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Debunking “Socialization” Myths About Homeschooling

As it becomes increasingly obvious that homeschoolers do significantly better than victims of government “education” on every academic metric, apologists for the public-school system often fall back on their “socialization” mantra.

But under its true definition, “socialization” is hardly something to be desired. And under the commonly held understanding of socialization — gaining certain desirable social skills — the data show clearly that home-educated children outperform public school students on every key indicator.

Before examining the issue of “socialization,” it helps to define the term itself. According to Encyclopedia Britannica, it is “the process whereby an individual learns to adjust to a group (or society) and behave in a manner approved by the group (or society).”

Contrast that with the biblical command that Christians “be not conformed to this world,” or that they are to be “not of the world.” Throughout the Scriptures, God repeatedly makes clear that His people are not supposed to “adjust” to a society that does not respect Him and His moral code.

In short, if one accepts the common definition of “socialization,” Christians — and anyone else who realizes that the “world” and society are becoming increasingly immoral — should be deeply skeptical at the very least of this supposedly essential process being carried out by government schools. In fact, alarm bells should be ringing.

Of course, many of those who ask about “socialization” regarding home education do not have that definition in mind. Instead, they are mostly thinking about whether children will fail to learn basic social skills such as communication and healthy interaction with others. In that case, the “socialization” questions are based on myths and anti-Christian talking points.

The first myth is that homeschool families deprive their children of contact with other people outside the home. While there are always exceptions, nothing could be further from the truth. Typical homeschool families are involved in educational co-ops with other families, church, sports teams, and all manner of extra-curricular activities.

Under the guidance of their parents and other family members, these children become “socialized” in the best sense of the word. This has been true for virtually all of human history prior to the widespread proliferation of government “education” over the last century.

Indeed, to the extent that the term “socialization” is meant as some sort of process whereby children acquire positive social skills that can be measured, homeschoolers do far better than their government-educated peers. This is true on everything from peer interaction and self-concept to leadership skills, family cohesion, participation in community service, tolerance, and self-esteem.

According to a review of the empirical research on home education published in the Journal of School Choice by National Home Education Research Institute chief Dr. Brian Ray, “87% of peer-reviewed studies on social, emotional, and psychological development show homeschool students perform statistically significantly better than those in conventional schools.”

But there is more to the story. In his book Faithful Parents Faithful Children: Why We Homeschool, Christian author Donald Schanzenbach explains that the entire concept of schools as engines for “socialization” is relatively new and did not exist even 200 years ago. Indeed, the term was not even in the dictionaries of the early 1800s.

Rather, the idea of “socialization” goes back to anti-Christian philosopher Auguste Comte, the founder of sociology in the mid-1800s. His goal was to overturn Christian civilization by replacing the Christian moral order then reigning in the West with the pseudo-scientific principles of “sociology” derived from the “study of society and group life,” as Comte put it.

With that in mind, it is true that what is referred to as “socialization” does occur in government schools. But that should hardly be considered a positive development — much less as reason to subject children to godless indoctrination by a government that openly wages war on Christian morality. As the Bible explains in 1 Corinthians 15:33,

“Do not be deceived: ‘Bad company ruins good morals.’”

In a typical government school today, a child will be surrounded by peers who are all being indoctrinated to believe morality is subjective, the Bible is at best irrelevant if not downright harmful, parents are “old fashioned” and should be ignored, and much more. The pressure from fellow students to get involved in drugs, promiscuity, perversion, crime and evil is ubiquitous.

Schanzenbach, the homeschool author, cites the American Heritage Dictionary’s definition of socialize: “1. To place under public ownership or control. 2. To convert or adapt to social needs. 3. To take part in social activities.” He argues that this is precisely what is happening on all three levels, very much including the placing of children under government control.

“Socialization is an idea in direct opposition to biblical thought,” continues Schanzenbach. “Socialized children will likely spend their lives working against the Kingdom of God just as a matter of natural habit. They will have been taught to do so under the socializing influence of a humanist mindset, taught by example, and assumed in every classroom at the government institutions.”

Even the best teachers in government schools have publicly repudiated the notion that they are helping “socialize” the children in any positive manner. Consider John Taylor Gatto, the New York City and New York State teacher of the year in the early 90s. After realizing the damage he was doing to children in the public system, he sent his resignation letter to the Wall Street Journal.

“I’ve come slowly to understand what it is I really teach: A curriculum of confusion, class position, arbitrary justice, vulgarity, rudeness, disrespect for privacy, indifference to quality, and utter dependency,” Gatto explained in his letter that sent shockwaves through the education world. “I teach how to fit into a world I don’t want to live in.”

“My orders as schoolteacher are to make children fit an animal training system, not to help each find his or her personal path,” added Gatto, who went on to write books on the devastation caused by public schools. “There isn’t a right way to become educated; there are as many ways as fingerprints. We don’t need state-certified teachers to make education happen–that probably guarantees it won’t.”

