<p>Thanks for an excellent post that points out several important factors that have great bearing on how well or poorly the total experience can be, especially as it prepares (or doesn't) the individual to face the wider world once formal education is complete.</p>
<p>Your insights are deep and avoid sweeping generalizations.</p>
<p>Thanks HImom. As I said before, my not having generalizations about all home-school being "socially inept" is due to the fact that I am close to my cousins who are home-school. However, I do know that some home-school kids do excel much more than public-and private-school kids. In fact, I remember one of the HYP schools (can't remember which one), about a year or two ago, bragging about how their valedictorian was home-schooled.</p>
<p>Btw, for home-school parents who want their children to have part of the "high school experience" such as prom, I do know that there are proms and graduations for home-schooled kids. My cousins attended one and it sounded like a regular prom and graduation. You may have to do some research, or hook up with a couple of home-school parents and plan it yourself if there isn't one offered in your area.</p>
<p>Yes, there are homeschool networks that help give homeschooled kids options, particularly for extracurricular activities. In our state, this can include opera and other outings. My cousin in MN has homeschooled all her kids (I believe she has 8 or 9 of them). They have quite a homeschooling community & trade off teaching the more advanced subjects as the kids get older. They also have their kids enroll in community college & other places to get more enrichment. Her kids have all been accepted to various schools of their choice to get their college degrees. All also play musical instruments.</p>
<p>Just FYI for those reading this later:</p>
<p>There are homeschool organizations in every state that direct you to a support group in your area. Just google "name of state" and "homeschool" and it will pop up. </p>
<p>Support groups in our area offer: film clubs, drama clubs, contact football, volleyball, basketball, baseball, swim team, (all competing against other area teams and generally private school teams as well), history club, art camps, multiple 4-H clubs, band, chorus, co-ops. science labs, field trips, park days, teen clubs, a prom, an honor society, and tons more I am sure I'm missing. There is really no excuse for not having plenty of social interaction as a homeschooler.</p>
<p>In fact, the homeschoolers I have known, and I have known many hundreds since we spent over a decade as state leaders, are far more adept socially than the traditionally schooled students I know. Because they have been exposed to a wide variety of ages (not just their same age and a middle-aged teacher) in all sorts of real world situations, they tend to be far more comfortable interacting with people different than they are. It has interested me watching my children's interaction with students from other cultures and races. They are so, so colorblind compared to the norm in our area. There is just no distinction in our homeschool group. No sitting together by race or associating by culture, just friends. So refreshing.</p>
<p>Sb1492-- I so appreciate that you didn't generalize your cousins' experience to all homeschoolers. Homeschooling has been fantastic for our family - and we've homeschooled 14 years.</p>