built by one man for the youth group he created called the Knights of the Golden Trail. He built the whole thing with his own hands and worked on it until he died at the age of 91. Steve has been to real castles in Ireland and he was really impressed with how much it was like those, especially the the tight staircases. I thought it was really cool, and I think it was exactly what we were looking for that day. After that we went to my parents house and told them the big news, We're homeschooling our kids in the fall. I had been very apprehensive about telling them, but it went better than I thought. They were mostly concerned witht he social skills which seems to be what everyone else in the world has a problem with, since academically there's no contest. Well last night I found 5 different articles on it and I'll share them with you. If you're not interested in reading them, then this post ends here!!! Have a great day, otherwise here they are!!!

I've heard it a hundred times. If you're thinking about homeschooling, it probably troubles you. "What about socialization?" is the major homeschooling question people have about a homeschooling lifestyle.
Professional educators, who don't fully understand the many styles of homeschooling, often raise this issue. They believe school is the only place children learn socialization skills. But it's just not true!
The socialization myth was born out of a misconception of what it's like to homeschool. Many educators and critics of homeschooling still believe homeschoolers hit the books at 9 a.m., work all day at their kitchen table till 3:00 p.m. or later, and spend their day isolated and alone. This, of course, is ridiculous!
The homeschoolers I know are out and about every day, enjoying museums, beaches, parks, and shows without the crowds. They travel often. The kids participate in Girl and Boy Scouts, 4-H, and sports. They take art, dance, drama, language, and music classes, to name a few.
Dr. Raymond Moore, author of over 60 books and articles on human development, has done extensive research on homeschooling and socialization. His book, The Hurried Child, should be in every homeschooler's library. "The idea that children need to be around many other youngsters in order to be 'socialized,'" Dr. Moore writes, "is perhaps the most dangerous and extravagant myth in education and child rearing today."
Children often do not respond well to large groups. They become nervous and overexcited by noise and too many people. Learning becomes difficult. Behavioral problems develop. After analyzing over 8,000 early childhood studies, Dr. Moore concluded that, contrary to popular belief, children are best socialized by parents -- not other children.
What kind of socialization occurs when 20 or 30 kids of the same age are placed in a classroom together day after day? Peer pressure is enormous. Kids feel like they need to look and sound and be like everyone else, at the risk of forgetting or never discovering who they really are. This results in rivalry, ridicule, and competition - hardly the environment for healthy socialization.
A homeschooler who interacts with parents and siblings more than with peers displays self-confidence, self-respect, and self-worth. She knows she's a part of a family unit that needs, wants, and depends on her. The result is an independent thinker who isn't influenced by peers and is self-directed in her actions and thoughts.
Do tests bear this out? You bet!
The Research
In July 2000, the Discovery Institute, a Seattle-based think-tank, published an extensive report on homeschooling written by Senior Fellow Dr. Patricia Lines. She describes several controlled studies comparing the social skills of homeschoolers and nonhomeschoolers.
The homeschoolers scored as "well adjusted." In one study, trained counselors viewed videotapes of mixed groups of homeschooled and schooled children at play. The counselors didn't know the school status of each child. The results? The homeschooled kids demonstrated fewer behavioral problems. Dr. Lines' conclusion? "There is no basis to question the social development of homeschooled children."
Homeschooling parents know kids need blocks of quiet time alone. Time to dream and grow and find out what it is they love to do. This is something few children enjoy today. They are never alone at school, and their after-school lives are packed full of activities, as well.




