What is childhood socialization for
children who are not socialized?
Yes everyone in a modern
American society is "socialized", between being around their families
and going out in public but, what about parents who choose to not enroll their children
into a school system and home school them instead? Is this risking the
socialization skills and habits a child is supposed to develop during
school?
Of course the manifest function
of schooling is to gain an education, but a latent function
is definitively learning rules and behaviors, systems of beliefs,
and attitudes. This is in fact just as important as gaining an education. If a
parent can teach their child and that child grows into a profound scholar,
thats great and kudos to their mom or dad. But when that child is an
adult goes into the real world and has to communicate with people outside his
or her family unit, they may be dumbfounded. Not necessarily but the
unfamiliar faces, but by the unfamiliar necessary behaviors that is
seemingly a standard for adults to have developed. But if during a child's
developmental year the morals and standards their taught is just from
their parents perspective than they will be lacking the skills needed
to function in modern society. The ideals, opinions, mannerisms, and
entire personality of a person who is home schooled most likely would be
(intended or not) bias to those of their parents.Without
the exposure to other people, especially those in the same developmental
stage as the student, that child may not even realize all of their
"identity" was chosen for them.
I have been enrolled in a school
system since pre-k so my ideas on this topic may be very bias because I do not
know the reality of the other side. But I feel like the shelter inflicted on
home schooled children, and inability to communicate among peers their own age,
deprives them of the tools needed to develop into a well functioning
adult.
P.S. if anyone who reads this thinks the complete opposite of what
I have stated... that would be interesting, please share!
I also have a biased opinion on this subject because I have had the opportunity to be educated and socialized since pre-k and even before that at the "Mommy and Me" classes and the play groups my mom brought me to. I feel like those actions from my parents had really impacted my life because I can easily make friends..one of the girls in my play group is actually one of my friends today! On the other hand, my cousins have been home schooled since they were little and once they tried to go to school for a year they switched back to homeschooling. I honestly think it was because of lack of socialization. They probably did not know how to make friends or feel comfortable speaking out. My experiences with them had always made me think that they were unlike me because we had nothing in common. It was almost awkward to talk to them because I would always try to make conversation and their maturity of socialization was never there. I do not believe I am a scary person to talk to so I would say that it was the homeschooling to blame! But with that, it was their parents who chose that life for them because they were subjected to staying home and not being able to make friends in an environment away from home. School not only gives you an education, but also teaches you a set of discipline and socialization (for example: when you have to face drama and learn how to deal with it or simply just making friends).
ReplyDeleteYeah I agree with your point, because an individuals way of coping with drama in grade school, teaches them (or should teach them) a proper way to deal with drama in highschool and that potentially sets them up for a constructive way to function among other people when they approach adulthood (i.e. in the work place) and are mixed with people that they do not necessarily get along with
DeleteI think it depends on not just the parents' teaching skills, but also the ideas of socialization the parents have. Kids who are homeschooled definitely have a higher risk of being socially stunted and not entirely worldly aware, I feel- keeping in mind my intense bias towards catholic schooling since preschool- but less so if the parents acknowledge that their kids need time to learn and grow as their own persons, not just students or family members. I know homeschooled kids who were involved in sports and clubs and outside classes through the HSA, and they turned out to be mostly just fine. It all depends on the involvement of the child, I think, in society, and how willing the parent is to let them become their own person.
ReplyDeleteYeah that is so true it really does depend on the parent type. And I feel like a lot of people that would subject their kid's to homeschooling, well they're obviously around them very often so they most likely have a strong sense of care for the child and understanding for their social needs. However like Mrs.Wren said in class there are no regulations on homeschooling (like there are in public and private schools) so while in an ideal world we hope parents would act how I mentioned above, the possibility for the child to either be neglected, or their social needs just not met is also likely.
DeleteI think the real "problem" with home schooling is that it is not regulated, because if it was all of those students could potentially have the exposure Carly mentioned and not risk being socially awkward-so to say- as Allie mentioned
ReplyDelete