As someone who was homeschooled, I've paid a lot of attention to other homeschoolers on this point, and I've noticed no abnormal tendencies in social skills that one couldn't just contribute to normal environment changes. It's just a baseless BS stereotype, first off, most homeschoolers are not at home for religious reasons, my sister and I certainly weren't, the only church we ever attended growing up - and that rather infrequently - was a Unitarian Universalist church and the only anti-social habit instilled in me from that was I started drinking coffee at 4 (big pack of yuppies) and have been a regular coffee drinker from age 7.
Most homeschoolers have programs they use, and socialize their kids with various social groups, even the ones who do it for religious reasons.
What you have, and it is rather clear, is a standard exposure distortion. You likely only notice someone is homeschooled when they are awkward. Many do have initial problems first entering college, rarely much different then anyone else though, it's like changing schools or jobs, and they are forewarned of this. It's practically like a secret club, I've known lots of homeschoolers and we tend not to mention it. None of them stuck out like sore thumbs, some of those from genuinely serious religious backgrounds do, typically only initially, but often would anyway. I've never met a homeschooler, with a few exceptions of some who just emerged into normal environs, who was even vaguely distinguishable from the wide spectrum of behaviors that emerges from normal pub-ed schooling. Most likely, you have met the exceptions to the rule, and never known that you met lots of homeschoolers and just didn't know it.
Most homeschoolers have programs they use, and socialize their kids with various social groups, even the ones who do it for religious reasons.
What you have, and it is rather clear, is a standard exposure distortion. You likely only notice someone is homeschooled when they are awkward. Many do have initial problems first entering college, rarely much different then anyone else though, it's like changing schools or jobs, and they are forewarned of this. It's practically like a secret club, I've known lots of homeschoolers and we tend not to mention it. None of them stuck out like sore thumbs, some of those from genuinely serious religious backgrounds do, typically only initially, but often would anyway. I've never met a homeschooler, with a few exceptions of some who just emerged into normal environs, who was even vaguely distinguishable from the wide spectrum of behaviors that emerges from normal pub-ed schooling. Most likely, you have met the exceptions to the rule, and never known that you met lots of homeschoolers and just didn't know it.
The intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honors the servant and has forgotten the gift.
- Albert Einstein
King of Cairhien 20-7-2
Chancellor of the Landsraad, Archduke of Is'Mod
- Albert Einstein
King of Cairhien 20-7-2
Chancellor of the Landsraad, Archduke of Is'Mod
Homeschooling: German Family Gets Political Asylum in U.S.
- 02/03/2010 10:30:01 PM
1523 Views
Looks like a win-win situation to me.
- 02/03/2010 11:01:22 PM
792 Views
Germany does have a history of getting rid of people it doesn't like *NM*
- 03/03/2010 02:08:37 PM
485 Views
Yawn. At least beckstcw was joking when he invoked Godwin's law below. I hope. *NM*
- 03/03/2010 02:10:18 PM
400 Views
That is a load of crap
- 03/03/2010 02:53:02 PM
483 Views
uhm, how would Germany be offending the US?
- 03/03/2010 02:56:52 PM
446 Views
Um.
- 03/03/2010 02:57:53 PM
331 Views
But our religious beliefs and belief in allowing religious freedom is fair game?
- 03/03/2010 03:09:48 PM
337 Views
Yes?
- 03/03/2010 03:40:30 PM
315 Views
If you made fun of the Native Americans I would be offended
- 03/03/2010 03:46:05 PM
564 Views
It's actually quite the opposite.
- 03/03/2010 03:57:19 PM
538 Views
and I would say they trying to fix intolerance with more intolerance
- 03/03/2010 04:13:49 PM
321 Views
That was probably the stupidest thing I ever saw you write
- 03/03/2010 03:28:39 PM
491 Views
You were the one who said good riddance
- 03/03/2010 03:43:24 PM
347 Views
It's the usual story of American ideology and European pragmatism.
- 03/03/2010 03:52:51 PM
507 Views
This is getting a bit off the discussion. Please keep it civil, everyone. *NM*
- 03/03/2010 06:55:11 PM
422 Views
Re: Homeschooling: German Family Gets Political Asylum in U.S.
- 03/03/2010 01:09:23 AM
933 Views
The socialization thing is mostly garbage
- 03/03/2010 02:32:19 AM
799 Views
Yep, exactly.
- 03/03/2010 02:41:14 AM
594 Views
Re: Yep, exactly.
- 03/03/2010 03:12:48 AM
574 Views
*shrugs* I said it was anecdotal. I have no hard figures, only experiences.