Homeschooling and the Myth of Socialization
by Manfred B. Zysk
One of the silliest and most annoying comments made to homeschooling parents is, "Aren't you concerned about how your child will be able to socialize with others?". What is being implied here is that the homeschooled child is some kind of introverted misfit who cannot relate to other people, children, and the outside world. In reality, most of the homeschooled children that I have known and met are not only outgoing, but polite and respectful, too. This is a sharp contrast to the public school children that I have known, who can't relate to adults and whose behavior is rude and inconsiderate. Realistically, there are some exceptions on both sides.
Isn't it interesting that amid all of the public school shootings over the past few years, the only comment that opponents of homeschooling can come up with is the red herring of "socialization"? You may have noticed, there haven't been shootings at private schools, or shootings inside of the homes of homeschooled children.
Opponents of homeschooling can't complain about average test scores, since homeschooled children consistently outscore public school children, so they instead make a problem that doesn't exist.
Who is responsible for creating this "socialization" problem? This myth has been perpetrated by sociologists, psychologists, public school administrators, the NEA (and local teacher's unions), etc., whenever they comment on homeschooling to the news media. These are the same people who give Ritalin (a very strong narcotic) and other drugs to schoolchildren, in place of discipline.
A family member asked my wife, "Aren't you concerned about his (our son's) socialization with other kids?". My wife gave this response: "Go to your local middle school, junior high, or high school, walk down the hallways, and tell me which behavior you see that you think our son should emulate." Good answer.
In order for children to become assimilated into society properly, it is important to have a variety of experiences and be exposed to differing opinions and views. This enables them to think for themselves and form their own opinions. This is exactly what public education does not want; public education is for the lowest common denominator and influencing all of the students to share the same views ("group-think") and thought-control through various means, including peer-pressure.
Homeschooling allows parents the freedom to associate with other interested parties, visit local businesses, museums, libraries, etc. as part of school, and to interact with people of all ages in the community. For example, my son goes on field trips with other homeschooling families in our community. He recently was able to visit an audiologist, a McDonald's restaurant (to see how they run their operation), and several other similar activities. He gets to meet and talk to people of different ages doing interesting (and sometimes not so interesting) occupations. He spends a lot of his free time with kids older and younger than himself, and adults from twenty to over ninety years old.
Meanwhile, in public school, children are segregated by age, and have very little interaction with other adults, except their teacher(s). This environment only promotes alienation from different age groups, especially adults. This is beginning to look like the real socialization problem.
My wife and I like to bring our son with us when we are visiting with friends and other adults. How else will he learn to be an adult, if he never has contact with adults? He knows what kind of behavior we expect from him, and the consequences of his actions. He is often complimented on his good manners by friends and adults.
In conclusion, homeschooling parents choose to homeschool for a variety of reasons, but I have never heard any homeschooling parent say that the reason they want to homeschool is to isolate their child from all of society. But, it probably wouldn't be a bad idea for homeschooled children to stay away from public school administrators, the NEA members, sociologists, and others who cannot properly "socialize" with children.
Go to your local public school, walk down the hallways and see what behaviors you would want your child to emulate
From: www.lewrockwell.com/orig/zyski.html


SOCIALIZATION OF CHILDREN
Does the research show any clear-cut advantages or disadvantages to home schooling, in relation to the social and emotional development of children schooled at home? Does the home-schooled youngster do as well in measures of interpersonal skills and communication skills as the conventionally schooled child?
The stereotypical home-schooled child is often portrayed as being shy, passive, and lethargic because of his/her isolation from the normal socialization found in formal schooling. Critics further allege that the self-concept of the home-schooled child suffers from lack of exposure to a more conventional environment (Stough, 1992).
Another socialization-related accusation faced by home educators is that of overprotecting their children from the real world. If this is true, however, at least one researcher (Bliss, 1989) does not consider this to be a serious problem. She argues that "Protection during early, developmental years for purposes of nurturing and growth is evident in many arenas: plant, animal, and aquatic. Why should it be considered wrong or bad in the most vital arena, human development?"
Stough (1992),looking particularly at socialization, compared 30 home-schooling families and 32 conventionally schooling families, families with children 7-14 years of age. According to the findings, children who were schooled at home "gained the necessary skills, knowledge, and attitudes needed to function in society...at a rate similar to that of conventionally schooled children." The researcher found no difference in the self concept of children in the two groups. Stough maintains that "insofar as self concept is a reflector of socialization, it would appear that few home-schooled children are socially deprived, and that there may be sufficient evidence to indicate that some home-schooled children have a higher self concept than conventionally schooled children."
This echoes the findings of Taylor (1987). Using one of the best validated self-concept scales available, Taylor's random sampling of home-schooled children (45,000) found that half of these children scored at or above the 91st percentile--47% higher than the average, conventionally schooled child. He concludes: "Since self concept is considered to be a basic dynamic of positive sociability, this answers the often heard skepticism suggesting that home schoolers are inferior in socialization" (Taylor, 1987).
From the findings of these two studies, it would appear that the concerns expressed by teachers, administrators, and legislators about socialization and home schooling might be unfounded. Indeed, Bliss (1989) contends that it is in the formal educational system's setting that children first experience negative socialization, conformity, and peer pressure. According to her, "This is a setting of large groups, segmented by age, with a variation of authority figures...the individual, with his/her developmental needs, becomes overpowered by the expectations and demand of others--equal in age and equally developmentally needy."
Webb (1989), one of the few researchers who has examined aspects of the adult lives of wholly or partly home-educated people, found that all who had attempted higher education were successful and that their socialization was often better than that of their schooled peers.
From: www.ericdigests.org/995-1/home.htm