Those who fashioned the system to socialize children appear to have had some of that in mind. Anti-Christian humanist John Dewey, widely regarded as the father of America’s public-school system, outlined his views on the subject in Democracy and Education in 1916 shortly before his infamous trip to fawn over the Soviet Union.

“Education, in its broadest sense, is the means of this social continuity of life,” Dewey explained, implying that education was not so much about the individual or God, but about society and the collective. “Each individual, each unit who is the carrier of the life-experience of the group, in time passes away. Yet the life of the group goes on.”

In other words, in Dewey’s mind, the purpose of education and “socialization” was to train individuals for the benefit of the group and its perpetuation. Whatever this may be or not be, it is certainly not the biblical view of education as a parent-led means of teaching individual children to know, fear and glorify God while giving them the tools to live a moral and meaningful life on this side of eternity.

Next time somebody asks about “socialization” of homeschoolers, you might start by asking exactly what they mean with that term. No matter how they answer, for Christians and even those who simply value true education, homeschooling clearly comes out on top.





Important Webinars Regarding Homeschooling

Over the years, we have reported on the ever-increasing corruptive influences within public education. We’ve changed our message from a suggestion that Christians exercise educational choice to an urgent appeal to parents and grandparents to get them out of government indoctrination centers. If you have been reading our alerts, you know that school officials (and state lawmakers) have approved the teaching of subjects that run contrary to biblical Christianity. In order to protect the hearts and minds of our children, it is wise to consider other education options.

The current COVID-19 lockdown of school districts statewide presents parents and grandparents with an opportunity to make a jump to home education. As a veteran homeschool father, I can tell you that it is not as difficult as some think it might be. Once you get started, chances are that you will not only love spending quality time with your children, but you will grow to appreciate the freedom we have in Illinois to provide your children with edifying Christian instruction.

IFI recently held two important webinars to help better inform, equip, and encourage parents to make the move to home education. These webinars can be found on the IFI YouTube channel under the “Home Education” playlist tab. These videos are posted for anyone curious about homeschooling.

In our first webinar we featured three experienced homeschool mothers who address frequently asked questions about Illinois law and how to begin homeschooling.

The second video features Dr. Brian Ray, a leading researcher in the area of homeschool education. He is the president of the National Home Education Research Institute (nheri.org).

These videos provide a wealth of information for those who are new to homeschooling or just curious about the subject. Anyone seeking information about statistics, law, philosophy, trends, or fundamentals about homeschooling are encouraged to check them out.

We pray that you will be excited about the prospect of taking your children out of government schools to educate them at home where they can work at their own pace and focus on their own interests. Moreover, we pray that you will see the value of discipling them in the faith. Teaching Christian ethics and instilling a biblical worldview in your students has never been more important. Instead of learning to celebrate sexual immorality, to fear a climate apocalypse, and to hate America, you can cultivate in them virtues like honesty, purity, gratefulness, patriotism, diligence, courage, kindness, self-control, humility, respect and responsibility.

Homeschooling is a far superior means to raise God-honoring productive members of society who love and serve their neighbors than is public schooling.

Read more:

Three Steps to Start Homeschooling Now 

How to Start Homeschooling: Free Resources for Beginners

Three Big Reasons to Consider Homeschooling This Year 

Escape Charter School Bottleneck—Homeschooling Has No Waiting List!

Illinois Public School Officials Spread Disinformation

Coronavirus, Education, and Tofu: Why Choice is the Solution to the Education Conundrum


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Homeschooling: What in the World is Going On?

Facts, Stats and Biblical Truth with Dr. Brian Ray

Christian parents, grandparents and church leaders must seriously consider other options for their students and make the move away from government schools. The prevalence of perversion, subversion, and indoctrination are becoming more prevalent, and in order to protect the hearts and minds of our children, it is wise to consider other education options.

We invite you to join us Monday afternoon, August 3rd for a special webinar presentation about the blessings of Home Education featuring Dr. Brian Ray.

Dr. Brian Ray is a leading international expert in research on homeschooling and president of the National Home Education Research Institute (NHERI). That sounds a bit lofty, but keep in mind that Brian and his wife Betsy raised 8 children, homeschooling all the way. Brian has also been interviewed by major media around the world, taught undergraduate and graduate university courses, and has taught children of all ages in public school, private school, and homeschool settings. Dr. Ray has a lot of fun challenging norms, and you might even find that he makes statistics and facts pretty fun!

Brian holds a Ph.D. in science education, a M.S. in zoology, and a B.S. in biology. Dr. Ray really enjoys wandering with Betsy and being out in the forests and mountains and on adventures in search of deer, elk, bears, and mountain lions.

Where:    Zoom Webinar
When:     Monday, August 3rd
Time:      1:30 PM (CDT)

Dr. Ray has graciously agreed to a Q&A session following his presentation.

To register for this webinar and receive the link, email Kathy at v.kathy@illinoisfamily.org or call the IFI office during office hours at: (708) 781-9328. (The link to the webinar will be emailed out on Monday.)