Social Misfits?
The Truth About Home Education and Socialization
Popular opinion assumes that children need long periods of interaction
with a large group of peers to acquire social skills. Some child-rearing
authorities, however, believe extensive peer contact at an early age
causes peer dependency and low self-image. Critics of home education
often point out that home schooled children are likely to lack basic
social skills. Current research is proving just the opposite to be true.
LACK OF NORMAL SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT?
In March of 1993 the University of Michigan released the results of their
study into the socialization of home schooled children. J. Gary Knowles,
University of Michigan assistant professor of education, said the results
refute claims that home schooling deprives children of contacts with
others their own age needed for normal social development.
The study goes on to challenge the concern that children taught at home
will be unable to become productive members of a diverse society.
Knowles surveyed adults who were taught at home because of ideology or
geographical isolation.
Two-thirds were married, the norm for adults their age. None were
unemployed or on welfare.
More than three-quarters felt that being taught at home had actually
helped them to interact with people from different levels of society.
More than 40 percent attended college, and 15 percent of those had
completed a graduate degree. Nearly two-thirds were self-employed.
Knowles said, "That so many of those surveyed were self-employed supports
the contention that home schooling tends to enhance a person's
self-reliance and independence."
Socially deprived? What did the survey show about home educated adults
attitude about their schooling? Some 96 percent said they would want to
be taught at home again.
MODELING BEHAVIOR: ADULTS OR CHILDREN?
Youngsters taught at home by parents don't lag in social development when
compared with those of the same age who attend conventional schools, a
University of Florida study has found.
Larry Shyers, Chairman of the Florida Board of Clinical Social Work,
Marriage and Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling, conducted the
study. Shyers findings suggest that home-schooled children behave better
because they tend to imitate their parents, while traditionally schooled
children model themselves after other children in the classroom.
"The results seem to show that a child's social development depends more
on adult contact and less on contact with other children than previously
thought," Shyers said.
Home-schooled children score as high or higher on standardized
achievement tests than children in conventional schools, said Shyers, a
psychotherapist.
Shyers compared behaviors and social development test scores of two
groups of 70 children, ages 8 to 10. One group was educated exclusively
at home and the other at public or private schools in Lake, Orange and
Seminole counties.
The study found no significant difference between the two groups of
children in self-concept or assertiveness, which were measured by social
development tests. But videotapes showed that youngsters who were taught
at home by their parents had consistently fewer behavioral problems.
SELF ESTEEM QUOTIENT
One study conducted by Paul Kitchen of Andrews University's School of
Education points out that contrary to popular opinion home schooled
children have a more positive self-concept than do their conventionally
schooled peers.
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To view a graph that illustrates Kitchen's findings, point your web
browser to:
http://hoosier.org/graph.html
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For the purpose of his study, an availability sample was used. Three
groups of children were asked to respond. The groups were home, private,
and public schooled children. Attempts were made to keep each group as
pure as possible (i.e., that the children in each group should have only
received one type of education). To be included in the sample, the child
had to be of the same type of school environment in grades 1 through 8.
This was to ensure that any difference in self esteem could be more
clearly correlated with the school environment. The private and public
school results were combined to form one category called conventional
schooled children.
Kitchen discovered that home schooled students outscored their peers in
every category but peer popularity. Home schooled children ranked higher
in personal security, academic competence and familial acceptance, thus a
higher overall rating in the Self Esteem Quotient.
-------------end of special report----------------
For a more in depth look at home schooling issues, our INFOPAK on Home
Education contains information vital to anyone who is thinking about
educating their children at home, including the full reports from the
university studies cited here, plus much, much more.
If you have already decided to home school and are facing challenges from
your local board of education or well-meaning friends or family, the Home
Education Infopak will arm you with the facts you need to refute the
myths about educating your children at home.
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About IFI
Founded in 1990, Indiana Family Institute is a research and educational
organization dedicated to preserving and restoring the family in the home
and in the public square.
IFI is a not-for-profit organization. We are independent and receive no
funding from any national organizations, denominations or governments.
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Copyright IFI 1997 Permission to reprint granted providing entire
document, including this notice, is intact.
