The
Well-Adjusted Child: The Social Benefits of Homeschooling
Rachel
Gathercole
ISBN
978-1-60065-107-6 Mapletree Publishing Company
Whenever
homeschooling is mentioned, one of the first questions we will often be asked
relates to the socialisation of our children. How will we make sure that our
children develop socially? Are you not harming your child by not allowing them
to form peer-group friendships? What about their development of independence?
Will you child really be able to cope in the ‘real world’ after such a ‘sheltered’
experience? I am sure you will have been asked similar questions, all
surrounding the area of socialisation in the home educated child.
Admittedly,
this has been one of my own concerns. Therefore I was motivated to read this
book and find out more! Also, I sometimes find it hard to clearly articulate my
views, especially when I feel the person I am speaking to is being critical or
antagonistic; therefore I wanted to become more familiar with some of the
evidence. I wanted to both come to an improved personal understanding of the
issues involved, and also to be prepared to give balanced, logical answers to
the questions (and at times criticism!) that I know will continue.
Rachel
Gathercole writes from the perspective of a parent who has homeschooled her
children for more than a decade, and who has also conducted detailed qualitative
research among a diverse range of homeschooling families based in North
America. Both parents and children are quoted throughout the book, illustrating
their own experiences of the benefits of home education in the area of social
development. This is not a book focussing on one specific benefit, for example
the spiritual education and instillation of values in our children, but rather
considers a wide range of situations, circumstances, and families.
I found her
style of writing extremely helpful. Both evidence and anecdote are extensively
quoted, and there is a very logical structure of presentation, focussing on
several key themes. Following an introduction to the ‘socialisation question’,
there are chapters discussing, ‘What do homeschoolers do?’; ‘What is good
socialisation anyway?’; ‘Friends and peer contact’; ‘Independence and strong
family relationships’; ‘Safety, adversity and bullying’; ‘Freedom and time to
be a kid’; ‘Being “cool”’; ‘Relationships with other adults’; ‘Diversity and
minority socialisation’; ‘Preparation for the “real world”’; ‘Citizenship and
democracy’; ‘Teenagers, identity and sense of self’; ‘The homeschooling parent’s
social life’ and ‘Socialisation and success’ followed by appendices containing
practical suggestions and resources.
I was
greatly encouraged and inspired through reading this book! As a family we had
already considered many of the things mentioned, and reached similar
conclusions. But I found seeing some of my own thoughts and ideas clearly
spelled out gave me greater confidence. In fact, rather than even being a
socially neutral process, I came to appreciate some of the immense benefits of
home education as we prepare our children to become well-rounded and functional
adults within our society.
I would
highly recommend this book to those who are considering home education, but
have concerns about the social aspects of this. I would recommend it to those
who have already started, and may be facing negative reactions from friends and
family. I would recommend it to those who have been home schooling for longer,
as an encouragement regarding the multiple and diverse benefits of their dedicated
investment in their children at a key time of life.
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