Home school..pro or con?

Erin Crosby
English 102
4/9/07
Annotated Bibliography
The Effects of Home Schooling on Socialization
I originally decided to write on the issue of in-home accessibility and its effect on socialization. I wanted to include home shopping, grocery home delivery, online dating, and video games, but combined, they became too broad of a topic to cover. So instead I chose home schooling (teaching style, preparation, and the tools used). I also inquired how home schooled children compared to those who are not in areas of social adaptability, grades, and academic progress. When choosing my sources, I was looking for testimonial articles; ones that included real life home schooled children and their parents. I wanted to know their opinions on the subject as well as their reserves, if any, to opt to school in the home. I also wanted to involve some statistics that resulted from comparisons (then and now), tests, etc. I have mainly chosen articles from newspapers of different cities across the United States, with the exception of on one web entry. I did not want to stray from this country due to the different beliefs in education that vary amongst cultures and religions. They are arranged alphabetically by the authors’ last names. I chose to do it this way because a lot of the content in each article is similar. I had a hard time finding different kinds of material as well as locating articles that are recent to the times. A majority that I’ve used are from five to ten years ago. I have discovered that today there are an increased number of families opting for home school. The myths, taboos, and misconceptions of the past have longed passed, and therefore I feel there is less “print” on the subject. However, the material I was able to locate depicts the many opinions of parents, educational leaders, and “experts”. In conclusion, I think that home schooling has had no great effect on socialization in this day of age. I think adults that were home schooled as children bear no mark that can be spotted amongst a crowd of people. If in fact they are socially inept, other factors (like those of non home schooled individuals) will play a much larger part in diagnosing any issues.


Econopouly-Soehner, Cindy. “When School Gets in Learning’s Way.”
New York Times 27 Mar 1988, late ed.: A28.
This article’s author focuses on the effects on socialization home school has. She states that there are plenty of opportunities for home schooled children to interact with other children: “swimming classes, gymnastics, scouting, soccer teams. Also, every month or so the parents meet with other home-schooling families to network, compare notes, and share trade secrets.” In my opinion this article concentrates on the lack of hands-on teachers/facilities as the reasoning behind America’s growing home school population.
Gross, Jane. “Unhappy in Class, More are Learning at Home.”
New York Times 10 November 2003: 1.
Increasing numbers of American families are opting for home schooling: at least 850,000 children nationwide are now schooled at home, up from 360,000 a decade ago. This new rise is not classified like past reason: they are not of religious right. Instead, the author of this article states they are just parents who are fed up with shortcomings of public education and cost of private schools. It also states that these parents are disgusted by the new nationwide standards of uniform curriculum and more testing. Although I think this article is filled with statistics, it is more opinionated than factual. It gives tales of different parents and the obstacles and deductive reasoning for choosing to home school.
Koeppel, Geri. “Organized Activities, Resources Aid Parents.”
Arizona Republic 12 Sept 2004: B3.
The author is this article weighs the pros and cons of home school and its effects on socialization. The pros included were numerous resources available to home school providers, the real-world experience that can be applied to lessons, and that it allows kids to learn at their own pace. The cons included the commitment from parents, the fact that it’s not for social “butterflies”, and that the misconception that home schooled children are “geeks”. I think this article is a good representation of realistic opinions and ideas of home school and how it affects socialization.
Levitan-Spaid, Elizabeth. “The Family Room is the Classroom.”
Christian Science Monitor 11 October 1994: 10.
This article is reviewing a family who has chosen to educate their two children ages 8 and 11 at home. Their reason for wanting to leave the public school environment was due to the school having problems with finances. They also stated that their oldest child, Daniel, was very advanced in reading and the school was not equipped with the tools necessary to teach him. Daniel stopped attending public school after first grade. “I kind of miss seeing all my friends at school everyday, but besides that I like home schooling a lot better,” he says. I don’t feel his parents were concerned with isolation and the lack of extracurricular activities. To me they seemed more interested in the fact that their children were testing at levels far beyond their peers.
Lindbergh, Reeve. “When Learning is a Family Affair.”
Washington Post 28 July 1996: R12.
The author of this article depicts home schooling as an extension of parenting. “According to this philosophy, home schooling is the most natural and “traditional” form of education, whereas mandatory public schooling is a relatively new phenomenon. I feel the author is almost attempting to sell the idea that home schooling is part of raising your child. Also I think this pro home school forum gives great references to the likes of the topic.
Moitozo, Steve. “Children Educated at Home Don’t Become Social Misfits.”
At Home in America 19 March 2003: 18.
This article gives a more surveyed response to the positive effects of home school. J. Gary Knowles, U-M assistant professor of educators conducted an extensive study that included interviews via phone and in person. More than 40 percent attended college, and 15 percent of those had completed a degreed program and were self employed. When asked if they had their lives to live over again, 96 percent said, “Yes.” In my opinion the information of this article is valid, but has its limitations due to the amount and type of people surveyed.
Rachid, Nafisa M. “Home schooling; It’s a Growing Trend Among Blacks.”
Network Journal Feb 2005: 10.
Following a nationwide trend, educating children at home is becoming a popular option for Black Americans as private school costs rise and the reputation of public schools grows worse. The Home School Legal Defense Association says the Black home school movement is growing at a faster rate than the general home school population. “It allows African-American parents to teach their children cultural relevance and self importance.” All in all, I think the article is reflecting on the choice for the Black community to join into the home school revolution. It is adding to the many pros of why so many want to include themselves in the educational change.
Romanowski, Michael H. “Revisiting the Common Myths about Home Schooling.”
Clearing House Jan/Feb 2006: 125-130.
This article is a reflection of those opposed to home schooling. The author argues that by sheltering children from the real world, they are seldom presented with the opportunities to learn greatly needed knowledge and social interaction skills. He also states that home schooled children do not receive adequate socialization experiences. He states that home schooling produces social misfits. They are isolated from the outside world including political involvement, rendering them socially and educationally handicapped. Without be exposed to the social life found in public schools on a daily basis, they will lack the skills needed to successfully adapt to real-life situations when they are older. Further more he states that students who are home schooled have difficulty entering college due to lack of a diploma, SAT and ACT scores, or grades. He also states that people are only home schooled for religious reasons. After reading this article, I feel the sources are based on out-dated myths of home school. The author may have based his opinion on what was only known at a time when home school was a relatively new concept.
Tupachache, Asiba. “My Choice to Home school.”
News from Indian Country 15 Feb 1997: 13A.
The author of this article believes, “it is a misconception to think socialization is only possible in the American institution and that this type of socialization is remotely desirable, let alone necessary.” The author is a home schooling parent of Indian culture, who to me, seems to be on the defense of the ethnic communities within the home school environment. She states that great racism exists amongst whites and that they hold people of color’s issues (regarding home school) in contempt. She also states that racism and oppression are part of the education methodology even in with home school. In my opinion she does not like home school, private, or public school. Her issues are a lot deeper than that of education.