- 03/03/2010 03:28:29 AM
568 Views
The operative word IS mostly
- 03/03/2010 04:33:20 AM
763 Views
'Mostly' is all that matters
- 03/03/2010 05:46:01 AM
805 Views
Uhm, socialization is incredibly important.
- 03/03/2010 06:03:30 AM
771 Views
Yes, but you don't need to be taught to do it
- 03/03/2010 06:47:06 AM
741 Views
cats aren't pack or herd animals
- 03/03/2010 06:53:02 AM
721 Views
- 03/03/2010 06:53:02 AM
721 Views
Something of an inside joke, sorry
- 03/03/2010 07:41:50 AM
755 Views
us closely associated with schools are sensitive on the issue too
- 03/03/2010 01:05:27 PM
570 Views
- 03/03/2010 01:05:27 PM
570 Views
Re: us closely associated with schools are sensitive on the issue too
- 03/03/2010 10:19:21 PM
639 Views
- 03/03/2010 10:19:21 PM
639 Views
I would agree that households with two working parnets shouldn't home school *NM*
- 03/03/2010 03:22:51 PM
404 Views
to jump on the "I was homeschooled and I have social skills" bandwagon...
- 03/03/2010 06:27:05 AM
1145 Views
I was homeschooled through grade 12, and my mom has done pro bono legal work for HSLDA.
- 03/03/2010 02:20:38 AM
728 Views
I agree that it can be a very good option for some families
- 03/03/2010 04:42:21 AM
846 Views
Re: I agree that it can be a very good option for some families
- 03/03/2010 05:16:17 AM
689 Views
It depends on the public school.
- 03/03/2010 05:23:09 AM
734 Views
Re: It depends on the public school.
- 03/03/2010 05:45:07 AM
736 Views
"done right" is not always the case
- 03/03/2010 05:58:26 AM
551 Views
Re: "done right" is not always the case
- 03/03/2010 06:14:43 AM
882 Views
Re: "done right" is not always the case
- 03/03/2010 06:31:04 AM
790 Views
Well let's talk stats then.
- 03/03/2010 06:55:14 AM
743 Views
please do not get me started on statistis.
- 03/03/2010 07:11:19 AM
658 Views
Your comments on public school educations have rather limited relevance to other countries, though.
- 03/03/2010 09:53:30 AM
791 Views
While I support homeschooling, this is ridiculous.
- 03/03/2010 04:48:40 AM
847 Views
Meh.
- 03/03/2010 05:20:50 AM
783 Views
one year in a public school
- 03/03/2010 05:32:13 AM
829 Views
Re: one year in a public school
- 03/03/2010 05:58:48 AM
592 Views
No, I think i will nitpick.
- 03/03/2010 06:11:44 AM
726 Views
This is getting off track and wasting time.
- 03/03/2010 06:26:36 AM
761 Views
I'm not even certain it's 100% legal.
- 03/03/2010 06:34:44 AM
546 Views
Yes, but we can't argue abuse of law.
- 03/03/2010 06:51:23 AM
670 Views
I only used Mexicans because I'm from Arizona
- 03/03/2010 07:04:29 AM
786 Views
- 03/03/2010 07:04:29 AM
786 Views
I think I have the gist of it,
- 03/03/2010 07:17:40 AM
679 Views
we haven't heard anything about their beliefs for me to think they're stupid.
- 03/03/2010 02:54:25 PM
771 Views
According to the Süddeutsche Zeitung...
- 03/03/2010 03:38:13 PM
689 Views
Say what?
- 03/03/2010 09:38:40 AM
638 Views
Being able raise your kids by your beliefs is a frivolous matter?
- 03/03/2010 03:21:23 PM
570 Views
Germany is not saying "you can't raise your kids by your beliefs"
- 03/03/2010 03:31:01 PM
691 Views
It's not a recent law, and supposedly other German families have moved to France and the UK.
- 03/03/2010 03:45:56 PM
786 Views
I think that would fly in very face of political assylum
- 03/03/2010 04:12:48 PM
741 Views
Yes, but they did not need political asylum.
- 03/03/2010 04:28:16 PM
755 Views
how is that different then other political refuges we allow in?
- 03/03/2010 04:55:14 PM
673 Views
I believe Legolas linked an article
- 03/03/2010 04:57:09 PM
639 Views
I never saw the link
- 03/03/2010 05:08:21 PM
556 Views
I'm not sure if they offered "formal" assurances or some such
- 03/03/2010 05:21:54 PM
477 Views
that was a mayor, I doubt he would have the final word on the issue
- 03/03/2010 05:46:22 PM
537 Views
You don't have a law about removing children from parental custody? At all?