The idea that homeschooled children have socialization problems is a fallacy. Homeschooled children interact with their family, their peers, and the community on a daily basis. They are free to learn at their own pace and study those subjects that interest them for as long as they like. They grow and develop according to their own inner timetable, rather than being ruled by peer pressure and outside influences. Studies have shown homeschooled children's social skills to be at or above their schooled peers. In addition, homeschooled children consistently outperform traditionally schooled children on standardized tests.
From: http://school.familyeducation.com/home-schooling/social-skills/41008.html

Study Finds Home Schooled Children Better at Social Skills
By Dawn Rizzoni
CNSNews.com Correspondent
October 23, 2001

(CNSNews.com) - Despite a 1999 statement from the National Education Association that, "home schooling cannot provide the student with a comprehensive education experience," a study released earlier this month shows home-schooled students are actually more socially and academically advanced than their peers.

Patrick Basham, a senior fellow at the Cato Institute and author of the study, said the findings "aren't surprising in intellectual terms, but it does turn the major anecdotal opposition to home schooling - that it produces social retards - on its head."

The study by the Fraser Institute, an independent public policy organization based in Vancouver, Canada, focused on home-schooled students in North America. According to the study's findings, the typical home-schooled child is more mature, friendly, happy, thoughtful, competent, and better socialized than students in public or private schools.

They are also less peer dependent and exhibit "significantly higher" self-esteem, according to the study.

But Janet Bass, a representative of The American Federation of Teachers, said it's impossible to compare home schooling with institutional schools.

"They're two totally different environments," she said, adding that there's no comparison to children in school to children "at home with mommy." As long as the right programs are in place, "you'll get good results" no matter what the environment, Bass said.

The study's findings come as no surprise to those who home school their children. Belinda Mooney, mother of seven and editor of the home schooling website, LearningTreasures.com, has been teaching her children at home for the past 16 years.

"Home schoolers have been surpassing public schools in test scores since the beginning, and ... the fact that they surpass them socially is no surprise, either," said Mooney. "Life itself is about socialization and getting along with others. We do what interests our family and the socialization part comes naturally."

Among other activities, the Mooney children are involved with their church, participate in sports and dance, take part in a weekly reading group, and perform in a gymnastics program. They also belong to a local home school group that provides opportunities for social interaction.

"This month, the children went to a local festival, went on a hayride and pumpkin picking field trip and are going to be going to ... a colonial enactment village," Mooney said.

As for the controversy over socialization and schooling, Mooney thinks it's completely overrated.

"I always thought (socialization) was the most ridiculous question anyway," she said. "Who sends their kids to school to be socialized? And who wants the negative socialization skills they learn at school? Not me!"

The study by The Fraser Institute also found that home-schooled children regularly outperform other students academically. Overall test scores for home schoolers were between the 75th and 85th percentiles, while public school students scored in the 50th percentile and private school students' scores ranged from the 65th to 75th percentiles.

Home schoolers also surpass the national average on both of the standard college entrance exams, the ACT and the SAT.

"Almost one quarter of home-schooled students perform one or more grades above their age level peers in public and private schools," said Basham. Indeed, the study cited findings that by Grade 8, the average home-schooled student performs four grade levels above the national average.

Chris Klicka, Senior Counsel for the Home School Legal Defense Association and author of "Home Schooling: The Right Choice," said he thinks the study will help combat the myths surrounding socialization and home schoolers.

"Public support is crucial to the advancement and acceptance of the home schooling movement," Klicka said. "People need to be aware of the facts rather than react to their prejudices."
From: www.cnsnews.com/culture/archive/200110/cul200110239.html


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