- 03/03/2010 09:43:15 PM
686 Views
They can take your kids from for not sending them to school but not for home schooling them
- 03/03/2010 10:35:48 PM
694 Views
Compared to not being able to feed your kids, yes, it is.
- 03/03/2010 03:42:58 PM
569 Views
yes but we don't grant political assylum for being hungry
- 03/03/2010 04:34:23 PM
649 Views
no we don't.
- 03/03/2010 04:50:31 PM
526 Views
Do you have a better system?
- 03/03/2010 05:05:42 PM
813 Views
Immigration processes could certainly use some reform
- 03/03/2010 05:32:22 PM
619 Views
The system sucks, big government typically does not function well
- 03/03/2010 05:48:25 PM
560 Views
Oh, and did you miss the part where the federal government is appealing the decision? *NM*
- 03/03/2010 09:40:42 AM
406 Views
I would consider the threat of losing my children because of my beliefs to be a real threat *NM*
- 03/03/2010 02:54:08 PM
446 Views
Doesn't matter why, but all parents should have the right to homeschool.....
- 03/03/2010 04:48:57 AM
601 Views
That whole thing is pretty silly
- 03/03/2010 12:18:45 PM
828 Views
Re: socialising.
- 03/03/2010 06:13:49 PM
787 Views
I am opposed to homeschooling but believe it should be a legal option.
- 03/03/2010 02:32:34 PM
760 Views
I think you make a good point here
- 03/03/2010 05:22:59 PM
775 Views
but...but...parents can't educate their children outside of school!!
- 03/03/2010 05:40:30 PM
706 Views
I don't agree with them I just support their right to be wrong
- 03/03/2010 06:04:11 PM
750 Views
The statistics are flawed, as I've noted above
- 03/03/2010 07:07:11 PM
613 Views
they tend to beat private schools as well would should flatten out the demographics
- 03/03/2010 07:53:38 PM
699 Views
Your views on this are not fact-driven
- 03/03/2010 09:13:07 PM
792 Views
No, what you're saying is that my answer isn't driven by STATISTICS.
- 03/03/2010 10:36:50 PM
721 Views
Granted, but there is no obvious source for bias
- 03/03/2010 10:57:19 PM
652 Views
You mean aside from the fact that you are already arguing about it?
- 04/03/2010 12:14:02 AM
553 Views
Yes, I mentioned this in my reply to Tom, see below...
- 04/03/2010 12:19:42 AM
688 Views
And the wikipedia article you pointed me to had a different study that contradicts your point.
- 03/03/2010 10:42:54 PM
663 Views
Religious or *moral* instruction
- 03/03/2010 10:49:48 PM
742 Views
I haven't really "met" you the way I meant it in that reply
- 03/03/2010 11:48:11 PM
545 Views
Granted but for our purposes I think people on this site would qualify
- 04/03/2010 12:05:03 AM
708 Views
Umm Massachusetts did have slavery in 1717
- 03/03/2010 02:55:25 PM
653 Views
His argument on the law of Germany is a bad one generally, though, not just for that reason.
- 03/03/2010 03:31:00 PM
570 Views
Wow....so this got the board going. A question for everyone...
- 03/03/2010 06:02:57 PM
840 Views
I think it is incumbent on the state to show that kids are being in some way harmed
- 03/03/2010 06:07:13 PM
763 Views
Interesting
- 03/03/2010 06:25:43 PM
861 Views
I never said there should be no limits on what parents should be able to do
- 03/03/2010 06:38:53 PM
808 Views
I think it's safe to say teaching your kids to be little sociopaths qualifies as harm.
- 03/03/2010 09:17:48 PM
582 Views
I think so too
- 03/03/2010 10:46:41 PM
809 Views
I think the problem there was it was seen as inherently political, that, and showing harm.
- 03/03/2010 11:44:21 PM
631 Views
Yes they do. Provided...
- 03/03/2010 07:04:46 PM
678 Views
There is a reason why education until 18 (or 16, depending) is not merely a right, but a duty.
- 03/03/2010 10:00:53 PM
749 Views
Hmmph. Inappropriate action on the part of the judge who allowed them to stay.
- 03/03/2010 06:22:08 PM
704 Views
You just skip the part where they have to show they are being persecuted
- 03/03/2010 06:54:20 PM
825 Views
As I said, most people would prefer to have their safety threatened to losing their kids. *NM*
- 06/03/2010 10:14:52 PM
472 Views
*walks in, looks around*
- 03/03/2010 07:52:09 PM
782 Views
Interesting
- 03/03/2010 11:02:27 PM
777 Views

